Baby Bottles

Baby Bottles: Wide Selection

Most baby bottles are made of shatterproof plastic or hygienic glass. They are indispensable companions for parents. Even if you breastfeed your baby, baby bottles are part of the basic equipment. You can choose between standard-neck and wide-neck, self-warming, and self-sterilizing baby bottles. The right nipple shouldn't be missing either.

What do I need baby bottles for?

In addition to food, your child also needs fluids. But baby bottles aren't just used for drinking water or tea: they help you stay flexible with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding might not always work out, or you may not always have the opportunity. With a baby bottle, you — but also other family members — can offer your baby pumped breast milk or formula.

How many baby bottles do I need?

There's no set guideline for how many baby bottles you need to have at home. However, you can use the number of meals as a guide. On average, your baby is fed five to eight times a day.

Recommended number for bottle feeding

• 6-7 large baby bottles (approx. 250-350 ml) for formula or thin porridge. Each bottle must be cleaned after use and (at least occasionally) sterilized as well. This takes time. With this number, you can use a fresh bottle for every meal while you prepare the others again.

• 2 small baby bottles (approx. 125 ml) for tea or water.

Recommended number of bottles for breastfeeding

• 1-2 large bottles (approx. 250-350 ml) for formula or thin porridge.

• 2 small baby bottles (approx. 125 ml) for tea or water.

What materials are baby bottles available in?

There are currently three different materials for baby bottles on the market: glass, plastic, and stainless steel. Each material has advantages and disadvantages:

Glass

Advantages: doesn't discolor, easy to clean, hygienic, scratch-resistant, taste- and odor-neutral, free of harmful substances, environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages: relatively heavy, unwieldy, fragile, risk of injury.

Plastic

Advantages: easy to handle, shatterproof, affordable to purchase, baby can hold the bottle on its own.
Disadvantages: not easy to clean, can discolor, wears out quickly, scratches easily, not environmentally friendly, not heat-resistant.

Stainless Steel

Advantages: shatterproof, heat-resistant, taste- and odor-neutral, free of harmful substances, environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages: not transparent (makes filling harder), high purchase cost.

The most common material requirements

To help you decide, we've put together the four most common requirements parents have for a baby bottle's material. One thing to keep in mind: not every material can do everything. So before buying, prioritize one or two key features. Tip: If you don't have a clear favorite, switch materials after a while.

Especially hygienic: glass bottles

Glass bottles don't absorb the smell or color of food, even over time. The material is easy to clean and scratch-resistant.

Plastic bottles are unfortunately at a disadvantage when it comes to hygiene. They tend to discolor and can absorb the smell of food over time. In comparison, they're also not as easy to clean. (Tip: Clean plastic bottles above all in a bottle sterilizer. This is a special cleaning device that works with hot steam. You'll find more information on this further below.) They also scratch more quickly and must be replaced immediately if there are scratches on the inside, as bacteria could accumulate there.

Especially sturdy: plastic bottles

At some point, your baby will want to grab and hold the bottle (please only under supervision). If it falls, it shouldn't break right away and possibly injure someone. Plastic bottles definitely have the advantage here. The risk of injury with glass is significantly higher. This isn't just about large shards, but small glass fragments too. (Please check the glass bottle for damage before use.)

Very lightweight: plastic bottles

Lightweight bottles are especially appreciated on outings or vacation. Parents do everything they can to avoid extra weight in bags and suitcases. When it comes to lightness, plastic bottles are unbeatable. But stainless steel also works well: it's lighter than glass.

Free of harmful substances: both bottle types

Glass bottles are considered environmentally friendly and free of harmful substances. Plastic bottles are made of polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), or polyphenylsulfone (PPSU). These plastics are just as safe for your baby nowadays.

What shape should baby bottles have?

In addition to standard-neck bottles, there are wide-neck baby bottles. Matching accessories such as bottle warmers, bottle sterilizers, etc. are available for both shapes. Tip: Decide on one of the two shapes first, then buy the necessary accessories. Some devices aren't compatible with the other shape.

Standard-neck bottles

Standard-neck bottles are narrow and tall. This keeps drinks or food warm for a long time. This is important if your child drinks very slowly. However, because of the shape, you'll need a funnel to fill it, since the opening is only 3.6 cm in diameter. Here are our standard-neck bottles.

Wide-neck bottles

Wide-neck bottles are broader and have greater stability. The opening, at 5 cm in diameter, is significantly larger than that of standard-neck bottles. This means they can be filled without a funnel and are easy to clean. Because of their shape, these bottles are usually easier to handle and can be held more easily by children themselves. Another advantage: the nipples on wide-neck bottles have a wider lip rest and come closest to the mother's breast. Here are our wide-neck bottles.

What are anti-colic bottles and nipples?

Babies swallow a lot of air while drinking, which can lead to uncomfortable gas. Nowadays there are bottles and nipples that use a special system to prevent exactly this. Anti-colic bottles — such as those from MAM — use ventilation holes in the base to equalize pressure. Anti-colic nipples, for example from Philips Avent also have a built-in valve that keeps air out of the bottle.

What nipple sizes are available?

The size of the nipple itself isn't very important. What matters more is the hole size. It determines how slowly or quickly the food flows. The thicker the food, the larger the hole should be (some manufacturers simply use more holes instead). That's why a distinction is made between tea nipples (for thin liquids like tea, water, breast milk, stage 1/pre-formula), milk nipples (stage 1 and follow-on formula), and porridge nipples (for pureed food, thick drinks). You'll find the suitability of each nipple in our product descriptions.Tip: If your child sucks especially hard, you should choose a smaller hole size. This is closer to natural drinking behavior and also reduces the risk of choking.

You'll find a large selection of nipples in our Nipples category.

Caring for baby bottles

You need to thoroughly clean your baby bottles before first use and after every use. The reason: your baby's immune system isn't yet developed enough to effectively fight off viruses, parasites, and bacteria. This isn't about creating a completely sterile environment — that's not recommended for healthy development either. However, it's important to specifically prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella. That's why removing milk residue (including prepared but unconsumed milk) is essential!

How do I clean baby bottles correctly?

Caring for baby bottles and nipples is basically simple and involves three steps:

1. Right after feeding your baby, rinse the bottle, nipple, and all other parts under running water (the water must be of drinking quality). It's best to use a small, soft brush to thoroughly remove all food residue. This tends to collect in corners and crevices and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Make sure your hands are clean and also clean the outside of the bottle.Tip for latex nipples: Before cleaning, fill nipples made of this material with a bit of table salt, press it together with your thumb and index finger, and gently rub it. This loosens stubborn, barely visible residue. (Please never use this method on more delicate silicone nipples!)

2. Clean the bottle and nipple with a fragrance-free, gentle dish soap (or a special cleaning solution made for this purpose) and a bottle brush. Then rinse the bottle thoroughly with clean water.

3. Place the bottle opening-down on a clean cloth or in a special drying rack for baby bottles to dry.

Some parents clean their baby bottles in the dishwasher. However, keep in mind that this ages the material faster: the dish detergent used there is too harsh. It also doesn't replace the disinfection process at all — the temperature in the machine is too low for that. If you want to clean bottles in the dishwasher, place them opening-down in the top rack. The bottles shouldn't be near the heating elements. Remove coarse food residue by hand before washing.

How often do I need to sterilize baby bottles?

You need to sterilize bottles and nipples especially before first use, and also if you use well water or rainwater for cleaning. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, it isn't necessary to sterilize baby bottles and nipples beyond that in normal household use. Many midwives and pediatricians see it differently and recommend sterilizing bottles and nipples once a day until your baby turns six months old.

If you want to be on the safe side and sterilize your baby items, there are several ways to do it:

Boiling: Choose a pot and, for hygiene reasons, use it exclusively for boiling your (glass) bottles and nipples.

1. Bring water to a boil in a pot and place the bottle and nipple inside. Both must be completely covered with water.

2. Heat the water and let everything boil vigorously. The boiling time depends on where you live: altitude, or air pressure, affects the temperature needed for boiling — and therefore the boiling time. In Hamburg, for example, water boils at 100 °C because the city is almost at sea level. Here, three minutes of boiling is enough. Munich, on the other hand, is about 500 meters above sea level. There, water already boils at about 97 °C. That's why the boiling time needs to be extended by about two minutes there.Rule of thumb: the higher a location is above sea level, the longer the boiling should take. To be safe, boil everything for ten minutes. However, the material suffers greatly from this and may need to be replaced sooner.

3. After boiling, carefully remove the bottle and nipple from the pot and wrap everything in a clean cloth. Then place the bottle opening-down on the cloth to dry.

Sterilizing in an electric bottle sterilizer: a bottle sterilizer is a device that lets you sterilize baby bottles, nipples, and even pacifiers quickly, easily, and gently using steam.

1. Place your baby bottle (opening-down), nipple, and screw rings into the device and fill it with water according to the manufacturer's instructions.

2. Close the lid and turn it on. The water is now heated electrically until it evaporates. The steam thoroughly sterilizes everything while being gentle on the material. The entire process takes a few minutes, depending on the device.

After the process, the bottles stay sterile for several hours as long as the lid stays closed.You'll find our selection of bottle sterilizers and more information about them here in the shop.

For sterilizing in the microwave there are several options:

A microwave bottle sterilizer also works with steam but isn't connected to a power outlet: you fill the basket with water according to the manufacturer's instructions, place the bottle, nipple, and screw rings inside, close it, and put it in the microwave. Depending on your microwave's power, the process takes a few minutes.

Manufacturers such as Philips Avent or medela offer microwave sterilizer bags. This is especially handy when you're on the go. Simply place the bottles and nipples in the bag, fill it with a bit of water according to the manufacturer's instructions, and put everything in the microwave. Within seconds, the resulting steam disinfects everything.

The company MAM offers a baby bottle that sterilizes itself. It's very simple: just take the bottle apart, fill the base part with 20 ml of water, put the nipple and bottle body back on in reverse order — and heat the whole thing in the microwave for a few minutes.

You'll find microwave sterilizers, bags, and the self-sterilizing bottle (as a 15-piece "Anti-Colic" set) in our shop.

Baby bottles: more useful tips

• A baby bottle can serve as a comfort item and soothe your child, but it isn't meant for constant sucking.

• Check the nipple regularly for cracks, holes, or changes in the surface (rough, porous, sticky) and replace it immediately if damaged. In general, even undamaged nipples should be replaced every 2-3 months.

• Always keep a spare nipple on hand for every bottle.

• If your child is sensitive to smells and refuses the bottle, you should choose odor-neutral bottles and nipples.

• Be careful when heating in the microwave: there's an acute risk of scalding (bottles are much hotter on the inside than they appear from the outside)!

• With shaken baby food, you should let the bottle sit for a moment until the air bubbles dissolve. This prevents your baby from swallowing unnecessary air, which can lead to colic and gas.

• Test the temperature of the food on your own wrist first: lukewarm is ideal.

• Discard brewed tea after four hours at the latest, and throw away prepared food that wasn't consumed right away.

• Once your baby turns six months old, you can switch to a training bottle.