Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
There is no single best feeding bottle. The NHS bottle feeding advice says there is no evidence that one type of teat or bottle is better than any other, and that simple bottles which are easy to clean are best. So the right bottle is one your baby feeds comfortably from, with a teat that does not flow too fast, and that you can wash and sterilise properly every time.
Glass, plastic or steel
All three are sold in India, and the choice comes down to practical trade offs rather than safety rankings.
- Glass is easy to see through and to scrub clean, and does not hold smells. It is heavier and can break if dropped, so it suits feeds at home more than travel. Replace any glass bottle that is chipped or cracked.
- Plastic is light and does not shatter, which helps when grandparents, a nanny or an older sibling are helping with feeds. Check the label says the bottle is BPA free, and replace it if it cracks or gets damaged.
- Stainless steel is tough and light, but you cannot see how much milk is left, which makes it harder to follow your baby's intake in the early weeks.
Whatever you choose, look for a shape with a wide neck and few parts. Every extra valve or ring is one more piece to take apart and clean.
Choosing the teat
The teat matters more than the bottle. Teats are usually silicone or rubber (latex) and come in different shapes and flow rates, from slow to fast. The NHS advice is to check the hole in your baby's teat is not too big, because drinking milk too quickly can make a baby sick. Teat packs are labelled by flow or age, and it makes sense to start slow and move up only if feeds become a struggle. If your baby is often sick after feeds or seems unhappy with the flow, ask your paediatrician or a health worker to watch a feed.
Many babies take to whichever teat they meet first, but some are fussy. Buy one or two bottles to start, rather than a full set, until you know what your baby accepts.
Check teats regularly. The NHS guide to sterilising baby bottles says to check regularly that teats and bottles are not torn, cracked or damaged, and to replace any that are.
How many bottles and what else you need
The NHS says you will need several bottles, teats and a bottle brush, plus sterilising equipment. Alongside them:
- a small teat brush
- a steriliser (cold water, steam or microwave steam) or a large pan for boiling
- a separate basin kept only for washing feeding items
- a few burp cloths
You can find bottles, teats and brushes in our feeding bottles and accessories collection.
Cleaning and sterilising
A bottle is only as safe as its cleaning. The NHS recommends sterilising all feeding equipment until your baby is at least 12 months old, to protect against infection. The routine:
- Wash after every feed. The CDC guide to cleaning infant feeding items says to clean bottles after every feeding, using a basin and brush kept only for this, not directly in the sink, which may carry germs. Take the bottle fully apart, use hot soapy water, and turn teats inside out to wash them.
- Rinse in clean, cold running water.
- Sterilise. The NHS describes three methods: cold water sterilising solution (at least 30 minutes, changing the solution every 24 hours), a steam steriliser used as the manufacturer says, or boiling in a large pan for at least 10 minutes. Boiling is cheap and works, but teats wear out faster with this method. A dishwasher cleans bottles but does not sterilise them.
- Dry and store. The CDC advises letting items air dry on a clean towel rather than rubbing them with a dish towel. The NHS suggests leaving bottles in the steriliser or pan until needed, or putting teats and lids on straight away if you take them out.
Feeding safely from a bottle
Hold your baby in a semi upright position and support the head so they can breathe and swallow comfortably, with the bottle held almost horizontal, just slightly tipped. Give plenty of time, let your baby take breaks and burp, and do not push them to finish the bottle. Never leave your baby alone to feed with a propped up bottle, as the NHS warns they may choke. The CDC also says to throw away any formula left in the bottle after 2 hours.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.
This article was first written by Sonali Baidya and has been rewritten by our editorial team.
