If you've started researching baby bottles, chances are Dr Brown's has come up pretty quickly. It's the number one paediatrician-recommended baby bottle in the US, used in hospitals and NICUs around the world, and a firm favourite with Kiwi parents dealing with colic, wind, reflux, and fussiness after feeds. But once you land on the Dr Brown's range, a new problem emerges — there are a lot of options, and the differences between them aren't always obvious.
This guide is here to fix that. We'll walk you through everything you need to know to choose the right Dr Brown's bottle for your baby — from the science behind the vent system, to the difference between narrow and wide neck, to which teat level to start with and when to move up. By the end, you'll know exactly what to buy.
Browse the full Dr Brown's range at Babies.co.nz →
Why Do Parents Choose Dr Brown's?
Most parents come to Dr Brown's because of one thing: colic. Or more specifically, the wind, gas, spit-up, and post-feed discomfort that makes those early weeks harder than they need to be.
The secret is Dr Brown's patented internal vent system. Unlike most baby bottles where air enters through the teat and mixes with the milk — creating bubbles that end up in your baby's tummy — Dr Brown's channels air through a two-piece internal vent that runs through the centre of the bottle. Air goes in, bypasses the milk entirely, and exits through the base. Your baby gets a vacuum-free feed with no air bubbles, which means less swallowing of air, less wind, less spit-up, and a more comfortable, settled baby after feeds.
There's an added benefit that often surprises parents: because the internal vent keeps air away from the milk, it also helps preserve key nutrients. Oxygen exposure degrades vitamins C, A and E in breastmilk and formula — and Dr Brown's vacuum-free feeding significantly reduces that contact, meaning more of the good stuff reaches your baby with every feed.
It's a clinically proven system, which is why Dr Brown's bottles are the go-to recommendation from paediatricians and lactation consultants worldwide.
Understanding the Dr Brown's Range
Options+ vs Natural Flow — What's the Difference?
This is the question we hear most often. Both ranges use the same internal vent system and the same teat technology — the key difference is flexibility.
Natural Flow bottles must always be used with the internal vent system in place. The vent is permanently part of how the bottle functions.
Options+ bottles give you a choice. You can use them with the vent system in place — which is recommended for newborns and babies with colic, wind, or reflux — or you can remove the vent as your baby gets older and feeds become more settled. This makes the Options+ a more versatile long-term option, effectively giving you two bottles in one.
Our recommendation: Start with the Dr Brown's Options+ range. It gives you the full benefit of the vent system when you need it most, with the flexibility to simplify things as your baby grows.
Narrow Neck vs Wide Neck — How to Choose
Once you've decided on Options+, your next choice is the bottle shape. Both use the same internal vent technology — the difference is in the bottle body and teat shape.
Narrow Neck
- Traditional, slim bottle shape
- Narrower teat that allows for a deeper latch — the teat used in hospital NICUs and most commonly recommended by feeding specialists for newborns
- Compact and easy to pack in a nappy bag or bottle warmer
- Slightly fiddlier to fill and clean due to the narrower opening
Wide Neck
- Wider bottle body with a breast-shaped teat that has a broader, sloped base
- Designed to encourage a wide latch — the preferred option for breastfed babies transitioning between breast and bottle
- Easier to fill and clean due to the wider opening
- The teat shape more closely mimics the natural breast, which can help reduce nipple confusion
How to decide:
- Combination feeding or transitioning from breast to bottle → start with wide neck
- Formula feeding from birth → try narrow neck
- Unsure → buy one of each and let your baby decide. It's the fastest way to find out.
Teat sizes are not interchangeable between narrow and wide neck bottles — make sure any replacement teats match your bottle type.
Plastic vs Glass — Which Should You Choose?
Plastic Options+
- Lightweight, shatterproof, and BPA-free
- Ideal for travel, night feeds, and when your baby starts holding the bottle
- More affordable — easier to build a full set
- Great for everyday use
Glass Options+
- Made from pharmaceutical-grade borosilicate glass
- Scratch-resistant, easy to sterilise, and doesn't hold odours over time
- Many parents feel formula mixes more evenly in glass
- Best for home use — heavier and can break if dropped
Our recommendation: Many parents use plastic on the go and glass at home. Both options are available in the Dr Brown's range at Babies.co.nz.
Dr Brown's Teat Level Guide
Choosing the right teat level is just as important as choosing the right bottle. The wrong flow rate can cause your baby to gulp and swallow air, overfeed, or tire out before finishing.
| Level | Flow | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Preemie | Slowest | Premature or medically fragile babies |
| Level 1 | Slow | Newborns (0–3 months) |
| Level 2 | Medium | Around 3–6 months |
| Level 3 | Medium-fast | Around 6–9 months |
| Level 4 | Fast | 9+ months |
| Y-Cut | Variable | Thicker feeds |
These are guidelines, not rules. Watch your baby's cues — signs of too slow include frustration and long feed times; signs of too fast include gulping, sputtering, and increased wind. When in doubt, stay at the slower level.
Is Dr Brown's Good for Breastfed Babies?
Yes — it's one of the most recommended bottles for breastfed babies. The vacuum-free feeding most closely mimics the experience of feeding at the breast, making the transition to a bottle smoother and reducing the risk of nipple confusion.
For breastfed babies, start with the wide neck bottle and a Level 1 teat regardless of age. Introduce the first bottle around three to four weeks, once breastfeeding is established and your milk supply has settled.
Browse our full breastfeeding range at Babies.co.nz for everything you need to support your feeding journey.
Is Dr Brown's Good for Colic and Reflux?
It's the number one reason parents choose Dr Brown's, and the answer is yes. The internal vent system is clinically proven to reduce colic by eliminating the air bubbles that cause gas, bloating, and discomfort after feeds. For many babies, switching to Dr Brown's makes a noticeable difference within a few days.
For reflux, the vacuum-free feeding helps reduce pressure build-up during a feed, which means less likelihood of milk being pushed back up. Combined with a slow-flow teat and keeping your baby at a slight incline during feeding, it's consistently one of the first recommendations from paediatric nurses and GPs for reflux-prone bubs.
If your baby has significant or persistent reflux or colic that isn't improving, always speak with your Plunket nurse, midwife, or GP.
What Else Does Dr Brown's Make?
Beyond bottles, the Dr Brown's range at Babies.co.nz includes:
- Replacement teats — Preemie through Level 4 and Y-Cut, in both narrow and wide neck
- Bottle brushes — including the specialist vent cleaning brush
- Soothers — orthodontically designed from birth through toddlerhood
- Sterilisers and bottle warmers
- Sippy cups and toddler transition accessories
Browse the full range at Babies.co.nz/collections/dr-browns →
How Many Bottles Do I Need?
- Occasionally bottle feeding a breastfed baby — 2–3 bottles
- Combination feeding — 4–6 bottles
- Exclusively bottle feeding — 6–8 bottles
Start small before committing to a full set. For newborns, start with the 120ml size — move to 250ml once your baby is consistently taking more than 120ml per feed, usually around 3–4 months.
Shop Dr Brown's at Babies.co.nz
Babies.co.nz is a proudly New Zealand-owned baby specialist, helping Kiwi families find the right products since 1998. We stock the full Dr Brown's range with Price Match available and 5% back in Rewards on every purchase.
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