Philips AVENT Breast Pumps & Bottles NZ — What's the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

Philips AVENT Breast Pumps & Bottles NZ — What's the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

Philips AVENT has one of the most complete feeding ranges available in NZ — but with electric pumps, Natural Response AirFree bottles, glass options, and standard bottles all in the mix, knowing what to buy and why isn't always straightforward. This guide cuts through it clearly so you can make the right call for your feeding journey.

Philips AVENT is one of the most trusted feeding brands in the world — and at Babies.co.nz we stock their full range, from breast pumps through to glass bottles, teats, warmers, and sterilisers. But with multiple pump options and two distinct bottle ranges available, parents often ask us the same questions: which pump is right for me, what's the difference between the Natural Response and standard bottles, and is glass worth it?

Here's the clear answer to all three.

Browse the full Philips AVENT range at Babies.co.nz →

Breast Pumps — Single Electric vs Double Electric

Philips AVENT's pump range is purposefully straightforward — two electric options designed for different expressing needs.

Philips AVENT Single Rechargeable Electric Breast Pump — $399.99

The single rechargeable pump is AVENT's premium portable option. USB rechargeable and cordless, it gives you full freedom of movement during expressing sessions — no power outlet required. The soft massage cushion mimics a baby's natural sucking motion to stimulate let-down, and the settings are fully customisable so you can find the combination of suction strength and speed that works best for you. It's quiet, efficient, and designed for mums who express regularly but want something that travels well.

Best for: Mums who express daily, work outside the home, or want a reliable single pump with the freedom of a rechargeable battery.

Double Electric Breast Pump

Pumping both breasts simultaneously cuts your expressing time in half — which adds up significantly if you're pumping multiple times a day. The AVENT double pump uses the same massage cushion technology as the single and connects directly to Natural Response bottles, so expressed milk goes straight from pump to bottle with no transfer needed.

Best for: Mums who express frequently, are building a supply, or exclusively pump and need to maximise efficiency.

Single vs Double — which should you choose:

Single Rechargeable Double Electric
Pumps One side at a time Both sides simultaneously
Session time Longer Shorter
Portability Cordless, rechargeable Requires power
Best for Regular expressing, travel Frequent pumping, supply building

 

Both pumps connect directly to Philips AVENT Natural Response bottles — no adapters needed.

Bottles — Natural Response AirFree Valve vs Standard

This is the question we hear most often about AVENT bottles — and it's worth understanding properly before you buy.

Natural Response with AirFree Valve — What It Is and Why It Matters

The Philips AVENT Natural Response bottles — available in 260ml, 260ml 2-pack, and 330ml 2-pack — are AVENT's flagship bottle range and the one we recommend for most parents.

What makes them different is the combination of two technologies working together:

The J-shaped teat releases milk only when your baby is actively drinking and sucking — it pauses when they pause, just like the breast does. This gives your baby control over the feed and closely mirrors the natural rhythm of breastfeeding.

The AirFree valve is built into the bottle's teat and vents air out of the bottle continuously during feeding — so even when the bottle is held horizontally, the teat stays full of milk rather than air. Less air ingested means less wind, less spit-up, and a more comfortable, settled baby after feeds.

Together, these two features make the Natural Response bottle the most breast-like and anti-colic option in the AVENT range — and the right choice for the vast majority of parents, whether breastfeeding, combination feeding, or formula feeding.

Standard AVENT Bottles

If you've purchased AVENT bottles in the past that don't have the AirFree valve, those are the earlier Classic or Natural range. The Natural Response with AirFree valve is the current, updated version — it's a meaningful upgrade and the one we stock at Babies.co.nz. If you're buying AVENT bottles for the first time, you'll be getting the Natural Response range.

The bottom line: If you're buying AVENT bottles at Babies.co.nz, you're getting the Natural Response AirFree valve bottles — the best version of the AVENT bottle range currently available.

Glass Bottles — Are They Worth It?

The Natural Response bottle range is also available in glass — and it's one of the most underrated options in the AVENT lineup.

At Babies.co.nz we stock:

Both use exactly the same Natural Response teat and AirFree valve as the plastic bottles — the only difference is the bottle body itself.

Why choose glass:

  • Made from premium borosilicate glass — heat resistant, odour-free, and scratch resistant
  • Doesn't absorb smells or formula residue over time the way plastic can
  • Easier to sterilise thoroughly — nothing leeches into glass at high temperatures
  • Many parents feel formula mixes more evenly in glass
  • Heavier than plastic but extremely durable — won't crack, cloud, or degrade

Why choose plastic:

  • Lightweight and shatterproof — better for travel and when your baby starts holding the bottle
  • More affordable — easier to build up a full set of multiple bottles
  • Available in larger sizes (260ml and 330ml) that the glass range doesn't currently offer

Our recommendation: Glass is an excellent choice for home use — particularly in the newborn period when you're sterilising frequently and feeding is mostly stationary. The 120ml glass bottle is the ideal starting size for a newborn. Many parents use glass at home and switch to plastic on the go — a practical combination that gives you the best of both.

The Natural Response Starter Set — The Best Place to Start

If you're buying AVENT for the first time, the Natural Response Bottle Starter Set ($104.99) gives you everything you need in one purchase — bottles across multiple sizes, teats in different flow rates, and a soother. It's the most comprehensive and best-value entry point into the AVENT range, and one of the most popular baby shower gifts we stock.

For a full comparison of breast pump types — manual, electric, and wearable — read our Complete Breast Pump Buying Guide →

Shop all Philips AVENT →
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Your Tommee Tippee Bottle Questions Answered

Choosing the right bottle for your baby takes more thought than most people expect. Below we've answered the questions Kiwi parents ask us most often about Tommee Tippee. If you need more help, our team at Babies.co.nz is always happy to assist — call us on 09 274 3099 or visit our Auckland showroom in East Tamaki.

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Both use the same wide, breast-shaped teat design — the difference is in how they handle air reduction. Closer to Nature has a built-in anti-colic valve in the teat that reduces air ingestion during feeds. Advanced Anti-Colic goes further, with a heat-sensing tube at the bottom of the bottle that actively vents air out of the milk before it reaches your baby. For most babies, Closer to Nature is plenty. For babies with more significant colic, wind, or reflux, Advanced Anti-Colic is the better choice.

Yes — the Closer to Nature range is one of the most recommended bottles for combination feeding. The wide, breast-shaped teat encourages the same broad latch breastfed babies use at the breast, reducing the risk of nipple confusion. Always start with a slow flow teat for a breastfed baby regardless of age, and introduce the bottle around three to four weeks once breastfeeding is well established.

For many parents, yes. The Natural Start glass bottle is made from premium borosilicate glass — odour-free, heat resistant, and very easy to sterilise. It's particularly practical in the newborn period when you're sterilising frequently and mostly feeding at home. The main trade-offs are weight and the risk of breakage. Many parents use glass at home and plastic when out and about.

Start with slow flow for all newborns — whether breastfed or formula fed. Move up to variable flow when your baby shows signs of frustration, takes too long to finish feeds, or falls asleep before finishing. Fast flow suits confident, efficient feeders from around six months. Always let your baby's cues guide the decision rather than age alone.

Yes — both ranges include anti-colic features. Closer to Nature has a built-in anti-colic valve that reduces air ingestion. Advanced Anti-Colic takes this further with an active venting system that removes air bubbles from the milk during the feed. For babies with significant colic, the Advanced Anti-Colic bottle is the stronger solution. For a more powerful anti-colic system, Dr Brown's bottles use a fully internal vent system that is clinically proven to reduce colic.

The Perfect Prep Machine makes a fresh, perfectly mixed, body-temperature formula bottle in under two minutes — safely. It delivers a shot of hot water (over 70°C) to kill bacteria in the formula powder, then tops the bottle up to the correct volume with filtered water at room temperature. The result is a safe, correctly mixed bottle at the ideal feeding temperature, every time. The Day and Night version adds a quiet pump and soft night light for night feeds. It requires replacement filters every three months — available at Babies.co.nz.

As a guide: 2–3 bottles for occasional bottle feeding of a breastfed baby; 4–6 for combination feeding; 6–8 for exclusive formula feeding. The Closer to Nature 260ml 3-pack is the most practical starting point as it gives you enough bottles for a full day without constant washing.

Yes — all Closer to Nature, Advanced Anti-Colic, and Natural Start glass bottles and teats are dishwasher safe on the top rack. Replace teats every two to three months or sooner if you notice any thinning, stickiness, or discolouration.

Shop the full Tommee Tippee range online at Babies.co.nz with nationwide delivery, or visit our Auckland showroom in East Tamaki. We stock bottles, teats, the Perfect Prep Machine, sterilisers, breast pumps, and the full Tommee Tippee range. Price Match available and 5% back in Rewards on every purchase.

Both are excellent, widely trusted brands. Tommee Tippee's Closer to Nature teat is slightly softer and more flexible, which some babies find easier to latch onto. Philips AVENT's Natural Response teat uses a unique J-shape that releases milk only when your baby actively drinks — a more precise mimicry of breastfeeding. AVENT also offers more granular teat flow options (six levels vs Tommee Tippee's three). If you're combination feeding and want the most breast-like bottle experience, AVENT Natural Response is worth comparing. If you want a trusted, simple bottle with strong anti-colic performance, Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature is hard to beat. Read our full Philips AVENT buying guide →

The key difference is anti-colic power. Dr Brown's internal vent system is clinically proven to reduce colic and is the stronger solution for babies with significant wind or reflux. Tommee Tippee's anti-colic valve (Closer to Nature) and heat-sensing tube (Advanced Anti-Colic) are effective for most babies but less comprehensive than Dr Brown's approach. On the other hand, Tommee Tippee is simpler to clean — fewer parts, no internal vent tube to wash — and the breast-shaped teat is widely regarded as one of the best for combination feeding. Read our full Dr Brown's buying guide →

Most paediatric guidance recommends transitioning from a bottle to a cup around 12 months. Tommee Tippee makes this easy with their integrated cup and sippy range. The transition from bottle to sippy cup is smoother when you stay within the same brand — the familiar Tommee Tippee feel and quality helps babies accept the change more readily.