Philips AVENT is one of the most recognised baby feeding brands in the world — and for good reason. Since 1984 the brand has been quietly setting the standard for bottle design, breast pump technology, and infant feeding accessories, earning the trust of parents and midwives across the globe. But once you land on the AVENT range, the options can feel overwhelming. Natural Response or Anti-Colic? Glass or plastic? Flow 2 or Flow 3? Starter set or individual bottles?
This guide answers all of it — clearly and in plain language — so you can choose the right Philips AVENT bottle for your baby's age, feeding style, and needs, and feel confident doing it.
Browse the full Philips AVENT range at Babies.co.nz →
Why Do Parents Choose Philips AVENT?
Philips AVENT has been a household name in baby feeding for over 40 years, and the reason parents keep coming back is consistency. The bottles are well-engineered, simple to use, easy to clean, and — critically — they work with your baby's natural feeding rhythm rather than against it.
The brand's key insight, which underpins the entire Natural Response range, is that a good bottle should respond to your baby the way a breast does — releasing milk only when your baby is actively drinking, and pausing when they pause to breathe and swallow. This sounds simple, but it's a fundamentally different approach from most bottles on the market, and it makes a real difference for babies transitioning between breast and bottle.
AVENT also has the advantage of a completely integrated product ecosystem — bottles, teats, breast pumps, sterilisers, warmers, and cups are all designed to work together. If you start with AVENT, you can stay with AVENT right through to toddlerhood without changing systems.
Understanding the Philips AVENT Bottle Range
Natural Response — The Hero Range
The Natural Response bottle is AVENT's flagship product and the one most parents should start with. The defining feature is the uniquely engineered J-shaped teat — named for its shape, which creates a flexible, breast-like feeding experience unlike any standard bottle teat.
Here's what makes it different:
Milk only flows when your baby actively drinks. The teat's unique opening is designed so that when your baby pauses to breathe or swallow, the milk pauses too. This mirrors the natural rhythm of breastfeeding and means your baby maintains control of the feed rather than having milk constantly flowing into their mouth regardless of their pace.
Natural latch-on. The wide, soft, flexible teat is shaped to mimic the feel and form of a breast, encouraging a broad, comfortable latch. The comfort petals in the teat allow it to flex and move in response to your baby's sucking motion — reducing teat collapse and making feeding feel more natural.
AirFree vent reduces colic and reflux. The bottle's AirFree vent is positioned so that even when the bottle is held horizontally, the teat stays full of milk rather than air. This means your baby ingests less air during feeds — reducing wind, spit-up, and colic discomfort.
No-drip design. The teat is designed to minimise dripping between feeds, reducing waste and mess.
The Natural Response bottles are available in several sizes — from the 120ml starter bottle ideal for newborns right through to the 330ml bottles suited to older babies — and in both plastic and glass. We'll cover the size and material choice in detail below.
Anti-Colic — The Specialist Range
The Anti-Colic range is AVENT's targeted solution for babies who are particularly prone to colic, wind, and gas. Where the Natural Response uses an AirFree vent as part of its broader design, the Anti-Colic bottle features a dedicated anti-colic valve built directly into the teat that works specifically to keep air out of your baby's tummy during feeds.
The Anti-Colic valve vents air through the bottom of the bottle — away from the milk — so your baby gets milk without the air bubbles that cause discomfort. It's a simpler construction than Dr Brown's internal vent system but very effective for mild to moderate colic, and significantly easier to clean.
Who should choose Anti-Colic:
- Babies with noticeable colic, wind, or gas after feeds
- Parents formula feeding from birth who want targeted anti-colic protection
- Parents who want the simplicity of an easy-to-clean bottle with solid anti-colic performance
Who should choose Natural Response:
- Breastfed babies or those transitioning between breast and bottle
- Babies without significant colic who need a bottle that feels natural
- Parents who want one bottle that works across all feeding scenarios
Both ranges use the same wide, breast-shaped teat design and are compatible with the same AVENT sterilisers, warmers, and accessories.
Glass vs Plastic — Which Should You Choose?
Both the Natural Response plastic and glass bottles are available at Babies.co.nz and both use exactly the same teat and feeding technology — the choice is purely about the bottle body itself.
Natural Response Plastic Bottles
- Lightweight and shatterproof — ideal for travel, night feeds, and on-the-go
- BPA-free polypropylene construction
- More affordable — easier to build up a full set
- Available in 260ml and 330ml sizes (and 2-packs for better value)
- Great for everyday use at any age
Natural Response Glass Bottles
- Made from premium borosilicate glass — the same pharmaceutical-grade material used in medical equipment
- Heat and thermal shock resistant — safe for the fridge, bottle warmer, and steriliser
- Doesn't absorb odours, stains, or residue over time
- Easier to sterilise thoroughly — nothing leeches into the glass at high temperatures
- Available in 120ml (ideal for newborns) and 240ml sizes
- Heavier than plastic — best for home use, particularly in the newborn period when you're mostly feeding in one place
Our recommendation: Many parents use glass at home for the first few months — when feeding is mostly stationary and sterilisation is most frequent — and transition to plastic as their baby grows more mobile and bottles start getting dropped, thrown, and carried everywhere. Having a mix of both is the most practical approach.
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottles by Age — Which Size and Flow?
This is the question the Answer the Public data shows parents searching most — and for good reason. Choosing the wrong bottle size or teat flow for your baby's age is one of the most common feeding mistakes, and it's completely avoidable.
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottle for Newborns (0–1 month)
For newborns, start with the 120ml glass bottle or the Natural Response Bottle Starter Set. Newborns have tiny stomachs — typically taking only 60–90ml per feed in the first few weeks — so the smaller bottle size is the right fit. The Starter Set is the best value option if you're buying AVENT for the first time, as it includes bottles, teats, and a soother in one package.
Teat: Flow 1 (Newborn) — the slowest available flow, designed to match the gentle pace of a newborn's feeding rhythm. A flow that's too fast at this age can cause your baby to gulp and swallow air, leading to wind and discomfort.
Key tip: The Natural Response teat is designed to feel like a breast, which makes it the ideal choice for newborns who are also being breastfed. Introduce the bottle around three to four weeks once breastfeeding is established.
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottle for 1–3 Months
At this stage your baby's capacity is growing — typically 100–150ml per feed — but the 120ml bottle can still work if you're topping it up frequently. Most parents begin transitioning to the 260ml bottle around 6–8 weeks.
Teat: Flow 1 or Flow 2 depending on your baby's pace. If feeds are taking longer than 20–30 minutes or your baby seems frustrated, move up to Flow 2. If they're gulping and spluttering, stay at Flow 1.
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottle for 3 Months
Three months is typically when parents make the move to the 260ml bottle full-time if they haven't already. Feeds become more efficient and your baby's appetite is growing consistently.
Teat: Flow 2 — medium-slow flow suited to babies who are feeding more confidently but still need a controlled pace.
Shop the Philips AVENT Natural Response 260ml bottle →
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottle for 5–6 Months
By five to six months, most babies are taking 180–240ml per feed and are much more efficient at drinking. Many parents also begin introducing solid foods around this time, which can slightly reduce bottle volume.
Teat: Flow 3 — medium flow. Watch your baby's cues — if they're draining the bottle quickly and showing hunger signs, this is the right level.
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottle for 6 Months Plus
The 330ml bottle becomes the most practical size from around six months — your baby's appetite is at its peak and you don't want to be constantly refilling. The 330ml is available in plastic in singles and convenient 2-packs.
Teat: Flow 3 or Flow 4 depending on your baby's preference. Flow 4 is a fast flow suited to babies who are feeding efficiently and handling faster milk delivery comfortably.
Shop the Philips AVENT Natural Response 330ml 2-pack →
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottle for 8–12 Months
At this age most babies are well established on solids and bottle volumes may start to decrease slightly as food makes up more of their diet. The 260ml or 330ml bottles both work well.
Teat: Flow 4 or Flow 5 — fast flows suited to older, more efficient feeders. Flow 5 is designed for thicker liquids if you're adding cereal or other foods to the bottle.
Philips AVENT Feeding Bottle for 1–2 Years
From 12 months, most paediatric guidance recommends transitioning from a bottle to a sippy cup or open cup. AVENT makes this transition easy with their integrated cup range — the Sippy Cup Spout 200ml, Grippy Cup 300ml, and Bendy Straw Cup all fit within the same AVENT ecosystem and use familiar teat-to-spout transitions that make the changeover less stressful for both baby and parent.
Philips AVENT Teat Flow Guide
| Flow | Level | Age Guide | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flow 1 | Newborn | 0+ months | Newborns, slow feeders, breastfed babies |
| Flow 2 | Slow | 1+ months | Young babies building confidence |
| Flow 3 | Medium | 3+ months | Established bottle feeders |
| Flow 4 | Fast | 6+ months | Efficient older babies |
| Flow 5 | Fast+ | 6+ months | Fast feeders, thicker liquids |
| Flow 6 | Variable | 6+ months | Fastest flow for older toddlers |
All AVENT Natural Response teats are sold separately in 2-packs — shop the full teat range at Babies.co.nz.
Signs your baby needs a faster flow:
- Takes longer than 30 minutes to finish a feed
- Falls asleep before finishing
- Shows frustration or pulls off the teat
Signs the flow is too fast:
- Gulping, sputtering, or milk dribbling from the corners of the mouth
- Increased wind or spit-up after feeds
- Pulling away from the bottle frequently
Is Philips AVENT Good for Breastfed Babies?
Yes — the Natural Response range is specifically engineered for combination feeding. The J-shaped teat, which releases milk only when your baby actively drinks, is designed to mirror the experience of feeding at the breast as closely as possible. This means your baby uses a similar sucking action whether they're on the breast or the bottle, which significantly reduces the risk of nipple confusion or bottle preference.
For breastfed babies, always start with Flow 1 regardless of age — breastfed babies are used to working for their milk, and a slow flow teat keeps that experience consistent. The wide, breast-shaped teat also encourages the broad latch that breastfed babies are familiar with.
The Natural Response Bottle Starter Set is the ideal starting point for breastfed babies — it includes everything you need in one box.
Browse our full breastfeeding range at Babies.co.nz for breast pumps, nipple shields, breast pads, and milk storage bags to support your feeding journey.
Philips AVENT and Breast Pumps — A Fully Integrated System
One of AVENT's biggest advantages over other bottle brands is that their bottles connect directly to their breast pumps. If you're expressing milk, you can pump directly into the Natural Response bottle — no transfer needed, no extra washing, no milk lost in the process.
At Babies.co.nz we stock the full AVENT pump range:
- Single Rechargeable Electric Breast Pump — powerful, portable, and USB rechargeable for use anywhere. The soft massage cushion stimulates natural milk flow and the customisable settings let you find the suction and speed that works best for you.
- Double Electric Breast Pump — ideal for parents who express frequently or are building a supply. Pumping both sides simultaneously saves significant time.
- Comfort Manual Breast Pump — quiet, compact, and battery-free. Perfect for occasional use, travel, or as a backup to your electric pump.
All AVENT pumps collect directly into Natural Response bottles and are compatible with the AVENT Breast Milk Storage Bags for convenient freezer storage.
Sterilising Philips AVENT Bottles
Sterilising is non-negotiable in the newborn period — and AVENT makes it straightforward. All Natural Response and Anti-Colic bottles and teats are dishwasher safe on the top rack, and fully compatible with steam sterilisation.
For the most thorough and convenient sterilising, the Philips AVENT 4-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser & Dryer sterilises and dries up to six bottles at once — completely hands-free. It's one of the most popular AVENT accessories for good reason: sterilising and drying in a single cycle means bottles are ready to use without any additional handling or air-drying time.
The Philips AVENT Starter Set — Is It Worth It?
For parents buying AVENT for the first time, the Natural Response Bottle Starter Set is the most practical and best-value way to start. It includes a selection of bottles in different sizes, teats across multiple flow levels, and a soother — everything you need to get feeding established from day one without having to piece together a set from individual products.
It's also one of the most thoughtful baby shower gifts you can give a new parent — comprehensive, practical, and from a brand they'll recognise and trust.
Shop Philips AVENT 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 Philips AVENT range — bottles, teats, breast pumps, sterilisers, warmers, cups, and accessories — with Price Match available and 5% back in Rewards on every purchase.
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