13 Best Bottles for Preemies

When a preemie baby arrives, parents have a laundry list of things, including hunting for preemie-sized nipples and bottles. Preemie babies are those who’re born early, between 20 and 37 weeks. What’s more, they could have trouble swallowing milk and sucking, with their intestines often needing more time to develop too. That’s why preemies in the NICU are sometimes fed initially with IV tubes that go through their mouth or nose. And that’s why there are also options for the best bottle for preemies that help preemie babies drink milk better. Since breastfeeding exclusively isn’t an option for such babies, these bottles help them latch better, thus giving them the much-needed nutrition that they require. Plus, they come in many size options, suiting all kinds of preemies. To that end, here are 13 options for the best bottles for a preemie baby.

Playtex Baby Ventaire Anti Colic Bottle

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The Playtex Baby Ventaire Anti Colic Bottle is the best bottle for preemies. If your preemie suffers from gas, this bottle is perfect for them. This six-oz bottle is designed in a unique and interesting manner, complete with removable bottoms that make clean-up easy. What’s more, they can even be tossed in the top rack of the dishwasher. Going further, the set has three six-oz bottles that can be cleaned with one hand. Plus, the angled design ensures that the milk flows steadily to the nipple. It reduces not only the chances of babies ingesting gas but also the wider nipple helps your tot latch properly. Finally, the vented bottom pulls air directly from the base, keeping it away from the milk/formula.

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottle

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The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottle is one of the best bottles for preemie babies. What’s more, it’s also one of the best bottles for newborn babies. This bottle is flexible, affordable, and easy to use, making it one of the best bottle feeding products. For one, the bottles are BPA-free and ergonomically designed, making them easy for parents to clean and preemies to latch on. Secondly, the curved design means that after your preemies grow up, they can even begin holding them independently. What’s more, the brushes don’t get caught on the sides since the rims are small. Besides coming in both 5 and 9 oz sizes, they only have just a few parts, so cleaning is hassle-free.

Comotomo Natural-Feel Baby Bottles

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The Comotomo Natural-Feel Baby Bottles is not just the best bottle for preemies but also one of the best bottles that mimic breastfeeding. Feeding preemies is very simple with these bottles as they’re simple to assemble and have ultra-wide necks that make them easy to clean. Moreover, they have a flexible base and soft, big nipples, mimicking the breastfeeding experience. So, your preemie can grab and squish the bottle when they’re feeding, thus developing their motor skills. Even parents can heave a sigh, as these bottles are microwave, boiling water, and dishwasher-safe. Finally, the dual anti-colic vents and the silicone nipple and base ensure that these bottles eliminate gas and are safe for babies.

Boon Nursh Silicone Pouch Bottle

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The Boon Nursh Silicone Pouch Bottle is the best bottle for preemie baby, especially for reducing their air intake. These bottles go a long way in lessening the amount of air that they ingest, thus preventing painful gas and colic. It uses a small, collapsible pouch for that, but it’s a lot more than just that. For one, it’s made from 100% baby-safe silicone, which is easy to clean too. Thanks to the optimized nipple, it’s easy to transition them between bottle and breast. Finally, the bottle, which comes in adorable bright colors, can hold up to 4 oz of milk and also offers a comfy grip for parents.

Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottles

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The Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottles is the best bottle for preemies. This bottle goes a long way in preventing gas when babies are feeding. Even parents love this simple bottle, which has just four pieces – the bottle itself, the nipple, the ring, and the cap. Besides them making feeding a breeze, each of which is dishwasher-safe. Moreover, they’re compatible with every product in the Avent line. Hence, if you have other classic Avent items such as toddler bottles, nipples, and cups, these parts are all interchangeable. The best bit? All bottles and nipples are BPA-free. Wrapping up the best features is the unique vent, the main anti-gas feature that pushes the air away from your baby’s mouth.

NUK Simply Natural Bottle

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The NUK Simply Natural Bottle is the best bottle for preemie baby. It’s not surprising since the brand also makes some of the best bottles for toddlers. This bottle is rather affordable, making it perfect for parents on a budget. Even then, NUK doesn’t skimp on the quality, making the bottle BPA-free. Moreover, they’re available in three variants, as a single 5 oz. bottle, a set of 3 5-oz. bottles, and a set of 9-oz bottles. So, parents can choose the combination that works best for them. What’s more, this NUK bottle set also has nipples with different flow rates, thus suiting the preferences of many preemies. Finally, the perfectly angled NUK nipples feel and look just like a breast, helping preemies latch on.

Munchkin Latch Newborn Bottles

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The Munchkin Latch Newborn Bottles is not just the best bottle for preemies, but also one of the best bottles for newborn breastfeeding. This bottle also has anti-colic base valves, making them one of the best bottles for gassy babies. What’s more, the nipple stretches and moves just like a real nipple, thus mimicking the breastfeeding experience for preemies. So, it also helps preemies learn to latch well and feed properly. Additionally, parents even can upgrade to the transition cup without causing preemies any fuss. Finally, the design reduces gas too overall.

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Baby Bottle

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Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Baby Bottle is one of the best bottles for preemie babies. It also happens to be one of the best cereal bottles for babies. These anti-colic bottles are a clear favorite with new parents, especially those of preemies, due to the special tubed venting system that helps reduce gas and colic. What’s more, the tubed design forces air to the bottle’s base, thus keeping your preemie from ingesting air during feedings. If that wasn’t enough, the nipple design slows the flow of the milk, thus preventing spit-up, burps, and gas. Plus, these bottles are top-rack dishwasher safe and come in two sizes of 5 and 9 oz. Finally, this bottle is also recommended by speech-language pathologists.

Lansinoh Momma Breastmilk Feeding Bottle

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The Lansinoh Momma Breastmilk Feeding Bottle is the best bottle for preemies. If you’ve struggled to get your preemie to bottle feed, These bottles have gotten rave reviews from parents who’ve struggled to coax their tots for bottle feeding. For one, the bottle’s shape is slightly different from usual. Secondly, the surface is thick and matte, with the nipple itself tapering off less sharply, so it feels more natural in your kid’s mouth. What’s great is that this design promotes the same sucking motions that your tot would be practicing at the breast. Moreover, they’re necessary for a good latch and proper oral development, making this bottle more perfect. Aside from the nipple, the rest of the bottle is made from sturdy plastic and has a wide and easy-to-clean neck. Finally, it’s compatible with a range of other brand nipples.

Dr. Brown’s 60ml Feeding Bottle With Preemie Teat

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The Dr. Brown’s 60ml Feeding Bottle With Preemie Teat is the best bottle for preemie baby. Just like other Dr. Brown bottles, this one is also “anti-colic,” thanks to the internal vent system that reduces gas. Preemies will find it easier to drink from as it reduces the milk flow by 47%, allowing them to drink easily and not ingest gas. Since it only has a few parts, it’s not a hassle to clean them either. Thanks to the BPA-free construct, the bottle preserves the vitamins in the milk or the formula. Moreover, the slow-flow nipple is great for preemies.

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Original Baby Bottle

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Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Original Baby Bottle is the best bottle for preemies. This classic Dr. Brown’s bottle has a lot going for it, such as the two-way vent system that mimics breastfeeding’s positive pressure flow. So, it’s one of the best bottles for minimizing air intake and burping, spitting, and gas. What’s more, you can use a variety of nipple flow sizes, such as older babies, newborns, and even preemies, which is why it’s so great for preemies. Hence, you can adjust the milk flow depending on your tot’s ability to drink.

nanobébé Breastmilk Bottle

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The nanobébé Breastmilk Bottle is one of the best bottles for preemie babies. This unique baby bottle is shaped like a breast, thus allowing to warm milk easily. Preemies switching between breastfeeding and bottles will love this bottle as the shape mimics a breast. So, it’s easy to feed preemies who’re finicky with this bottle. The rest of the bottle is no exception and has many great features. These include the inward curved bottom that makes it comfy for parents to hold. Additionally, it allows you to stack these bottles easily, thus saving a ton of space. Furthermore, the design also helps warm and cool liquids faster, thus preserving nutrients and preventing bacterial growth. Aside from being easy to clean, it also helps avoid nipple confusion.

MAM “Feed & Soothe” Set Easy Start Anti-Colic Baby Bottles

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The MAM “Feed & Soothe” Set Easy Start Anti-Colic Baby Bottles are the best bottle for preemies. If your preemie is suffering from colic or reflux, these bottles are perfect. To begin with, the patented vented base pushes any air bubbles out, thus preventing them from getting ingested and trapped in your tot’s tummy. What’s more, these bottles feature soft silicone nipples. So, they mimic the breastfeeding experience and, thus, comfort preemies. Finally, this set is a smart buy as it features 2 5-oz. bottles and 9-oz. bottles each, making them perfect for your growing preemies. 

How To Choose The Best Bottles for Preemies?

Quantity

Since preemies eat less and more frequently, a bigger bottle won’t work for them. Frankly, it’ll be rather unnecessary. So, it’s best to look for smaller bottles that can hold between 2 to 5 oz of milk. In fact, bottles with around a 5-oz capacity are more than sufficient for premature babies.

Here are also some of the best bottles for tongue-tied babies.

Anti-colic

As parents of preemies, you need to consider bottles that have vented bottoms or nipples. These go a long way in helping prevent air intake, thus reducing gas, colic, spit-up, etc. However, you need to note that anti-colic technology comes in different forms and variations. For instance, some manufacturers such as Playtex use ventilated discs that sit at the bottom of the bottles. Yet, there are others that use air vents in the nipple.

Check out some of the best bottles for babies with gas.

Slow-flow nipple

Finally, look for bottles with slow-flow nipples or those with the technology to fit slow-flow nipples. Since your tony tot needs help to feed, the milk coming out too fast could end up choking them. So, you need to choose bottles with slow-flowing nipples since your tot needs assistance during feeding.

How many ounces should a preemie be drinking?

Preemies usually need about 12-15 oz of milk or formula every day.

When should I introduce a bottle to my preemie?

Generally, preemies can be bottle-fed beginning at 32 weeks, up to 36 weeks of gestational age.

Should you wake a preemie to eat?

Once your tot establishes a steady pattern of weight gain and reaches the birth-weight milestone, it’s okay to wake them up to eat. However, the general rule is to wait to feed them until they wake up. Most newborns require 8-12 feedings per day, with a feeding every 2-3 hours.