Choosing the right feeding bottle can make a world of difference for both baby and parent. Many newborns struggle with colic, gas, or discomfort caused by swallowing air during feeds — and that’s where anti-colic bottles come in. Designed with special venting systems to reduce bubbles and keep milk flowing smoothly, these bottles can help ease digestion, minimise fussiness, and make feeding time calmer. With so many options available, it can be tricky to know which one to try first, so we’ve rounded up the top 5 anti-colic baby bottles on Amazon UK to help you decide.
1) MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic (260 ml)
- Why it’s loved: the vented base helps reduce air intake and the bottle is self-sterilising in 3 minutes in a microwave (huge win for newborn nights). Parents consistently praise fewer gas/wind issues and how easy it is to sterilise on the go.
- Ease of cleaning: parts come apart fully; self-sterilising means fewer accessories to wash/store.
- Typical price: multipacks vary by print/colour; often mid-range for the category.
- Recent review sentiment: very high average rating with thousands of UK reviews.
2) Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic (260 ml)
- Why it’s loved: a 3-piece venting wand draws air away from milk; the wand includes a heat-sensing strip that changes colour if the feed’s too hot. Parents like the breast-like teat shape and latch.
- Ease of cleaning: more parts than simpler bottles (wand + valves), so a touch more fiddly — but straightforward once you’ve done it a couple of times.
- Typical price: multipacks frequently discounted.
- Recent review sentiment: widely bought with strong ratings across variants.
3) Dr Brown’s Options+ Anti-Colic (Narrow)
- Why it’s loved: the famous internal vent system (Options+) is clinically marketed as reducing colic, spit-up and gas; you can remove the vent as baby grows (hence “Options”).
- Ease of cleaning: more pieces to separate; everything is dishwasher-safe (top rack) and Dr Brown’s includes/ sells tiny vent brushes to keep the insert and reservoir clean. If reviews mention “leaks,” it’s almost always a vent seating/assembly thing — careful assembly fixes it.
- Typical price: singles usually low-mid; multipacks scale well.
- Recent review sentiment: a perennial favourite with a large review base on Amazon UK.
4) Philips Avent Anti-colic with AirFree™ vent (260 ml)
- Why it’s loved: the AirFree vent is a single piece that keeps the teat full of milk (even when horizontal) to help reduce swallowing air; fewer pieces = easier cleaning. Parents like the consistent flows and simple assembly.
- Ease of cleaning: one-piece vent + wide neck = quick wash-ups.
- Typical price: mid-range; 3-packs often good value.
- Recent review sentiment: strong ratings on the UK triple-pack and sets.
5) NUK First Choice+ (Temperature Control)
- Why it’s loved: orthodontic teat with a soft zone plus Temperature Control strip that turns from blue to white if the milk’s too hot; built-in anti-colic air system in the teat.
- Ease of cleaning: wide neck helps with filling and washing; fewer pieces than vented-wand systems.
- Typical price: especially competitive for singles and 2-packs; we’ve seen 150 ml singles around the £6–£8 mark recently.
- Recent review sentiment: well-reviewed across sizes/sets.
Quick Comparison (at a glance)
| Bottle | Anti-colic tech | Parts to clean | Self-sterilising | Dishwasher-safe | Stand-out extras | Pricing notes* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAM Easy Start | Vented base | Moderate | Yes (microwave, ~3 min) | Yes | Lots of prints/sizes | Mid-range; great value in bundles. (Amazon UK) |
| Tommee Tippee Advanced | 3-piece venting wand | More | No | Yes | Heat-sensing strip on wand | Promo-heavy; packs often discounted. (Amazon UK) |
| Dr Brown’s Options+ | Internal vent system (removable later) | Most | No | Yes (top rack) | Tiny vent brushes; “Options” flexibility | Singles cheap; multipacks scale well. (Amazon UK) |
| Philips Avent AirFree | 1-piece AirFree vent | Few | No | Yes | Works even when held more horizontal | Mid-range; solid 3-pack pricing. (Amazon UK) |
| NUK First Choice+ | Teat anti-colic air system | Few | No | Yes | Temperature Control strip | Very competitive for singles/sets. (Amazon UK) |
*Amazon prices swing with colours/prints, multipacks and deals — always check the current listing.
How I Weighed The Picks
- Real-world reviews & ratings: I prioritised models with strong, recent UK review volume and stable averages. (Examples: MAM Easy Start, Philips Avent triple-pack, and NUK First Choice+ pages show current ratings; Tommee Tippee and Dr Brown’s ranges have substantial UK review histories across multiple SKUs.)
- Ease of cleaning & parts count: One-piece vents (Avent AirFree) and wide necks (NUK) clean fastest; vent-wand (TT Advanced) and internal-vent (Dr Brown’s) take longer but are manageable with the right brush.
- Features that actually help at 3 a.m.: self-sterilising (MAM), heat/temperature indicators (TT Advanced, NUK), and reliable vent designs that reduce bubbles if assembled correctly.
Which One’s “Best” For You?
- Want the simplest clean? Philips Avent AirFree (few parts) or NUK First Choice+ (wide neck).
- Need maximum anti-colic tuning? Dr Brown’s Options+ (most aggressive venting; removable later).
- No steriliser at home? MAM Easy Start (microwave self-sterilising).
- Like a quick safety check on milk temp? Tommee Tippee Advanced (heat-sensing wand) or NUK First Choice+.
Final Tip (Important!)
Every baby is different. What settles one newborn might annoy another! It’s genuinely smart (and cost-saving long-term) to buy 2–3 different anti-colic bottles at first, try them in the first couple of weeks, and then stock up on the one your baby latches to and agrees with best.
Standard note: Always assemble bottles exactly per the manufacturer’s instructions and check flow/temperature before feeding. If you’re worried about reflux or persistent colic, talk to your midwife, health visitor, GP, or lactation consultant.