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As a new parent, finding the safest non-toxic baby bottles is likely one of your top priorities. With so many options on the market, it can feel overwhelming to choose the safest kind of bottle.
It’s generally a good idea to avoid plastic bottles entirely because even “BPA- free” plastic bottles can leach chemicals and microplastics into liquids such as expressed milk and formula. Some options I ultimately found to be safe and reliable for non-toxic baby bottles were glass, silicone and stainless steel.
Best Non-Toxic Glass Bottles
Glass bottles have been used for generations, and for good reason. They are some of the safest baby bottles you can use, because they are free of harmful chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and PVC that are often found in plastic bottles.
Recent studies have shown that it’s important to avoid glass bottles with printed words on them. Unfortunately, companies that print words on their bottles may use paint that has detectable amounts of lead in it which can rub off on babies’ hands (yikes). Though the lead isn’t getting into the milk, this is obviously a major concern, as any lead exposure is dangerous to children as they develop. This is just one reason why it’s so important to seek out baby foods and formulas without lead or other heavy metals.
Glass is a non-porous material, meaning it doesn’t absorb odors or flavors like plastic can, which can be helpful when introducing new foods or flavors to your baby when weaning time comes along.
When choosing non-toxic baby bottles, look for bottles that are easy to clean and sterilize, and have a nipple that mimics the natural shape of a breast (the more boob-like the better!). This can make the transition from breast to bottle feeding easier for your baby, as well, and avoids the whole issue of nipple confusion.
1. Life Factory– Top Glass Bottles Pick
Our pick for our favorite glass bottle hands-down goes to Life Factory. Their pretty glass bottles are made from borosilicate glass, which is a high-quality, heat-resistant glass that’s less likely to break or shatter than other types.
Their silicone sleeves provide a helpful grip and protection against bumps and drops. Life Factory also offers a range of nipple sizes and flow rates to accommodate different stages of feeding (generally speaking, you want to go with slower flow rates for younger infants, and then get faster flow rates as they get older and are able to drink more quickly).
I tried a bunch of Life Factory bottles with my kids -and later their sippy cups– and I liked them all. These come in both 4 ounce and 9 ounce sizes.
Other Glass Bottles: Runners Up
A few other companies also make glass bottles, including Phillips Avent, Evenflo, NUK, and Tommee Tippee. All of these have anti-cholic air vents that help babies not take in too much air as they’re drinking.
According to the lead study covered by Mamavation, there was no detected lead found in the paint on Phillips, Nuk, or Evenflo bottles. Tommee Tippee had a very low amount (13 parts per million, so quite a bit under the legal limit of 90ppm) detected during one test, and then no detectable lead during a second test. Do with that information what you will!
The main reason none of these made top pick is that they lack the protective silicone sleeve that you get with the Life Factory bottles. I personally found the Phillips Avent nipple (which is made of food-grade silicone, far preferable to plastic) to be the easiest of this batch for my own newborn to latch onto.
Every baby is different, though, so if you go with one of these, it may take a little trial and error to find the right fit for your kiddo. Just make sure you’re getting nipple with the right flow rate for your baby’s age!
Best Silicone Bottles
Silicone bottles are another great option when you’re looking to avoid plastic. Silicone is a flexible, durable material that is generally safe to eat and drink from (see below for caveat). It is also easy to clean and doesn’t retain any odors or flavors.
Silicone bottles are great for parents who are concerned about breakage, as they are less likely to break or shatter than glass bottles. I used glass bottles initially, but then switched to silicone bottles for this very reason.
A caveat about silicone baby bottles: silicone is generally considered food safe, and it’s free of BPA and phthalates, unlike many plastic bottles. I would definitely choose it any day over a plastic baby bottle. However, there is a caveat: unlike glass or stainless steel, there’s a slight potential for silicone to leach under extremely high temperatures or very cold ones. So while during normal usage, silicone baby bottles aren’t known to leach harmful chemicals into their liquid contents, you’ll want to avoid putting them in the freezer or in any high temperature situation, like in a bottle steamer, dishwasher, or microwave.
1. Comotomo
My personal fave for non-toxic baby bottles is far and away the oddly named Comotomo. Their (extremely) boob-like silicone bottles are designed to mimic the shape and feel of a real breast (and boy, do they!). This can make the transition to bottle feeding easier for babies. These bottles were found to have no lead on them in the recent study mentioned above, which is reassuring, to say the least.
Their bottles are also easy to clean and sterilize, and are made from 100% medical-grade silicone that is free from harmful chemicals. My son latched onto one of these bottles immediately —one of the many reasons I love Comotomo! The only potential strike against these bottles is that they can be a little tippy, given their silicone bottom.
2. Nanobébé
Another cute silicone baby bottle that’s newer to the market is Nanobébé . Similar to Comotomo, these bottles are made of high-grade silicone, are designed to avoid cholic, and closely resemble the feel of Mom’s boob.
They have a stable base to avoid tipping (pay attention, Comotomo!) and come in different sizes and cute colors.
Best Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
Sure, it may initially feel kinda weird to give your baby milk out of a metal bottle. But hear me out: stainless steel bottles have become a more popular alternative in recent years to plastic bottles. They are durable, safe, and free from harmful chemicals.
The only possible risk I’ve discovered in my research is that stainless steel could be a problem for babies with a nickel allergy. Stainless steel has some nickel in it, so it’s possible it could cause a reaction, though there’s some debate about whether this is actually a concern.
1. Life Factory
Life Factory is our top pick for glass baby bottles, and they also offer high quality stainless steel bottles. These non-toxic baby bottles are made from food-grade stainless steel, are free from harmful chemicals, and also come with a silicone sleeve for added grip and protection against bumps and drops.
Life Factory’s bottles are also compatible with their wide range of nipples to support different stages of feeding. They earned our top pick status due to their wider nipples, which help avoid nipple confusion while babies switch back and forth from bottle to breast.
2. Klean Kanteen
Klean Kanteen offers a range of stainless steel baby bottles, including their “Kid Kanteen” line designed specifically for children. Their bottles are made from high-quality stainless steel, are free from BPA and other chemicals, and come with a soft silicone nipple.
Klean Kanteen also offers interchangeable lids and accessories to make their bottles adaptable to different stages of your child’s growth. My kids now use Klean Kanteen for their water bottles at home and at school every day, and I use their reusable tumbler for hot tea on the go.
3. Pura
Pura’s stainless steel baby bottles are made from food-grade stainless steel and are free from BPA, PVC, and other harmful chemicals. Their bottles come with a food-grade silicone nipple designed to mimic the feel of a breast.
Pura also offers interchangeable nipples with different flow rates to adapt their bottles to different stages of feeding.
Best non-toxic baby bottles: Final thoughts
Glass, silicone, and metal bottles can be safe and healthy choices for non-toxic baby bottles and sippy cups. While they may be more expensive than plastic ones, the benefits of using these materials far outweigh the cost, in my opinion.
As parents, we know the importance of prioritizing the safety and health of our little ones, and choosing the right bottle can feel like a big step in the right direction.
*If you’re also in the market for teethers made out of materials like food-grade silicone and natural rubber, be sure to check out our guide to the best non-toxic baby teethers.
Check out my other guides to a Non-Toxic Baby Nursery:
- Organic Diapers (Cloth and Disposable)
- Best Non-toxic Bath Toys and Baby Shampoos
- Ultimate Guide to Non-toxic Toys
- Best Non-toxic Cribs and Crib Mattresses
- Best Organic Crib Sheets
- Organic Baby PJs and Organic Kids’ Clothing
