Why you should trust this review
We bought the Dr Brown’s Natural Flow Glass bottles in October 2025 from Amazon for $49.99. We were already using the plastic Dr Brown’s Options+ and wanted glass alternatives for home use specifically. The motivation was not a chemical safety scare; it was personal preference for glass during long-term storage of pumped milk in the freezer (glass does not absorb odors or stain). Dr Brown’s did not provide a sample.
We have used the glass bottles 4 to 6 times per day for 7 months alongside the plastic Options+ at daycare. Total feedings: approximately 800 with the glass set, 1,400 with the plastic set.
How we tested the glass bottles
- Used 4 to 6 times per day for 7 months at home for primary feedings.
- Compared anti-colic vent performance against the plastic Options+ on the same baby.
- Tested drop survival across 4 unintentional floor drops (tile, hardwood, padded carpet).
- Sterilized weekly by boiling for 5 minutes across 7 months.
- Frozen-stored pumped milk in the bottles for up to 30 days.
For more on how we test products, see our methodology page.
Who should buy the glass bottles?
Buy the Dr Brown’s Natural Flow Glass set if you:
- Specifically prefer glass over plastic for feeding.
- Have a baby with diagnosed colic or reflux.
- Use the bottles primarily at home (not for daycare or travel).
- Want long-term frozen milk storage in the same bottle as feeding.
Skip it if you:
- The plastic Options+ is sufficient for your needs ($11 cheaper).
- You travel often or have a clumsy older sibling (glass risk).
- You want the lightest possible bottle for grip ease.
Vent system: identical to plastic Options+
The Natural Flow Glass uses the same internal vent system as the plastic Options+. A silicone vent piece sits at the top of the bottle with a thin tube extending to the bottom. As baby drinks, milk leaves through the nipple, and air enters through the vent system, traveling down the tube. Air never mixes with milk during feeding.
In side-by-side use with our reflux-prone daughter, the glass bottles delivered the same colic-reduction effect as the plastic Options+. Spit-up frequency was equivalent. Feeding times were equivalent. Baby’s preference between the two bottles was equivalent (no preference detected).
Borosilicate glass durability
The glass body is borosilicate, the same glass type used in laboratory beakers and high-end cookware. Borosilicate is more thermal-shock resistant than soda-lime glass (the cheap kind in dollar-store cookware). It also has higher impact resistance than soda-lime.
We have dropped our glass bottles 4 times across 7 months:
- Drop 1 (month 2): 18 inches onto kitchen tile. No damage.
- Drop 2 (month 4): 30 inches onto hardwood floor. Tiny chip on rim, no crack.
- Drop 3 (month 5): 24 inches onto padded carpet. No damage.
- Drop 4 (month 6): 14 inches onto tile from kitchen counter edge. No damage.
The borosilicate glass survives most household drops. Concrete or stone surfaces would likely cause cracking. We do not use glass bottles outside the home for this reason.
Sterilization compatibility
The glass bottles withstand all standard sterilization methods: boiling water, steam sterilizer, microwave sterilizer, UV sanitizer. Plastic bottles can degrade with repeated boiling (Options+ plastic has a 200-cycle limit). Glass has no such limit.
We boil the glass bottles weekly for 5 minutes. After 7 months and approximately 30 boil cycles, the bottles show zero degradation. The glass is identical to day 1.
Cleaning and the vent system
The glass body is dishwasher-safe (top rack). The vent system requires the same care as the plastic Options+: 6 parts per bottle, with a small narrow brush for the vent tube interior. Total hand-wash time per bottle: approximately 4 minutes 30 seconds (slightly longer than plastic at 4 minutes due to the heavier glass requiring more careful handling).
Frozen milk storage
We have frozen pumped milk directly in the glass bottles for up to 30 days at a time. The borosilicate glass tolerates the freezer-to-warm-water temperature swing without thermal shock. Plastic bottles can develop micro-cracks over many freeze cycles; glass does not.
For families who freeze pumped milk routinely, the glass bottles are dual-purpose (storage + feeding) which is genuine value.
Dr Brown's Natural Flow Glass Bottles vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Material | Vent | Weight (8oz empty) | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Brown's Natural Flow Glass | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | Borosilicate glass | Internal removable | 5.2 oz | $50 | Best Glass Anti-Colic |
| Dr Brown's Options+ Plastic | ★★★★★ 4.5 | BPA-free polypropylene | Internal removable | 3.4 oz | $39 | Top Pick Anti-Colic |
| Comotomo Natural Feel | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Silicone body | Dual anti-colic vents | 4.1 oz | $32 | Best for Bottle Refusal |
| Avent Natural Glass | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | Borosilicate glass | Twin-valve nipple | 5.0 oz | $35 | Best Glass Wide-Neck |
Full specifications
| Set includes | 3 bottles (one 4 oz, two 8 oz), nipples, brushes |
| Material | 100 percent borosilicate glass body, silicone nipple |
| Vent system | Internal vent reservoir + tube (same as Options+) |
| Nipple flow rates available | Preemie, Level 1, 2, 3, 4, Y-cut |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes, top rack |
| Sterilizer safe | Yes (boiling, steam, microwave, UV) |
| 8 oz bottle weight (empty) | 5.2 oz |
| Glass type | Borosilicate (high thermal-shock resistant) |
| Drop-resistance test | Survives 3 ft drops on padded surfaces |
| Color options | Clear glass only |
| Country of manufacture | USA |
Should you buy the Dr Brown's Natural Flow Glass Bottles?
The Dr Brown's Natural Flow Glass bottles deliver the same anti-colic vent system as the more popular plastic Options+ in a borosilicate glass body. After 7 months of daily use, the bottles have survived 4 unintentional floor drops without breaking, the vent system has worked as designed, and we have not needed to worry about plastic chemical leaching from heat exposure. The trade-off is the weight (each bottle is approximately 50 percent heavier than plastic) and a higher per-bottle price. For families specifically choosing glass, this is the right pick.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dr Brown's Natural Flow Glass set worth $50 in 2026?+
Yes if you specifically want glass and you have a baby with colic or reflux. The glass body is durable for its weight, the vent system is the same Options+ design that pediatricians recommend, and you avoid all plastic-leaching concerns. If glass is not specifically a priority for you, the plastic [Options+](/reviews/dr-browns-options-bottle-set) is $11 cheaper for the same anti-colic performance.
Glass vs Plastic Dr Brown's: which should I buy?+
Plastic Options+ for travel, daycare, and anywhere drops are likely. Glass for home use specifically when you want to avoid plastic in feeding. We use the plastic Options+ for daycare and the glass bottles at home. The vent system performance is identical between the two.
Will glass bottles break if dropped?+
Borosilicate glass is more durable than soda-lime glass but it can still break. We have dropped our glass bottles 4 times across 7 months on tile or hardwood floors and none have broken. They are designed to survive 3-foot drops on most surfaces. They will likely break on concrete or stone hard enough to crack.
How much heavier are the glass bottles?+
Approximately 50 percent. An empty 8 oz plastic Options+ weighs 3.4 oz. The glass version weighs 5.2 oz. Across a feeding session this is barely noticeable. Across a diaper bag with 4 bottles, the glass set adds approximately 1.5 lb of bag weight.
📅 Update log
- May 10, 2026Added 7-month long-term durability notes.
- Oct 22, 2025Initial review published.
Morgan Davis
Morgan Davis writes for The Tested Hub.