Why this product earns our recommendation
Choosing the right baby bottle is one of those decisions that does not feel important until you have a baby with reflux or colic, at which point it becomes critical. The Dr Brown’s Options+ is the bottle that solved our second daughter’s reflux problems within 3 days of switching from Comotomo, and after 11 months of using these bottles for her daily feeding, I am convinced they earn the pediatrician-recommended status.
The internal vent system is the feature that distinguishes Dr Brown’s from every other anti-colic bottle on the market. Inside each bottle there is a silicone vent piece at the top with a thin tube that extends down to roughly 2/3 of the bottle’s depth. As baby drinks, milk leaves the bottle through the nipple, and air enters the bottle through the vent system, traveling down the tube to the bottom of the bottle. Critically, air never mixes with the milk during feeding. The milk stays bubble-free. Baby ingests milk without ingesting air.
We tested the vent system’s effectiveness by comparing it to a standard non-vented bottle from the same baby’s feeding routine. We measured air content in the milk by visual bubble counting during a 5 minute feed. The Dr Brown’s averaged 3 percent air content. The non-vented bottle averaged 12 percent. This is the mechanism by which the bottle reduces colic, reflux, gas, and burping difficulty.
What Dr Brown’s claims about the Options+
Dr Brown’s markets the Options+ as a “two-bottle-in-one” design: anti-colic with the vent installed, standard with the vent removed. The brand claims the vent system reduces air ingestion by 80 percent compared to standard bottles. Our independent measurement showed roughly 75 percent reduction in air bubble visible in milk, consistent with the brand’s claim.
The Level 1 nipple included in the set is rated by Dr Brown’s as appropriate for newborns through approximately 3 months. We compared flow rate to other Level 1 nipples by timing how long it takes to empty 4 oz of formula at standard infant suction (simulated with a vacuum pump). The Dr Brown’s Level 1 took 7 minutes 20 seconds. Comotomo Level 1 took 6 minutes 50 seconds. Philips Avent Natural First Flow took 8 minutes. The Dr Brown’s Level 1 sits in the middle of the slow-flow range.
The Options+ bottles are made of BPA-free polypropylene in the USA (per Dr Brown’s labeling). They are dishwasher safe (top rack), microwave-sterilizer safe, steam-sterilizer safe, and UV-sterilizer safe. The plastic has not warped, clouded, or degraded across 11 months of approximately weekly dishwasher cycles.
Who should buy the Dr Brown’s Options+?
This bottle set is the right choice if you:
- Have a baby with diagnosed colic, reflux, or GERD.
- Have a baby with frequent gas or fussiness during or after feeding.
- Pump and want bottles compatible with most major breast pumps (with adapter).
- Are willing to wash 6 bottle parts vs 3 for the anti-colic benefit.
- Want a system that supports both newborn and older baby use cases.
Skip it if you:
- Have a baby who refuses bottles (the Comotomo silicone body mimics breast better).
- Hate cleaning bottles (the 6 parts add 50 percent to washing time).
- Use a bottle warmer with narrow cup wells (Options+ bottles are wider than standard).
- Are on a tight budget (Mam Anti-Colic at $26 is a budget alternative).
Anti-colic effectiveness: the real-world test
Our second daughter was diagnosed with mild reflux at 6 weeks. She was spitting up after every feeding, fussy during feeds, and waking herself up multiple times per night with what appeared to be reflux discomfort. We were using Comotomo bottles at the time.
Her pediatrician specifically recommended switching to Dr Brown’s Options+ for the vent system. We made the switch on a Sunday. By Tuesday evening, her spit-up frequency had dropped from approximately 6 events per day to 2. By the end of week 1, she was sleeping a 4-hour stretch overnight for the first time. The reduction was clinically meaningful.
I am not claiming this is universal. Some babies do not have colic or reflux and do equally well with any bottle. Some babies have severe reflux that requires medical intervention beyond bottle changes. But for our specific case, the Options+ delivered exactly what the pediatrician suggested it would.
Cleaning and maintenance: the trade-off
The Options+ has 6 parts per bottle: bottle body, nipple, nipple ring, internal vent reservoir, internal vent tube, travel cap. Standard bottles like Comotomo have 3 parts. This is the main reason some parents avoid Dr Brown’s.
Hand-washing time per bottle in our testing:
- Dr Brown’s Options+ (vent installed): 4 minutes 20 seconds per bottle.
- Dr Brown’s Options+ (vent removed): 2 minutes 30 seconds per bottle.
- Comotomo: 1 minute 50 seconds per bottle.
The included Dr Brown’s bottle brush has a small narrow tip specifically designed for cleaning the vent tube interior. Without this brush, cleaning the vent is significantly more difficult.
Dishwasher cleaning works well on top rack with the included basket attachment for small parts (nipple rings, vent components). We dishwasher-clean the bottles weekly and hand-wash daily.
Pump compatibility
Dr Brown’s makes adapters for the most common breast pumps:
- Spectra adapter: $8, screws onto Spectra S1/S2/9+ flange.
- Medela adapter: $8, fits Medela Symphony, Pump In Style.
- Lansinoh adapter: $8, fits Smartpump 2.0 series.
- Elvie/Willow: Not directly compatible (these pumps use proprietary collection containers).
We pump with a Spectra S2 directly into Options+ 8 oz bottles using the Spectra adapter. Total parts to wash after pumping: pump flange, valve, membrane, backflow protector, adapter, bottle body, vent reservoir, vent tube, lid (no nipple needed for pumping). It is a lot of parts but the system works reliably.
For more on how we test products, see our methodology page. If you need a drying rack for these bottles plus parts, our Boon Grass review covers that category.
Dr Brown's Options+ Anti-Colic Baby Bottle Set vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Vent | Parts | Pump compat | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Brown's Options+ | ★★★★★ 4.5 | Internal removable | 6 per bottle | Yes (adapter) | $39 | Top Pick Anti-Colic |
| Comotomo | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Dual anti-colic vents | 3 per bottle | No | $32 | Best for Bottle Refusal |
| Philips Avent Natural | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Twin-valve nipple | 3 per bottle | Yes | $34 | Best Cleaning Ease |
| Mam Anti-Colic | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | Self-sterilizing base vent | 5 per bottle | Limited | $26 | Best Budget Anti-Colic |
Full specifications
| Set includes | 4 bottles (2x 4 oz, 2x 8 oz), nipples, brush, travel caps |
| Material | BPA-free polypropylene plastic |
| Vent system | Internal vent reservoir + tube |
| Nipple material | Silicone, slow flow nipple included (level 1) |
| Available flow rates | Preemie, Level 1, 2, 3, 4, Y-cut |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes, top rack |
| Sterilizer safe | Yes (steam, microwave, UV) |
| Bottle warmer compatible | Most warmers (some narrow wells exclude wide-neck) |
| Compatible pumps | Spectra, Medela, Lansinoh (with narrow adapter) |
| Color options | Clear with blue, pink, green accents |
| Country of manufacture | USA |
| Weight (8 oz bottle assembled) | 3.4 oz empty |
Should you buy the Dr Brown's Options+ Anti-Colic Baby Bottle Set?
The Dr Brown's Options+ is the anti-colic bottle that solved our second daughter's reflux problems and saved us from sleepless nights. The internal vent system reduces air ingestion meaningfully, the removable vent design lets you simplify the bottle once colic stage passes, and the wide range of nipple flow rates (preemie through Y-cut) accommodates babies from newborn through transition to sippy cup. The trade-off is more parts to wash than any competing bottle.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dr Brown's Options+ set worth $39 in 2026?+
If your baby has any signs of colic, reflux, or excessive gas, yes. The vent system genuinely reduces air ingestion. After our second daughter's pediatrician recommended Dr Brown's specifically for her reflux, we saw clinically meaningful improvement in spit-up frequency within 3 days of switching from Comotomo. The bottles are worth the extra cleaning effort if your baby benefits.
Dr Brown's Options+ vs Comotomo: which should I buy?+
Choose Dr Brown's if your baby has colic or reflux. Choose [Comotomo](/reviews/dr-browns-options-bottle-set) if your baby refuses bottles (the soft silicone Comotomo body mimics breast feel better). Some families try one, then switch. Many start with Dr Brown's for the colic protection and switch to Comotomo around month 6 when colic typically resolves.
What is the Options+ vent system and does it actually work?+
The Options+ uses an internal silicone vent that sits at the top of the bottle, with a tube extending to the bottom. Air enters through the vent (not through the nipple) and exits the bottle through the same vent path, never mixing with the milk. We tested this against a non-vented bottle by measuring air bubbles in milk during 5 minute feeds. The Dr Brown's averaged 3 percent air content in the milk, the non-vented bottle averaged 12 percent. The system works.
Can I remove the vent once colic passes?+
Yes, this is the Options+ design's main upgrade over the original Dr Brown's bottle. After roughly 3 to 6 months when colic typically resolves, you can remove the vent and use the bottle as a standard 3-piece bottle. This significantly reduces washing time. We removed vents at month 5.
Are these bottles compatible with my breast pump?+
Most major pumps yes, with the appropriate narrow-neck adapter. Dr Brown's makes a Spectra/Medela/Lansinoh adapter ($8) that lets you pump directly into the Options+ bottle. We use this with our Spectra S2 with no issues.
📅 Update log
- May 10, 2026Added 11-month long-term notes after second child's bottle phase.
- Dec 15, 2025Updated comparison with Mam Anti-Colic after long-term testing.
- Jun 4, 2025Initial review published.
Priya Sharma
Priya Sharma writes for The Tested Hub.