baby bottles and toys on a counter

Traveling with a baby can be challenging (to say the least), especially when they’re still in the bottle-feeding or breastfeeding phase. Choosing one of the best baby bottles for traveling can save you and your little one from unnecessary stress and discomfort, so read on to learn how to find a bottle that suits you both best.

Do I Need Baby Bottles for Traveling?

Baby bottles are one of those diaper bag essentials that every mom should pack when leaving the house with a little one. Even if you’re breastfeeding, it’s a good idea to keep bottles of pumped milk on hand when traveling.
There are many baby bottles that serve different needs, but which ones are the best for traveling? This is an overview of today’s best baby bottles for on-the-go parents. If you’re also on the lookout for a diaper bag, we have some of the best and most stylish options, so check them out!

Types of Baby Bottles

Whether you’re feeding your baby infant formula or breast milk from a bottle, your little one will need some time to learn how to drink from it. You’ll also need some time to adjust to a bottle routine and learn everything you need to know about feeding your baby from a bottle.
To begin with, familiarize yourself with the types of baby bottles and the most common features to look out for in the following guide.

Regular

Regular or standard baby bottles are inexpensive, making them easy to dispose of. While they come in all shapes and sizes, their narrow necks are their most distinguishable characteristic. However, these bottles are more difficult to clean and can lead to colic due to their tendency to capture too much air while feeding.

Anti-Colic

Science and innovation have made anti-colic bottles a widely available option. This type of bottle comes equipped with a mechanism that keeps extra air from entering the bottle, helping to combat uneasy and unpleasant feeding experiences. This feature makes anti-colic bottles an ideal option for traveling as they help reduce the chances of your little one having stomach issues in the middle of a trip. Their double venting system also makes them easier to clean.

Features to Look For

Whether you want to use regular or anti-colic bottles, there are a few basic features you should look out for to ensure you’re choosing a quality bottle:

Pumping Compatible

There are countless reasons why new mamas choose to breastfeed over bottle feeding, but the reality is that sometimes you may want a break, especially while traveling. Whether you choose a bottle that attaches directly to a pump or is designed to store breast milk, some sort of pumping compatibility is a feature you’ll want to look out for.

Venting System

When babies swallow air through a bottle, it gets trapped in their digestive tracts, causing gas and other uncomfortable digestive issues. One way to avoid this is to choose a bottle with a good venting system.

BPA-Free

BPA is a harmful industrial chemical that’s used to make plastic. Whenever you choose any plastic vessel for food and beverages, you should make sure they’re BPA-free.

Easy to Wash

With newborns requiring 8-12 feedings a day, you can end up with a lot of bottles to wash if that’s how they’re eating. Make your life a little easier by choosing bottles that are dishwasher-safe and have a simple design without a lot of nooks and crannies to trap milk in.

Measurement Marks

Infants’ tiny tummies alone make feeding feel like a science, and it becomes especially important to pay attention to how much they’re drinking if they’re having any digestive or health issues. Choose bottles with accurate measurement marks to easily keep track of how much milk you’re producing and how much your baby is drinking.