Getting started with your Dr Browns’ Bottle

By selecting Dr Brown’s bottles, you’ve just made an important choice in the health and happiness of your baby. Here is some useful information and practical tips that will help ensure a comfortable and satisfying experience for your baby – and worry-free feeding times for you.

How We’re Different
Dr Brown’s redefined bottle feeding by creating an internal venting system that prevents air from coming in contact with the liquid. This helps prevent colic and burping, so reducing or eliminating feeding problems for your baby, and stress and anxiety for you.

While other bottle designs have emerged to address venting, Dr. Brown’s are the only bottles that are 100% fully vented. This maximises your baby’s ability to feed comfortably at their own pace.

Dr Brown’s Options+ bottle can be used with or without the internal venting system. You may find that removing the venting system simplifies things for you as your baby’s feeding becomes more developed, around the 4 month mark!

Proper Bottle Assembly
As with any bottle, it is important to ensure proper assembly so the bottle works correctly.

Here are the basics:

  • Fill your bottle to the desired amount, being careful not to overfill.
  • Snap the teat into the teat collar and place loosely on the bottle.
  • Warm the bottle per warming instructions.
  • Snap the reservoir onto the insert.
  • Remove the teat and collar and place the reservoir in the bottle.
  • Place the teat and collar over the vent system and tighten snugly.

This How to Use Dr. Brown’s Bottles video shows you more:

Bottle Prep Tips
OK, let’s be honest – sometimes things go wrong. Never fear, there is a solution! Here are five tips that help you troubleshoot:

Tip 1: If you are using formula, avoid shaking the bottle to mix the formula, as this can cause liquid to enter the vent. Instead, just swill the bottle gently, as formula mixes very easily these days. Alternatively, if you prefer you can always stir the formula gently with a spoon to dissolve lumps, which can clog the teat opening.

Tip 2: Avoid overfilling your bottle. The internal vent system may not function properly if the liquid goes over the fill line marked on the bottle.

Tip 3: Keep the collar loose during warming. Either heat your bottle without the collar, or loosen the collar one-half turn during heating, and then tighten it before baby’s feeding. Heating the bottle with a tight collar can force liquid into the vent.

Tip 4: Avoid overheating. In addition to potentially being dangerous to your baby, overheating can expand the air in the bottle, pushing liquid through the vent system, which can cause leaks. A good rule of thumb is to avoid warming the liquid beyond body temperature, 98° Fahrenheit.

Tip 5: Use travel caps. When you travel, be sure to keep your bottles upright, and use travel caps.

Cleaning your Bottles

It won’t take long before you’ll have your bottle cleaning routine. If you are using your bottle for the first time, wash all the parts and – for the first use only – boil the teat for five minutes.

For everyday cleaning, wash all the parts in hot water and detergent. Your Dr. Brown’s bottle comes with a small brush to clean all holes in the insert and reservoir. The Dr. Brown’s Bottle Brush combines a sponge and bristles for thorough cleaning of the bottles, and chevron channels at the base for cleaning the teats.