Benefits Of Dr. Brown's Baby Bottles

Does the Dr. Brown's baby bottle really work?

Yes it does. When babies feed they suck milk or formula from the bottle through the nipple. As the liquid leaves the bottle, air enters in through the vent to take the place of the milk or formula. Our patented internal vent allows the air to enter and directs it to the area above the liquid, keeping the air and the liquid separate. Because there is no vacuum to inhibit the flow of liquid, babies can feed at their own pace. Click here to see how the technology of the Dr. Brown's baby bottle works.

What is the difference between the Standard and Wide-Neck Dr. Brown's bottles?

All the Dr. Brown's baby bottles share the benefits of the patented internal vent. Many breast-feeding mothers prefer the Dr. Brown's Wide-Neck bottle as the nipple has a broader base, which can avoid nipple confusion for the baby. The Standard Dr. Brown's bottle carries the standard bottle nipple, which is more narrow.

Why is it good to prevent a vacuum from developing in the bottle?

There are two major problems associated with most traditional baby bottles: air and vacuum. Air ingested by babies can cause discomfort, sleepless nights, gas, spit-up, cramps, and other symptoms associated with colic. A vacuum in the bottle can transfer air to a baby's middle ear and can encourage fluid to be drawn in. Traditional and restrictively vented bottles tend to develop vacuums when babies feed from them because babies need to suck progressively harder to get any liquid from them. Babies seal their lips to the nipple when they nurse, but as the vacuum increases they ingest air through a weakened nipple seal. Air enters the bottle through the vent in the nipple and aerates the formula; this air is ingested.

Is that a straw in the Dr. Brown's baby bottle?

No it is not a straw, it is a reservoir tube and it's the part of the vent that allows air to enter the bottles and be directed to the area above the liquid, keeping the air and the liquid separate.

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Usage & Cleaning

Is it necessary to only use Dr. Brown's nipples on my Dr. Brown's bottles?

Because the Dr. Brown's baby bottle is fully vented it requires a unique nipple. Other bottles have a vacuum inside that restricts the flow of liquid, and because of the vacuum the nipples on these bottles tend to have a very large hole. Using one of these nipples on a Dr. Brown's baby bottle could result in feeding you baby much too fast, possibly causing the baby to choke.

Can I use Dr. Brown's nipples on other brands of bottles?

Dr. Brown's nipples are of the highest quality. However they are specifically designed for the Dr. Brown's baby bottles and should not be used on other brands of bottles. The Dr. Brown's nipple does not have a vacuum operated rim-vent like other brands of bottles. If a Dr. Brown's nipple is used on an un-vented bottle the baby may experience feeding difficulties and could experience the discomfort commonly described as colic.

What can I do if I have lost a part of the vent?

Replacement parts are available in stores and located in the same area where you purchased your bottle. If you have difficulty finding the replacement parts you need please call our customer service department for a store location nearest you.

Can I use my Dr. Brown's bottles without the vent?

The vent is an essential part of the Dr. Brown's system and is required to prevent the vacuum found in other brands of bottles.

Can the bottle be used to heat formula in the microwave?

We do not recommend using a microwave oven to heat the bottle because microwave ovens can create hotspots in milk or formula.

Will the Dr. Brown's bottle connect to breast pumps?

Dr. Brown’s has a new line of breast pumps that feature a universal connector that allows each pump to connect to both our Standard and Wide-Neck bottles.

Are Dr. Brown's bottles and components dishwasher safe?

Yes, we recommend loading them in the top rack of your dishwasher. Dr. Brown's will soon offer custom Standard and Wide-Neck Dishwasher Baskets for convenient cleaning.

Can I sterilize the Dr. Brown's bottles?

Yes, you may put them in a sterilizer or boil them in water. Dr. Brown’s offers a Microwave Steam Sterilizer designed specifically for our baby bottles.

Why does my bottle leak?

The patented vent provides an air passage way that allows air to enter the bottle which allows the baby to nurse without fighting the negative affects of the vacuum found in other baby bottles. Under certain conditions the milk or formula can exit through the vent. For example if the liquid is overheated the expanding air inside the bottle pushes the liquid through the vent causing leakage. Or if the bottle is shaken to mix formula the liquid may enter the vent and leak. Also if the bottle isn't held properly and the end of the reservoir tube is submerged in the fluid leakage may occur.

What to do in the unlikely case of bottle leakage.

When liquid gets into the venting system, it can sometimes leak out around the nipple collar. This can happen three ways:

(1) If you heat your bottle with the nipple collar securely in place, the liquid will be forced up into the vent as it expands. To avoid this, either heat the bottle without the nipple collar or loosen the nipple collar one-half turn after heating to allow the pressure to equalize. Then, re-tighten it before feeding.

(2) If you use powdered formula and mix it by shaking the bottle, liquid can get into the vent. The solution for this is to mix the formula by stirring it with a spoon rather than by shaking.

(3) If you overheat the liquid in the bottle, the vapor will rise and condense in the vent. To prevent this, avoid warming the liquid beyond body temperature.

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About Our Materials

What are your bottles made of?

Our bottles are made of polycarbonate, which is the most durable plastic for baby bottles on the market today. We are extending our product line to include other materials over the next year in order to offer moms and dads a choice. However, there will always be one constant with the Dr. Brown's bottle -- the unique internal vent system.

Are polycarbonate products safe to use?

Polycarbonate plastic has been the subject of recent media reports. Over the last 50 years, polycarbonate has been extensively reviewed and tested worldwide for food-contact applications and continues to be deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the Japan Ministry of Health and other regulatory authorities worldwide. For more information, email scott@handi-craft.com.

Where are Dr. Brown's products made?

Dr. Brown's products and components are made in both Germany and China . We are aware of some specific issues with other manufacturers' products coming out of the Chinese market. Dr. Brown's takes its commitment to quality extremely seriously. For this reason, for the last eight years, we have refused to ship anything into the U.S. market without going through rigorous testing in our quality control facility in Missouri. We also visit our facilities in both China and Germany several times a year to review and control our quality and production processes.

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