Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Options+ (Plastic)
The "#1 pediatrician recommended" anti-colic bottle in its default polypropylene form - and the signature internal vent that defines it sits submerged in the milk, making it one of the most plastic-in-contact bottles sold.
The verdict: Mostly plastic
The plastic Options+ is polypropylene from top to bottom: bottle body, collar, and cap are all BPA-free polypropylene, and the only non-plastic drink-contact part is the silicone nipple. Worse for plastic contact, the feature the brand is built on - the anti-colic vent - is a multi-piece polypropylene insert and reservoir tube that assembles INSIDE the bottle and sits submerged in the milk on every feed. That is more plastic-in-contact surface than almost any other bottle, and the vent pieces must be scrubbed and sterilized constantly. Being "#1 pediatrician recommended" and BPA-free doesn't change that the milk lives in plastic and flows over a plastic vent.
Verification: Manufacturer confirmed · Last reviewed
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| bottle body BPA-free polypropylene; the milk vessel | Polypropylene PP, #5 | Yes primary |
| internal vent insert BPA-free polypropylene insert seated inside the bottle, submerged in the milk | Polypropylene PP, #5 | Yes primary |
| internal reservoir tube BPA-free polypropylene tube that runs down into the milk to vent air | Polypropylene PP, #5 | Yes primary |
| nipple soft silicone nipple - the only non-plastic drink-contact part | Silicone | Yes primary |
| collar / screw ring BPA-free polypropylene ring that seats the nipple over the milk | Polypropylene PP, #5 | Yes incidental |
| travel disc / cap BPA-free polypropylene cap and travel disc | Polypropylene PP, #5 | No |
Dr. Brown's Options+ is the default recommendation from a lot of pediatricians, and the vent system genuinely helps with colic, gas, and reflux. The multi-piece vent assembles inside the bottle before every feed and must come apart again for cleaning. A glass Options+ is sold for parents who want the same venting on a glass body. Available narrow and wide-neck, in 4oz and 8oz.
Pros
- Effective, widely pediatrician-recommended anti-colic venting
- Every part is BPA-free and the system is well documented
- Huge availability and parts support
Cons
- Multi-piece plastic vent assembly must be scrubbed and sterilized after every feed
Categories: Baby Bottles
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- review https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Natural-Flow-Bottles/dp/B0018JWAF0 Dr. Brown's Natural Flow anti-colic bottles, 8oz 3-pack; polypropylene bottle with internal vent system and silicone nipple
- manufacturer https://drbrownsbaby.com/products/dr-browns-options-replacement-vent-kit-narrow-8oz replacement vent kit is 2 vent inserts + 2 reservoirs + 2 travel discs, BPA-free plastic, assembled inside the bottle
- manufacturer https://www.drbrownsmedical.com/resources/cleaning-assembly-2/ assembly instructions show the internal vent insert and reservoir seated in the milk chamber
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