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Key takeaways
- The vent designs differ. Dr. Brown's Options+ uses an internal vent with a tube and insert, Tommee Tippee's Advanced Anti-Colic uses a vented wand and valve, and its Natural Start bottle has a valve in the nipple and no wand.
- Both makers claim fewer colic symptoms. Dr. Brown's says its vent is clinically proven to reduce colic, and Tommee Tippee says its wand is proven to reduce symptoms by up to 95%. These are maker claims.
- The AAP says how you position your baby matters more than the bottle, and that manufacturer claims about bottles and nipples lack good scientific support.
- Tommee Tippee lists slow nipples for under 3 months, medium for 3 months and up, and fast for 6 months and up. Dr. Brown's sells Preemie and Levels 1 to 4 plus Y-cut.
- We found no CPSC recall of a Tommee Tippee or Dr. Brown's bottle. Both brands have had recalls of other products, noted below.
At a glance
Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic
Suits: Parents who want a vented bottle with a wand and valve, and the option to sterilize in the microwave in the bottle itself.
- Strength: Vented wand and star-shaped silicone valve, per Tommee Tippee
- Strength: Self-sterilizing in the microwave in 3 minutes with 50 ml of water, per Tommee Tippee
- Strength: Slow, medium and fast nipples, with slow listed for under 3 months
- Trade-off: The colic claim is Tommee Tippee's own: up to 95% fewer symptoms
- Trade-off: Nipples only fit Advanced Anti-Colic bottles, per Tommee Tippee
- Trade-off: Pages we checked don't list dishwasher guidance
Tommee Tippee Natural Start
Suits: Parents who combine breast and bottle and want a breast-like nipple with a built-in valve and no wand to wash.
- Strength: Soft silicone breast-like nipple with a built-in anti-colic valve, per Tommee Tippee
- Strength: No vented wand or insert
- Strength: 5, 9 and 11 oz sizes
- Trade-off: Whether it helps with nipple confusion or colic is a maker claim only
- Trade-off: Product page we checked doesn't list flow levels
- Trade-off: Several size and count options showed as sold out on Tommee Tippee's site
Dr. Brown's Options+
Suits: Parents who want a vented bottle and don't mind washing a tube and insert, or who'll drop the vent as baby grows.
- Strength: Internal vent system that can be removed as feeding develops, per Dr. Brown's
- Strength: Nipples from Preemie through Level 4, plus Y-cut
- Strength: All parts are dishwasher safe on the top rack, per Dr. Brown's
- Trade-off: More pieces to wash with the vent in
- Trade-off: Dr. Brown's says the vent is clinically proven to reduce colic, which the AAP says lacks strong evidence for bottle claims
- Trade-off: Small brush needed for the vent holes
Tommee Tippee and Dr. Brown's both sell bottles for babies who swallow air and fuss, and both lean on anti-colic claims. The difference is how each bottle tries to do it. If you're comparing Tommee Tippee vs Dr. Brown's, start with the vent, then look at nipples and cleaning.
This page lines them up from each maker's own pages, plus AAP and CDC guidance. We research products; we don't test them, and we don't list prices. For another head-to-head, see our Philips Avent vs Dr. Brown's comparison.
Tommee Tippee vs Dr. Brown's at a glance
| Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic | Tommee Tippee Natural Start | Dr. Brown's Options+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vent | Vented wand and star-shaped silicone valve [2] | Valve built into the nipple, no wand [1] | Internal vent with tube and insert, removable [3] |
| Sizes | 5 and 9 oz [2] | 5, 9 and 11 oz [1] | 4 and 8 oz [3] |
| Nipple flow | Slow, medium, fast [6] | Breast-like shape; flows not listed [1] | Preemie, Levels 1 to 4, Y-cut [3] |
| Sterilizing | Self-sterilizing in the microwave, 3 minutes [1][2] | Same [1] | Boil new parts for 5 minutes [4] |
| Dishwasher | Not stated on the pages we checked | Not stated on the pages we checked | Top rack, all parts [4] |
| Maker's colic claim | Wand "proven to reduce symptoms of colic by up to 95%" [2] | Valve "proven to reduce air intake" [1] | "Clinically proven to reduce colic" [3] |
How do the vents work?
All three designs aim to keep air out of the milk. Each is a maker claim, and we can't confirm any of it.
Dr. Brown's Options+. An internal vent with a reservoir tube and insert lets air move through the bottle, and Dr. Brown's says it creates vacuum-free feeding, closest to breastfeeding, and is clinically proven to reduce colic [3]. The system can be removed as baby's feeding develops [3].
Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic. Tommee Tippee says air is drawn into the vented wand, through the star-shaped silicone valve and away from the milk and baby's tummy. It says the wand is proven to reduce colic symptoms by up to 95%, and that 95% of parents using the bottle agree it reduces colic [2].
Tommee Tippee Natural Start. There's no wand. Tommee Tippee says the soft silicone nipple has a built-in anti-colic valve that reduces air intake, a breast-like shape that encourages a natural latch, and that the bottle is designed to help reduce nipple confusion when you switch between breast and bottle [1].
The "95%" figures are survey-style claims from the maker, with details on a verification page we didn't evaluate. Treat them as marketing, not as a result.
What does the AAP say about anti-colic bottles?
The AAP says that what matters more than the type of bottle or nipple is how you position your baby: semi-upright, with milk covering the nipple so your baby isn't swallowing air. It also says that manufacturer claims about bottles and nipples lack good scientific support [5].
That is why neither "clinically proven" nor "up to 95%" settles the choice. If your baby has constant gas, spit-up or crying, talk to your pediatrician before buying another bottle. For the bottle basics, see our newborn checklist and baby registry checklist.
Parts and cleaning
Parts differ most when a vent is in.
- Dr. Brown's with the vent: bottle, collar, nipple, reservoir tube and insert. Dr. Brown's says to use the small brush that comes with the bottle to clean all the holes in the insert and reservoir. It says all parts are dishwasher safe, vent system and nipples included, on the top rack only [4].
- Dr. Brown's without the vent: fewer pieces, since the vent can be removed [3].
- Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic: bottle, collar, nipple and vented wand [2].
- Tommee Tippee Natural Start: no wand, so the pieces are the bottle, collar and nipple [1].
The CDC's cleaning steps apply to every bottle: take it apart, rinse, wash after every feeding with a brush and a basin used only for infant feeding items, and air-dry [7]. The CDC says to sanitize daily if your baby is under 2 months, was born early or has a weakened immune system [7].
Tommee Tippee's bottles are marketed as self-sterilizing: add 50 ml of water, rest the assembled lid, ring and nipple on top without fastening, and microwave for 3 minutes [1][2]. Dr. Brown's says to boil new parts for five minutes before first use [4]. Neither maker publishes a total parts count on the pages we checked.
Nipple flow levels and materials
Flow matters at least as much as the vent. A slower nipple suits newborns, and you step up as feeding speeds change.
- Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic nipples: medical grade silicone. Slow is for newborns and babies under 3 months, medium for 3 months and up, and fast for 6 months and up. Tommee Tippee recommends replacing nipples every 2 months or at the first sign of damage [6].
- Dr. Brown's: Preemie, Level 1, 2, 3, 4 and Y-cut, with silicone nipples. The Options+ bottle is PPSU plastic, and glass versions are also sold [3].
- Tommee Tippee Natural Start: the product page we checked lists no flow levels, so check the nipple pack [1].
If your baby refuses a bottle, the AAP suggests trying a different nipple, and notes you may need to try several [5]. That is why one bottle first beats a full set.
Who each one fits
Tommee Tippee Natural Start may fit if you combine breast and bottle and want fewer pieces. Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic may fit if you want a vented design and like microwave sterilizing. Dr. Brown's Options+ may fit if you want the internal vent, you'll wash the extra pieces, and you may drop the vent later.
Skip the comparison if your baby already takes a bottle well. The AAP says to try another nipple only if your baby refuses [5]. For more options, see our best baby bottles guide.
Recalls and safety
We searched the CPSC recall database on October 16, 2026 and found no recall of a Tommee Tippee or Dr. Brown's baby bottle [8]. Related recalls we found: Tommee Tippee Electric Bottle and Food Warmers (2016, fire hazard) [9], Tommee Tippee Sippee spill-proof cups (2016, mold), Tommee Tippee monitors with a movement sensor pad (2014), Dr. Brown's Natural Bottle and Dish Soaps (2017) [10], and Dr. Brown's Lovey pacifier and teether holders (2018). None involved bottles. Check the CPSC recall list before you buy secondhand or use a warmer.
Where to buy
- Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic: Check price on Amazon Affiliate link. Also sold on Tommee Tippee's site.
- Tommee Tippee Natural Start: Check price on Amazon Affiliate link. Also sold on Tommee Tippee's site.
- Dr. Brown's Options+ Narrow: Check price on Amazon Affiliate link. Also sold on Dr. Brown's site.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Tommee Tippee and Dr. Brown's bottles?
The vent. Dr. Brown's Options+ has an internal vent system with a reservoir tube and an insert, which the maker says reduces colic [3]. Tommee Tippee's Advanced Anti-Colic bottle has a vented wand and a star-shaped valve [2], and its Natural Start bottle has a breast-like nipple with a built-in valve and no wand [1].
Which bottle is better for colic?
No bottle is proven better. Dr. Brown's says its vent is clinically proven to reduce colic [3], and Tommee Tippee says its vented wand is proven to reduce symptoms by up to 95% [2]. The AAP says manufacturer claims about bottles and nipples lack good scientific support and that feeding position matters more [5]. Ask your pediatrician if colic is constant.
Which has more parts to clean, Tommee Tippee or Dr. Brown's?
Dr. Brown's with the vent in has the most pieces: bottle, collar, nipple, reservoir tube and insert, and the maker supplies a small brush for the vent holes [3][4]. Tommee Tippee's Natural Start has no wand, so it has fewer pieces. The Advanced Anti-Colic adds a wand. Neither maker gives a total parts count on the pages we checked.
Do Tommee Tippee nipples fit Dr. Brown's bottles?
We found no maker that says so. Tommee Tippee says its Advanced Anti-Colic nipples are only compatible with its Advanced Anti-Colic bottles [6]. Mixing brands can change the seal and flow, so use the nipple made for your bottle.
How often should you replace bottle nipples?
Tommee Tippee recommends replacing nipples every 2 months or at the first sign of damage or weakness [6]. Check the maker's guidance for the nipples you use.
How do you clean baby bottles?
The CDC says to take the bottle apart, rinse, wash after every feeding with a brush and a basin used only for infant feeding items, and air-dry. It says to sanitize daily if your baby is under 2 months, was born early or has a weakened immune system [7]. Dr. Brown's says all its parts are top-rack dishwasher safe [4].
Sources
Numbers in brackets in the guide link to these sources.
- 1.Natural Start Baby BottleTommee Tippee, 2026
- 2.Advanced Anti-Colic Baby BottleTommee Tippee, 2026
- 3.Dr. Brown's Anti-Colic Options+ Narrow PPSU Baby BottleDr. Brown's, 2026
- 4.How to Clean Dr. Brown's Baby BottlesDr. Brown's, 2026
- 5.Bottle Feeding: How It's DoneAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), 2026
- 6.Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottle NipplesTommee Tippee, 2026
- 7.How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding ItemsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2026
- 8.RecallsU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 2026
- 9.Tommee Tippee Electric Bottle and Food Warmers Recalled by Mayborn USA Due to Fire HazardU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 2016
- 10.Dr. Brown's Natural Bottle & Dish Soaps Recalled by Handi-Craft Company Due to Risk of Bacteria ExposureU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 2017
