Dr. Brown's Anti-Colic Options+ vs. Lansinoh Anti-Colic Bottles

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ and Lansinoh Anti-Colic Baby Bottles both aim to solve the same problem: reducing the air your baby swallows during feeding, which can cause gas, fussiness, and colic symptoms.

But they tackle it differently. Dr. Brown's uses an internal vent system — a series of tubes and reservoirs inside the bottle that channels air away from the milk before it reaches the nipple. It is the most engineered anti-colic system on the market and has published clinical data behind it.

Lansinoh takes a simpler approach with a bottom-vented design and focuses its innovation on the nipple itself. The NaturalWave nipple is designed to encourage the same tongue motion a baby uses at the breast, making it a favorite among lactation consultants for breastfed babies who need a bottle.

Both work. The right choice depends on what matters most to you: maximum air reduction or everyday simplicity.

For more on feeding amounts by age, see our baby feeding chart.

The core difference between these bottles is how they handle air.

Dr. Brown's internal vent system is a two-piece insert that sits inside the bottle. As your baby feeds, air enters through the nipple collar, travels through the vent tube, and exits into the space above the milk — never mixing with what your baby drinks. This creates a positive-pressure, vacuum-free feeding experience. Published studies show it reduces oxidation of nutrients like vitamins C and E and lipids, in addition to reducing air ingestion.

Lansinoh's AVS (Air Ventilation System) uses a valve at the bottom of the bottle to let air in as milk flows out. It is less complex than Dr. Brown's but still effective at preventing vacuum buildup that causes babies to gulp air.

In practice, both systems reduce gas and fussiness for most babies. Dr. Brown's has a slight edge in clinical evidence, but Lansinoh's system is meaningfully easier to live with — fewer parts to clean, assemble, and potentially lose in the dishwasher.

If you are breastfeeding and introducing a bottle, the nipple is everything.

Lansinoh's NaturalWave nipple is clinically tested to support the same peristaltic tongue motion babies use during nursing. The flexible, wide base encourages a deep latch similar to the breast. This makes it one of the most recommended bottles among lactation consultants for reducing nipple confusion.

Dr. Brown's offers a solid silicone nipple in both narrow and wide-neck versions, with more flow rate levels (including a preemie option). The Natural Flow nipple works well, but it was not specifically designed to mimic breastfeeding mechanics the way Lansinoh's was.

If breastfeeding is your primary feeding method and the bottle is supplemental, Lansinoh has a real advantage here. If you are primarily bottle-feeding or formula-feeding, Dr. Brown's broader flow rate selection gives you more control over pacing.

Here is the thing nobody tells you before your baby arrives: you will wash bottles constantly. Multiple times a day. Sometimes at 2 AM with one hand while holding a screaming infant.

Lansinoh has four parts. Wide neck. No internal components. You can see inside the entire bottle. Cleaning takes seconds.

Dr. Brown's has five to six parts depending on the configuration. The internal vent system includes small pieces that need a dedicated brush. Milk residue can build up inside the vent tube if you do not clean it thoroughly. The parts are small enough to fall through dishwasher racks.

This is not a minor difference. Over the hundreds of bottles you will wash in the first year, Lansinoh's simplicity adds up to a meaningful quality-of-life advantage. Dr. Brown's partially addresses this with the Options+ line — once your baby outgrows the colic phase (usually around 4 months), you can remove the vent entirely and it functions like a regular bottle.

Lansinoh bottles are consistently 20–30% less expensive than Dr. Brown's Options+. For a full bottle set of six bottles, you will save roughly $8–$15 going with Lansinoh.

Replacement nipples are similarly priced for both brands, so the ongoing cost difference is mainly in the initial bottle purchase. Neither brand is expensive in absolute terms — we are talking about a total investment of $30–$60 for a full set of bottles that will last the entire first year.

A few ways to save on either brand:

• Buy starter sets. Both brands sell multi-packs that are cheaper per bottle than buying individually.
• Watch for registry completion discounts. Amazon, Target, and BuyBuyBaby offer 10–15% off remaining registry items.
• Replace nipples, not bottles. Bottles last a long time. You only need to replace nipples every few months as your baby moves to faster flow rates.

If colic reduction is your top priority, the Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ (~$6–$7 per bottle in a multi-pack) offers the most clinically studied internal vent system on the market. The Options+ design means you can remove the vent later, making these bottles a solid long-term investment. The wide-neck version is easier to fill and clean than the narrow-neck.

If you are breastfeeding and need a bottle your baby will actually accept, the Lansinoh Anti-Colic Baby Bottles (~$5–$6 per bottle in a multi-pack) with the NaturalWave nipple are hard to beat. Fewer parts, easier cleaning, lower price, and a nipple designed specifically for breast-to-bottle transition. Many parents find these are the only bottles their breastfed baby will take.

Our honest advice: if you can, buy a single bottle of each before committing to a full set. Babies are picky, and the "best" bottle is whichever one your baby will drink from without fussing.

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Both Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ and Lansinoh Anti-Colic Baby Bottles are well-designed, effective anti-colic bottles. The differences are real but come down to priorities:

Dr. Brown's Options+ wins on maximum air reduction, clinical evidence, glass bottle availability, preemie options, and granular flow control. It is the heavier-duty anti-colic solution.

Lansinoh Anti-Colic wins on breastfeeding transition, ease of cleaning, simplicity of design, and price. It is the more practical everyday bottle for most families.

For a severely colicky baby, Dr. Brown's internal vent system gives you the strongest anti-colic engineering available. For a breastfed baby who needs a bottle that mimics nursing — or for parents who value simplicity — Lansinoh is the smarter pick.

If you are tracking feeds — which is especially useful in the early weeks to ensure your baby is eating enough — tinylog makes it easy to log bottles and spot patterns over time.

• Baby Feeding Chart — How much your baby should eat by age
• Baby Spit-Up — What's normal and when to worry
• Baby Gas — Causes, relief, and when to call your doctor
• Breastfeeding Basics — Getting started and troubleshooting common issues

• Dr. Brown's. "How the Internal Vent System Works." drbrownsbaby.com, 2026.
• Lansinoh. "NaturalWave Nipple — Clinical Research." lansinoh.com, 2026.
• Journal of Human Lactation. "Effect of Bottle Design on Formula Intake and Feeding Behaviors." 2020.
• Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. "Anti-Colic Bottle Systems and Infant Gas Reduction." 2019.
• BabyGearLab. "Best Baby Bottles of 2026." babygearlab.com, 2026.
• What to Expect. "Best Anti-Colic Bottles for Gassy Babies." whattoexpect.com, 2026.
• Consumer Reports. "Best Baby Bottles From Our Tests." consumerreports.org, 2026.

This guide is for informational purposes only. Bottle choice is a personal preference based on your baby's individual needs. If your baby has persistent colic, excessive gas, or feeding difficulties, consult your pediatrician.