Dr. Brown's Anti-Colic Options+ vs. MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ and MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic are both designed to solve the same problem: air in the milk that causes gas, fussiness, and colic symptoms. But they solve it in very different ways.

Dr. Brown's uses an internal vent system — a tube and reservoir inside the bottle that channels air completely away from the milk. It's the most engineered solution on the market and has the clinical data to back it up. The tradeoff is more parts to wash.

MAM uses a vented base with micro-perforations that let air into the bottle without passing through the milk. It's a simpler design with fewer parts, and the self-sterilizing feature is genuinely useful. MAM also puts heavy emphasis on nipple design for breastfed babies.

Both work. The right choice depends on how severe your baby's symptoms are and how much cleaning you're willing to do.

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

This is the core difference between these two bottles, and it matters.

Dr. Brown's internal vent is a two-piece system (a vent insert and a reservoir tube) that creates a completely air-free milk flow. As your baby drinks, air enters through the nipple collar, travels down the vent tube, and fills the back of the bottle — never touching the milk. This means zero air bubbles in the liquid your baby swallows.

The clinical result is meaningful: studies published in peer-reviewed journals show that babies using Dr. Brown's bottles experienced significantly less colic, spit-up, and gas compared to conventional bottles. The vent also reduces the vacuum effect that can cause ear infections and nipple collapse.

MAM's vented base takes a less aggressive approach. Tiny perforations in the bottom of the bottle allow air to enter as the baby drinks, equalizing pressure without creating bubbles in the milk. It works well for mild to moderate colic, and parents consistently report reduced fussiness.

If your baby has severe colic or reflux, Dr. Brown's more thorough air elimination system may make a bigger difference. For mild gassiness, MAM's simpler system is often enough — and you'll thank yourself at the sink.

This is where most parents make their final decision, and for good reason.

Dr. Brown's with the vent has five separate parts: bottle, nipple, collar, vent insert, and reservoir tube. The vent insert and reservoir require a thin brush to clean properly. You'll be doing this multiple times a day. It's not difficult, but it adds up — especially at 3 AM.

The good news: the Options+ line lets you remove the vent entirely once your baby's feeding matures (usually around 4 months). Without the vent, it becomes a simple three-part bottle.

MAM has three parts regardless: bottle, nipple, and collar. The wide bottle opening makes hand-washing easy, and the self-sterilizing base means you can sterilize in the microwave in three minutes without extra equipment.

Be honest about your patience for bottle maintenance. If you're exclusively bottle-feeding (8–12 bottles per day), the extra parts in Dr. Brown's add real time to your daily routine.

If you're breastfeeding and introducing a bottle, nipple acceptance is a real concern. Some babies refuse bottles entirely, and the nipple shape matters.

MAM's SkinSoftTM nipple is flat and wide with a textured surface designed to feel like skin. MAM reports that 94% of babies accept it — an unusually high claim, but one that lines up with parent reviews. The flat shape is closer to how a breast compresses in a baby's mouth during nursing.

Dr. Brown's nipples are more traditionally shaped — narrower and more elongated. They come in a wide range of flow levels (preemie, Level 1 through Level 4, and Y-cut). The wide-neck version is broader but still more conventional in shape than MAM's.

If your breastfed baby is rejecting bottles, MAM is worth trying first. If your baby is primarily bottle-fed or takes bottles easily, nipple shape is less of a deciding factor.

Upfront, Dr. Brown's bottles are slightly cheaper per unit. But there's a hidden ongoing cost: replacement vent inserts. The vent system wears over time and needs periodic replacement. Budget an extra $5–$10 over six months of use.

MAM bottles cost a bit more per bottle but have no additional parts to replace. The self-sterilizing feature also saves you the cost of a separate microwave or electric sterilizer ($15–$30).

Over a full year of bottle-feeding, total cost is roughly comparable. Neither bottle will strain your budget compared to the other. Buy whichever your baby prefers — that's the real cost saver, since a rejected bottle is the most expensive bottle of all.

If gas and colic are your primary concern, the Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ (~$6–$8/bottle in multi-packs) is the gold standard for air-free feeding. The internal vent system has the strongest clinical backing of any anti-colic bottle, and the Options+ design lets you remove the vent later when your baby outgrows it. Start with the 4 oz wide-neck for newborns.

If you want a bottle that's easy to clean, self-sterilizes, and gives you the best shot at nipple acceptance with a breastfed baby, the MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic (~$7–$9/bottle in multi-packs) is hard to beat. Three parts, microwave sterilizing, and that SkinSoftTM nipple make daily life simpler. Start with the 5 oz size for newborns.

Our honest advice: if possible, buy one pack of each. Babies are opinionated, and the "best" anti-colic bottle is whichever one your baby will drink from without fussing.

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Both Dr. Brown's Options+ and MAM Easy Start are well-designed anti-colic bottles that genuinely reduce gas and fussiness. The differences are real but come down to tradeoffs:

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ wins on clinical evidence, air elimination thoroughness, nutrient preservation, glass bottle availability, and size variety. It's the better choice for severe colic or reflux.

MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic wins on cleaning simplicity, self-sterilizing convenience, nipple acceptance for breastfed babies, and fewer daily parts to manage. It's the better choice for families who want effective anti-colic performance with less maintenance.

For most families, either bottle will meaningfully reduce colic symptoms compared to a standard bottle. Try both if you can. Your baby will tell you which one wins.

If you're tracking feedings — which is especially helpful when working through colic patterns — tinylog makes it easy to log bottles, note fussiness, and share feeding data with your pediatrician.

• Baby Feeding Chart — How much your baby should eat by age
• Baby Gas Relief — Causes, remedies, and when to call your doctor
• Baby Spit-Up — Normal spit-up vs. reflux and when to worry
• Breastfeeding vs. Formula — An honest look at both options

• Dr. Brown's. "Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ Bottle — Product Information." drbrownsbaby.com, 2026.
• MAM. "Easy Start Anti-Colic Bottle — Product Information." mambaby.com, 2026.
• Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. "Infant Colic: Recognition and Treatment." jabfm.org.
• Brown CF, et al. "Reduction in Colic Symptoms Using an Internal Venting Bottle System." Pediatric Research, 2012.
• Consumer Reports. "Best Baby Bottles From Our Tests." consumerreports.org, 2026.
• BabyList. "Best Anti-Colic Bottles of 2026." babylist.com.
• What to Expect. "Best Bottles for Breastfed Babies." whattoexpect.com, 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 spit-up, or refuses to feed, consult your pediatrician.