Best Anti-Colic Bottles in Australia: Vents and Trade-offs
The best anti-colic bottle is one your baby feeds comfortably from and that you can clean and assemble correctly. Shortlist Philips Avent Anti-Colic or Pigeon SofTouch III if you want a teat-based air vent without a separate internal tube. Compare Dr Brown’s Options+ or Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic if you want to try an internal vent system and can manage the extra parts. These are design choices, not proven winners for treating colic.
Updated October 2026. We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Australian product listings checked 7 October 2026.
When feeds feel difficult and your baby is unsettled, it is understandable to look for a bottle that might help. This guide compares ventilation, flow, cleaning and compatibility. For the broader question of introducing bottles alongside breastfeeding, see our bottle guide for breastfed babies. Persistent feeding concerns deserve advice from your GP or child and family health nurse, rather than repeated purchases alone.
Quick comparison: four bottles sold in Australia
| Bottle checked | Vent design | Practical advantage | Trade-off to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips Avent Anti-Colic, 260 mL three-pack | Anti-colic valve directs air into the bottle | No separate internal wand in this listed design | Listed for 1 month+; check the supplied teat flow |
| Dr Brown’s Options+ Narrow, 250 mL | Removable internal vent system | Can be used with or without the vent | More components to wash and reassemble |
| Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic, 260 mL | Vented wand with star-shaped silicone valve | Separate air pathway; current model offers microwave self-sterilising | Check exact model instructions and teat compatibility |
| Pigeon SofTouch III PP, 160 mL two-pack | Air Ventilation System in the teat | No separate internal vent tube; includes SS round-hole teats | A different teat shape may or may not suit your baby |
These sizes identify the products checked, not the amount your baby should drink. Current prices are left out: compare the same bottle size, teat and pack quantity on the linked pages. Delivery availability depends on your postcode, and an online listing is not a promise of stock in your local shop.
What does “anti-colic” actually mean?
On a bottle, the label generally describes an air-management design. As milk leaves the bottle, its valve or vent lets air enter so a vacuum does not keep building inside. Different manufacturers route that air differently. This is a useful mechanical feature to compare, but the label does not diagnose why your baby cries or guarantee a calmer evening.
Raising Children Network describes colic as prolonged crying and fussing not caused by illness or injury, and recommends seeing a GP to check for medical causes. It is not simply another word for swallowed air. Meanwhile, the Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines state that evidence does not support particular teats for problems such as colic. Those guidelines are older, and should not be read as a recent trial of today’s bottles; they are a reason to be cautious about treatment claims.
Brand pages sometimes quote very large percentages for reduced symptoms. We have not independently assessed those studies, their definitions or whether they apply to the exact current Australian kit. Parent surveys, comparisons with another bottle and a clinical diagnosis of colic answer different questions. We do not use those percentages to rank these products or predict your baby’s response.
Which design is worth trying?
Philips Avent Anti-Colic: a simpler vent arrangement
The Avent Anti-Colic 260 mL three-pack at Baby Bunting · Check price on Amazon AU has an anti-colic valve designed to direct air into the bottle. That listing is marked suitable for 1 month+, so check the included teat before buying it for a newborn. The standard Anti-Colic arrangement avoids a separate internal wand, which gives you fewer small vent pieces to organise.
It is a reasonable starting point if cleaning simplicity is high on your list. Be precise about the range: Anti-Colic, Natural Response and Anti-Colic with AirFree are different product descriptions. The AirFree accessory adds a different setup; do not assume it is supplied in every Anti-Colic pack. Read the exact box and instructions instead of ordering by the Avent name alone.
Dr Brown’s Options+ Narrow: an internal vent you can remove
The Australian Dr Brown’s Options+ Narrow 250 mL listing · Check price on Amazon AU comes with a Level 1 teat and an internal vent system. The manufacturer says this Options+ bottle can be used with or without that system. This is the design to investigate if you specifically want a removable internal vent rather than just a valve in the teat.
The cost in everyday effort is handling the extra pieces. Before buying a full set, look at an assembly demonstration and consider whether everyone who feeds your baby can repeat it. Match replacement teats and vents to the narrow-neck model; the brand also has wide-neck bottles. Removability is a feature, not a recommendation to alter the bottle at a particular age. Follow the instructions for the configuration you use.
Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic: a vented wand
Tommee Tippee’s Australian Advanced Anti-Colic page · Check price on Amazon AU describes a vented wand and star-shaped silicone valve that direct air away from the milk. The current 260 mL listing also offers a self-sterilising microwave process. These features make it worth comparing if an internal air pathway appeals to you and you have a suitable microwave.
It still needs thorough cleaning before sterilising, and the wand and valve add assembly steps. Check the instructions supplied with the actual bottle: an older Advanced Anti-Colic set may not have the current self-sterilising design. Advanced Anti-Colic is also a different range from Natural Start. Keep the model names together when shopping for spare teats so a familiar-looking pack does not become a compatibility mistake.
Pigeon SofTouch III PP: a vent in the teat
The Pigeon SofTouch III PP 160 mL two-pack at Baby Bunting · Check price on Amazon AU contains wide-neck polypropylene bottles with SS round-hole teats, listed for newborn use. Its Air Ventilation System is designed to support milk flow and minimise air intake without a separate internal tube.
This is another option for families who prefer fewer loose vent components. The useful trade-off is acceptance and fit: a wide teat that works for one baby may not suit another. Check the SofTouch generation and compatible teat description, rather than substituting a narrow-neck Pigeon teat. Pigeon sells several materials and versions, so compare the exact product. We have not established that this bottle treats colic better than either internal-vent design.
Check feeding flow before collecting more bottles
A vent system and a teat’s milk flow are separate features. Do not assume that “slow”, “Level 1” and “SS” mean the same flow across brands. Age labels are a starting point for identifying a teat, not a reason to move up automatically. Ask your child and family health nurse to observe a feed if you are uncertain about the rate or your baby’s latch.
Raising Children Network’s bottle-feeding guidance recommends holding your baby close in a semi-upright position, keeping milk in the teat and allowing your baby to pause and decide when they have had enough. Do not force a baby to finish a bottle or prop it in their mouth. Speak to a health professional if feeds regularly involve difficulty or refusal. A responsive feeding routine matters whichever bottle you buy.
Cleaning and assembly: compare the work after every feed
Look beyond the bottle body. A design can be easy to fill but still leave you washing several little components. Before committing to a large starter set, check the diagram of removable parts, whether a small brush is needed and where the pieces will dry. Consider the time available to every caregiver, including anyone doing the overnight feeds.
Raising Children Network recommends cleaning and sterilising bottle-feeding equipment until babies are 12 months old. Take it apart, wash it thoroughly and follow an appropriate sterilising method. Sterilising does not replace cleaning. Use each product’s instructions for temperatures, microwave settings and assembly; a self-sterilising feature on one bottle does not apply to another.
If a bottle leaks, start by checking its assembly instructions and whether every piece belongs to that model. Inspect the seal, teat seating, vent and fill markings. Do not assume that tightening harder is the answer, and do not improvise with missing parts. Repeated leaks are a reason to contact the seller. Our baby bottle steriliser guide can help you compare cleaning equipment once you know which bottle pieces it needs to accommodate.
Costs, replacement parts and compatibility
Compare the complete cost: bottles, the appropriate teat flow, vent replacements where required, cleaning brushes and delivery. A multi-pack can be cheaper per bottle, but it is poor value if the design does not suit your feeding routine. Starting with a smaller purchase where practical gives you a chance to assess handling before stocking the cupboard.
Check local replacement availability before choosing a system. Record the full model, neck type and generation, and keep one photo of the packaging. If two caregivers buy parts independently, that simple record can prevent mismatched orders. For expressed milk, do not assume a feeding bottle screws onto your pump; check both manufacturers’ compatibility information. Our breast pump guide covers the separate expressing-equipment choice.
When to get help instead of changing bottles again
See your GP if your baby seems unwell, has poor weight gain, vomiting or diarrhoea, or if you are worried about the crying. Raising Children Network’s colic advice also recommends seeking help if you feel overwhelmed. A feeding assessment can address questions a product comparison cannot. Bring a note of symptoms and the bottle and teat used, rather than trying to diagnose the cause from an “anti-colic” claim.
How this guide was researched
We checked current Australian brand or major retailer pages for four identifiable bottles and compared their vent arrangements, kit descriptions and practical handling. This is not first-hand testing, a clinical endorsement or an exhaustive market survey. We did not measure flow rates, leaks or changes in crying, and have not used review scores as proof. Availability and package contents can change; check the selected item before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Do anti-colic bottles cure colic?
No bottle can be promised to cure it. An air vent describes how a bottle works; it does not explain every cause of crying. Seek professional advice for persistent concerns rather than treating a marketing label as a diagnosis or treatment plan.
Are internal vents better than teat valves?
We cannot establish a clinical winner from product descriptions. Internal vents involve more separate components; teat-valve designs may simplify assembly. Compare acceptance, appropriate flow and your ability to clean the complete system, with professional input where feeding is difficult.
Can I mix teats and bottles from different ranges?
Only if the manufacturer confirms that exact combination. A teat that appears to fit may not form the intended seal or vent arrangement. Brand name alone is not enough; match the neck type, product range and generation.
Should I change formula at the same time as the bottle?
Discuss formula concerns with your GP or child and family health nurse. Changing several things together makes it harder to describe what happened, and a vented bottle does not establish a need for a different formula. Seek an assessment if you suspect an allergy or other medical problem.
