Dr. Brown's Natural Flow vs Philips Avent Natural: Anti-Colic Systems Compared
Two of the most-recommended bottle lines in the US take opposite routes to the same goal: Dr. Brown's fights air with a two-piece internal vent, while Philips Avent's Natural bottle bets on a wide, breast-shaped nipple with the anti-colic valve built into the nipple itself.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-29. Specifications verified against manufacturer pages (drbrownsbaby.com, usa.philips.com Avent product pages and the official Avent instruction leaflet) on this date — sources below.
Product identity: Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ — item codes SB41005 (Narrow 4 oz/120 ml), SB81005 (Narrow 8 oz/250 ml), WB51600 (Wide-Neck 5 oz/150 ml), WB91600 (Wide-Neck 9 oz/270 ml), per Dr. Brown's official store. Philips Avent Natural baby bottle — SCF013/17 (1× 9 oz/260 ml), SCF013/27 (2× 9 oz), SCF013/37 (3× 9 oz), SCF013/49 (4× 9 oz), per Philips' US product pages. Safety context: baby bottles and nipples fall under CPSC jurisdiction and FDA food-contact material rules; AAP safe-feeding guidance applies (aap.org).
Side by side
| Spec | Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Options+ | Philips Avent Natural |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-colic system | Two-piece internal vent system that vents air to the back of the bottle; maker states it is "clinically proven to reduce colic" and enables vacuum-free feeding. Vent is removable as feeding develops (Options+ design) | No internal vent. Anti-colic function is a valve integrated in the wide nipple (per the current Amazon listing); Philips sells its dedicated Anti-colic range as a separate line with non-interchangeable screw rings |
| Nipple material | Silicone ("the silicone nipple and vent system work together to provide vacuum-free feeding") | Silicone — "extra soft silicone nipple" in flow rates 0m, 0m+, 1m+, 3m+, 6m+ and variable; Philips recommends replacing nipples every 3 months |
| Bottle body material | Plastic (the standard Options+ line; glass and PPSU variants are sold as separately named lines). Exact polymer not stated on the pages we checked — we don't guess. BPA free | Plastic — the official leaflet calls it "the high quality plastic Natural bottle"; a glass Natural variant also exists. Exact polymer not stated. 0% BPA per Philips |
| Sizes available | Narrow: 4 oz/120 ml, 8 oz/250 ml. Wide-Neck: 5 oz/150 ml, 9 oz/270 ml. PPSU narrow: 4 oz, 8 oz. Glass narrow: 4 oz, 8 oz | 9 oz/260 ml on Philips' US pages (1-, 2-, 3- and 4-packs); 11 oz listings also visible at US retail. Philips' US site currently marks the Natural bottle pages discontinued |
| Bottle count per pack | 1-count ($8.99), 2-count narrow ($14.99), 2-count wide-neck ($15.99), 4-count glass ($29.99, out of stock at check) | 1-count (SCF013/17), 2-count (SCF013/27), 3-count (SCF013/37), 4-count (SCF013/49) per Philips pages; current Amazon listings show 2- and 4-packs |
| Price | $8.99 per single bottle (4 oz or 8 oz narrow, 5 oz or 9 oz wide-neck) direct from Dr. Brown's; $11.99 for a 4-pack of 8 oz narrow at Amazon US at check | $29.95 for a 4-pack of 9 oz at Amazon US at check ($17.99 for a 2-pack); Philips' own US store no longer sells the line — pages are marked discontinued |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes — top rack only; also safe in electric and microwave sterilizers or boiling water | Yes — official instruction leaflet: "Dishwasher safe - food colorings may discolor components"; also sterilizable by boiling 5 minutes or Philips Avent sterilizer |
| Model / item codes | SB41005, SB81005 (narrow 4 oz / 8 oz); WB51600, WB91600 (wide-neck 5 oz / 9 oz); 2-packs SB82040–SB82042 (narrow), WB52014/WB52016/WB92026/WB92028 (wide-neck); PPSU SB42054/SB82054; glass 4-packs SB44024/SB84024 | SCF013/17 (1× 9 oz), SCF013/27 (2× 9 oz), SCF013/37 (3× 9 oz), SCF013/49 (4× 9 oz) |
Dr. Brown's figures: drbrownsbaby.com product pages and the official store product feed. Philips Avent figures: usa.philips.com Natural bottle product pages (SCF013/17, SCF013/49) and the official Avent instruction leaflet (4213.354.3914.1). Anything the manufacturers don't publish stays "not stated" — we don't invent specs.
Anti-colic design: internal vent vs nipple valve
Dr. Brown's Options+ is built around a two-piece internal vent that inserts into the bottle and channels air to the back of the bottle, away from the milk. Dr. Brown's says this vent system is "clinically proven to reduce colic," decreases spit-up, burping and gas, and delivers vacuum-free feeding; the company also states the vent is "proven to help preserve nutrients in breast milk and aid in digestion." The trade-off is parts: the vent adds components to wash and assemble on every feed. The Options+ design softens that — the bottle "works best with the internal vent system in place but can be removed as baby's feeding develops," so one bottle covers both stages.
Philips Avent's Natural bottle takes the simpler route: no internal vent at all. The anti-colic function lives in the nipple — the current US retail listing describes an "integrated valve [that] keeps air away from baby's tummy during feeding" — while the nipple itself is wide and breast-shaped with a flexible spiral design and comfort petals that Philips says allow natural latch-on without nipple collapse. Fewer parts means faster cleaning, but Philips draws a hard line between ranges: its official leaflet states Natural nipples only fit Natural screw rings, and the brand's dedicated Anti-colic range is a separate, non-interchangeable line. One status note: Philips' own US store currently marks the Natural bottle product pages (SCF013/17, SCF013/49) as discontinued — the line remains widely stocked at US retailers, but Philips is steering its own store toward newer nipple designs.
Where Dr. Brown's Options+ wins
If gas and fussiness are the problem you're solving, the Options+ internal vent is the more explicit anti-colic mechanism of the two: air is vented out of the milk path entirely, and Dr. Brown's pairs that with published claims about reducing colic and preserving milk nutrients. The line also gives you more material and size choices — narrow 4 oz and 8 oz, wide-neck 5 oz and 9 oz, plus PPSU and glass variants — at a low $8.99 entry price per bottle direct from the maker, and it carries the company's "#1 Pediatrician Recommended Baby Bottle in the U.S." claim (IQVIA Health ProVoice Survey 2025). The removable vent means you can drop the extra parts once feeding matures without buying a new bottle system.
Where Philips Avent Natural wins
If you want simple, the Natural bottle is the low-fuss pick: no vent to insert, wash or lose, a wide breast-shaped nipple designed for easy breast-to-bottle combination feeding, and dishwasher-safe parts (the leaflet only warns that food colorings may discolor). The wide-neck opening also makes hand-washing easier than narrow bottles. It's broadly available at US retailers — a 4-pack of 9 oz bottles was $29.95 at Amazon US when we checked — and every bottle in the SCF013 line ships with the same wide-nipple design, so upgrading pack sizes doesn't change the feeding experience.
Our verdict
Buy the Dr. Brown's Options+ if anti-colic performance is your priority: the internal vent system physically removes air from the milk, the maker publishes colic-reduction and nutrient-preservation claims for it, the vent is removable as baby's feeding develops, and the line spans narrow/wide-neck, plastic/PPSU/glass from $8.99.
Buy the Philips Avent Natural if you want the simplest bottle that still addresses air intake: a wide, breast-shaped silicone nipple with an integrated anti-colic valve, no internal vent parts to wash, dishwasher-safe construction, and 9 oz multi-packs around $29.95 at US retail.
Tie-breaker: maximum anti-colic mechanism and size/material range → Dr. Brown's Options+. Fewest parts, easiest cleaning and a breast-shaped wide nipple → Philips Avent Natural.
Where to buy (checked 2026-08-29): both lines are listed at Amazon US — the listings below are the ones we verified this date. Dr. Brown's also sells direct at drbrownsbaby.com ($8.99+).
Which bottle fits you? 30-second picker
1. What's your top priority?
2. How do you feel about extra bottle parts?
3. Which nipple matters more to you?
FAQs
Which bottle is better for a gassy, colicky baby?
Dr. Brown's Options+ has the more explicit anti-colic mechanism: an internal vent that moves air out of the milk, which the maker describes as clinically proven to reduce colic and to enable vacuum-free feeding. The Avent Natural addresses air with a valve built into the nipple rather than a vent, and Philips sells its dedicated Anti-colic range separately. Every baby is different — this is general information, not medical advice; ask your pediatrician about persistent colic symptoms.
Can you remove the vent from Dr. Brown's Options+ bottles?
Yes. Dr. Brown's says the bottle "works best with the internal vent system in place but can be removed as baby's feeding develops — no need to introduce a different bottle." That's the core of the Options+ design: vent in for newborn anti-colic feeding, vent out as your baby's feeding matures.
Are both bottles dishwasher safe?
Yes, with different fine print. Dr. Brown's states its Options+ bottles are safe in the dishwasher (top rack only), as well as electric and microwave sterilizers or boiling water. Philips' official instruction leaflet marks the Natural bottle "Dishwasher safe," noting only that food colorings may discolor components; it also recommends boiling for 5 minutes or using a Philips Avent sterilizer.
Which bottle fits you?
Sources
- Dr. Brown's — official Options+ Narrow Baby Bottle product page (4 oz/120 ml): internal vent "clinically proven to reduce colic," vacuum-free feeding, silicone nipple, vent removable as feeding develops, dishwasher (top rack only) / sterilizer / boiling water safe, BPA free, "#1 Pediatrician Recommended Baby Bottle in the U.S." (IQVIA Health ProVoice Survey 2025): drbrownsbaby.com/products/dr-browns-natural-flow-anti-colic-options-baby-bottle-4oz-120ml (accessed 2026-08-29)
- Dr. Brown's — official store product feed (Shopify products.json): SKUs and prices SB41005 $8.99, SB81005 $8.99, WB51600 $8.99, WB91600 $8.99, narrow 2-packs SB82040–42 $14.99, wide-neck 2-packs WB52014/16 & WB92026/28 $15.99, PPSU SB42054/SB82054 $25.99, glass 4-packs SB44024/SB84024 $29.99 (unavailable at check): drbrownsbaby.com/products.json (accessed 2026-08-29)
- Philips — official US Natural baby bottle product page SCF013/17: 1 bottle, 9 oz/260 ml, slow-flow nipple, 1m+, wide breast-shaped nipple with flexible spiral design and comfort petals, 0% BPA; page marked Discontinued: usa.philips.com/c-p/SCF013_17/avent-natural-baby-bottle (accessed 2026-08-29)
- Philips — official US Natural baby bottle product page SCF013/49: 4 bottles, 9 oz/260 ml; page marked Discontinued; review metadata on the page references SCF013/27 (2-pack) and SCF013/37 (3-pack): usa.philips.com/c-p/SCF013_49/avent-natural-baby-bottle (accessed 2026-08-29)
- Philips Avent — official instruction leaflet for the Natural bottle (doc 4213.354.3914.1): "Dishwasher safe - food colorings may discolor components"; extra-soft silicone nipples in 0m–6m+ and variable flows; "high quality plastic Natural bottle"; Natural nipples fit only Natural screw rings (Anti-colic range separate); sterilize by boiling 5 minutes or Philips Avent sterilizer: documents.philips.com/assets/20210630/bb602492f789441d8ddbad5700f2bfe2.pdf (accessed 2026-08-29)
- Amazon US — Dr. Brown's Anti-Colic Options+ Narrow Baby Bottle, 8 oz, 4-Pack, ASIN B01845QH7M, $11.99, title and claims verified on the product page: amazon.com/dp/B01845QH7M (accessed 2026-08-29)
- Amazon US — Philips Avent Natural Baby Bottles, Medium Flow, 9 oz, BPA-Free, 4-Pack, ASIN B0964CHD65, $29.95, title verified on the product page; listing describes an integrated anti-colic valve in the nipple: amazon.com/dp/B0964CHD65 (accessed 2026-08-29)
- CPSC — recall listings checked 2026-08-29: search for "philips avent" returned the 2023 Philips Avent Digital Video Baby Monitors recall (burn hazard — monitors, not bottles); search for "Handi-Craft" returned the 2018 Dr. Brown's Lovey Pacifier & Teether Holders recall (choking hazard — pacifier holders, not bottles). No active recalls identified for either baby bottle. Verify current status at cpsc.gov/Recalls.