How Many Bottles Does a Baby Need? A Parent's Essential Guide

You're not the only one looking at dozens of baby bottles online and not sure how many to buy. Most new parents either buy too many bottles and end up with 20 that they don't use or don't buy enough bottles and end up having to wash bottles all the time at 2 a.m. This guide tells you the exact amounts you need based on how you want to feed your child and their age.

The Quick Answer

Type of Feeding - How many bottles?

Age - How many bottles?

These numbers should work for most families. Read on to learn why they do and how to change them to fit your needs.

How Feed Types Affect the Number of Baby Bottles

For Babies Who Are Only Fed Breast Milk: 2 to 3 Bottles

When you're nursing most of the time, bottles are more of a backup than a daily necessity. When you need to be away from your baby for a few hours, when your partner wants to help feed them, or when you're storing pumped milk, you'll reach for a bottle.

Two bottles let you use one and keep the other one handy. If you're pumping often or going back to work, a third bottle can come in handy. This way, you can use different bottles at different times without having to wash them every time. When you start out small, you don't have to spend a lot of money on something you might not use very often, and you can always buy more if you need to.

For Mixed Feeding: 4 to 6 Bottles

When you combine nursing and bottle feeding, you find a middle ground that works well for most families with 4 to 6 bottles. Imagine a normal day: you might breastfeed your baby in the morning, give them a bottle in the middle of the morning, breastfeed them again in the afternoon, give them another bottle in the evening, and so on throughout the day. Based on this plan, you use two to four bottles every day.

If you have four to six bottles, you can wash them all at once or twice a day instead of after each feed. While the used bottles sit in the sink until you have time to wash them properly, you'll have enough clean bottles ready. When every minute of sleep counts, this breathing room is very helpful.

The range of 4 to 6 includes different personal choices. Four bottles might be enough if you wash the dishes right after using them. Six bottles give you the freedom to do a batch wash before bed if that's what you like to do.

For Babies Who Are Only Fed Formula: 8–10 Bottles

Formula feeding needs the most bottles because every feeding goes through a bottle, and babies eat a lot—every two to four hours around the clock. That means you use between 6 and 10 bottles every day.

The 8–10 bottle suggestion makes sure you always have clean bottles on hand. This is how things usually work: your baby drinks from bottles all day, and you wash and put them away. By evening, you should have 6 to 8 used bottles. They are all washed at once, sterilized if needed, and left to dry overnight. You still have two to four clean bottles ready for feeding babies at night.

This method works because it fits with the natural rhythm of feeding with bottles, so you don't have to wash bottles in the middle of the night. Some parents wonder if they don't need as many bottles if they just wash them more often. In a technical sense, yes, but in real life, this rarely works well when you're already tired from not getting enough sleep.

How the Answer Changes Based on Your Baby's Age

The numbers above are great for babies that are just born, but as they get bigger, their eating habits will change, and so will your bottle needs.

Babies (0–3 Months)

Newborn babies eat a lot—every two to three hours, that's eight to twelve feedings a day. Now is the time when you need every bottle. Formula-fed babies really do benefit from having 8–10 bottles on hand because they are always being used. Families that use both breast milk and bottles often find that they need to use bottles more often than planned as they get used to their new pattern.

Babies 3 to 6 Months Old

Around three months, most babies start eating every three to four hours, and then every day they only need six to eight feedings. Formula-feeding families can usually cut down on their bottle stash to 6 to 8 bottles at this point. Parents who are breastfeeding and formula-feeding may find that 4-5 bottles are enough, while babies who are only fed breast milk should keep using their 2-3 bottles as required.

Babies Over 6 Months (Beginning Solids)

When babies start eating solid foods, they usually drink less milk. At this age, most babies drink 4 to 6 bottles a day. This means that even families who feed their kids formula can cut back to 4 to 6 bottles. At this point, many kids who are only fed breast milk stop wanting bottles at all, so those two or three bottles may go unused, which is fine.

In What Ways Could These Numbers Change?

Most families can follow the normal advice, but depending on your needs, you may need more or fewer bottles.

If you have a dishwasher with a clean run. You might not need as many bottles. It's possible to use two or three bottles less than what is suggested if you run it twice a day.

You make sure to wash bottles right away after each use. If you really do have time to wash bottles right away, you only need about half of the amount that is suggested. Just be honest with yourself about whether you can keep up with this habit when you're tired.

You don't leave home very often. Families who stay at home most of the time might only need one bottle a week, which makes two or three bottles seem like too much.

If you have twins or more than one baby. You might need more bottles. Just make all of the above suggestions twice or three times as strong. When they are babies, twins can easily use 16 to 20 bottles of formula every day.

The bottles are sent to daycare. A lot of daycares want you to send bottles that are already full or ask that you bring all the bottles your child will need for the day. This means that you should keep a different set of 4–5 bottles for daycare while still having enough for yourself.

You either move a lot or split your time between homes. You won't have to pack bottles back and forth if you keep a set of bottles in each place. If you often stay with your grandparents or share care, add 3–4 bottles to your total.

You really don't like doing the dishes. If cleaning bottles is a pain, add two to four more bottles to the number that is suggested for the way you feed. You will feel better after making the effort.

Picking Out the Right Bottles

You need to choose what kind of bottle to buy after you know how many you need. There are a lot of bottles on the market, but the choice comes down to the material and the way it looks.

Material Considerations

• Glass bottles don't hold chemicals, don't pick up smells or spots, and will last forever if they don't break. Because they're larger and less durable, they're better for use at home than when traveling. Glass bottles are great for parents who want to avoid plastics and don't mind the extra weight.
• BPA-free plastic bottles are cheap, light, and almost impossible to break. They're great for parents on a budget and for trips. The downside is that plastic, even if it is BPA-free, can get cloudy or smelly over time. If you use them a lot, most plastic bottles need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months.
• Silicone bottles are soft, bendable, and can't break, but they cost more than plastic bottles. They don't hold smells like plastic does and don't shatter like glass. They are easy for babies to hold as they get bigger because they are flexible.
• Stainless steel bottles last a long time and keep milk warm for longer because they are insulated. The biggest problem is that you can't see how much milk is left in the bottle without opening it, which can be a problem when feeding at night.

Design Features to Consider

• Anti-colic bottles have special holes or vents that cut down on the amount of air babies swallow while they feed. There may be more parts to clean on these bottles, but they might help if your baby is fussy or gassy after feedings.
• Wide-neck bottles have a wider opening, which makes it easier to fill and clean. Also, their nipples tend to look more like a breast, which can make it easier for babies who are used to nursing to accept bottles.
• Angled bottles are made to keep the nipple full of milk instead of air, which can help lower gas. There are parents who swear by them and parents who say regular bottles work just fine.

Most kids who are healthy will get used to any bottle you give them. If you're not sure, try one or two bottles from a few different brands before buying the whole set. Some babies are very picky about the shape or speed of the flow, and you won't know what yours likes until you try it.

When You Should Get New Bottles

Bottles don't last forever, even if you take good care of them. When you should get new ones:

Plastic bottles should be replaced every 6 to 12 months, or sooner if they get cloudy, scratched, or develop persistent odors. Even after a thorough wash, scratches can keep germs alive, and cloudiness means the plastic is breaking down.

Glass bottles last until they break. Check regularly for cracks or chips, especially around the threading where the nipple screws on. Even small chips can get bigger and break the bottle without warning.

Silicone bottles last between 12 and 18 months on average. Keep an eye out for tears, too much softness, or staining. It's time to get new silicone if it still feels tacky or sticky after being washed.

Nipples get worn out more quickly than bottles. Replace the nipples every two to three months, no matter what kind of bottle it is. Look for changes in the milk flow, shortening, tears, or color. The nipple needs to be changed if the milk starts to come out too quickly or too slowly.

Your Initial Shopping List

Based on what was said above, this is what you should buy:

Start with two 4-5-ounce bottles with slow-flow nipples if you're nursing. You can choose any material you want, but many people who are breastfeeding like glass because bottles aren't used as often. If you want to pump often, add a third bottle.

If you're combination feeding, buy 4 bottles (4–5 oz for newborns). Pick a material that fits your way of life—glass if you spend most of your time at home, plastic if you move a lot. At first, get slow-flow nipples. You can always keep some medium-flow nipples on hand for when your baby gets bigger. If you run out after a few weeks, add one or two more bottles.

If you're using formula, buy 8 bottles (4-5 oz for babies). Since you'll be using and cleaning the bottles all the time, plastic makes the most sense. For babies who are just born, buy slow-flow nipples. Around 3 months, you can move up to medium-flow ones. Around 6 months, stock up on nipples that flow faster. Around month 3 or 4, when kids start drinking more at each feeding, you might want to add two bigger bottles (8 to 9 oz).

Essential items you'll also need: a bottle brush, a drying rack, and either a sterilizer or a big pot to boil water. If your child will be going to daycare, bring 4-5 extra bottles with you to keep there.

If you're washing 6+ bottles daily, you might want to consider an automatic bottle washer like the Momcozy KleanPal Pro. These machines wash and sterilize in one cycle, which can be a real time-saver when you're juggling multiple feedings throughout the day.

In Short

Most parents guess wrong about how many bottles they need. Babies who are only fed breast milk need 2–3 bottles, babies who are fed a mix need 4–6 bottles, and formula-fed babies need 8–10 bottles. These numbers give you enough bottles for a good washing plan without making your kitchen look messy.

Begin with the lower end of these numbers, keep track of your progress, and add bottles as needed. You can buy more, but you can't return bottles that aren't sealed, so starting slowly saves you money.

There is no "perfect" amount of bottles because it depends on how often you wash dishes, how often your baby feeds, and whether you have dishwashers or bottle sterilizers. Momcozy has bottle options, like bottles and cleaning systems, to make feeding easier.

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Questions That Parents Often Ask

Q1: Should I buy the same brand?

You don't have to, but it's helpful to keep nipples the same. Babies can be very picky about the shape and flow of the nipple, so stick with the one they like once you find it. Since the nipple is more important than the bottle body, mixing brands is fine as long as the nipples work with each other.

Q2: How many bottles can I buy at first, and can I buy more later?

Of course. This is actually smart. Start with two or three bottles to see what your baby likes. Once you know what bottles your baby likes, buy a lot of them. Just know that you might have to wash bottles more often during this testing time.

Q3: Do I need bottles of different sizes?

Eventually, yes. Babies need 4-5 oz bottles when they are newborns, but by 3–4 months, they need 6–8 oz per feeding. At that point, most parents find it easier to switch to 8–9-ounce bottles. You can still use small bottles and just fill them up again.

Q4: What is the best amount of time to wash bottles?

After each and every use, bacteria grow quickly on milk leftovers, so rinse bottles right after feeding and wash with hot soapy water as soon as possible. For babies younger than 3 months or who don't have strong immune systems, boil or steam sterilize bottles every day to make sure they are clean.