Finding the ideal bottle for your baby can be challenging. You have to contend with issues like colic prevention, leaking, or how easy the bottle is to clean. With the number of options on the market, it can be quite a task to find the right bottle.
Two of the more popular options are Avent vs NUK. In my experience, the Avent bottle is the ideal solution for parents who are going to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding.
Avent vs NUK bottles – differences and similarities
Both have wide bottlenecks and feature anti-colic systems. Silicone is the material of choice in both options and both have glass options. Avent’s Natural bottle has a capacity of 4oz while NUK Natural is 5oz.
Features
To get an accurate comparison between the two, let’s analyze the key features and see how they stack up!
Anti-colic / gas
Avent’s anti-colic system uses an anti-colic valve to prevent the baby from ingesting too much air. NUK’s anti-colic air system performs the same function. With so many babies suffering from colic, a bottle with an anti-colic system is a must!
Leakage
Avent bottles can leak if they’re not assembled correctly. NUK on the other hand has very few reports of bottle leaking. Read my article by clicking here on which bottles are prone to leaking and what you can do about it!
Ease of cleaning
NUK and Avent are easy to clean. Both brands are dishwasher safe and can also be steam-sterilized.
Nipples
Breast-shaped nipples are popular because they help babies easily alternate between breast and bottle. It’s also easy for them to latch on. Both these brands are breast-shaped and made of odorless silicone.
Dishwasher safe
Both NUK and Avent bottles are dishwasher safe. Any small components should be placed in the top rack of the dishwasher. Alternatively, you should place them in a dishwasher basket.
Microwave safe
NUK recommends that their plastic bottles not be warmed up in a microwave. NUK bottles are well suited to be boiled or sterilized with steam. Avent bottles should be placed in the microwave without the screw ring, AirFree vent, nipple, and cap.
To ensure your bottle lasts longer, it’s generally a good idea to heat the milk or formula in a separate jug or cup and then pour it into the bottle.
Material
Avent bottles are made of 100% BPA-free material called polypropylene. They also have a glass option available in their Naturals range. NUK on the other hand is made from Tritan plastic which is BPA-free as well as odor & stain-resistant. Both brands also have glass options to choose from.
Recyclable
NUK’s bottles made of Tritan plastic aren’t recyclable. Avent bottles, on the other hand, can easily be recycled.
Expiry date
How often you replace your bottles depends on the material you choose. Both Avent and NUK bottles don’t have an expiration date. Nipples usually have to be replaced after 3 months.
Avent vs NUK glass bottles
Many parents are moving away from plastic feeding bottles. Glass bottles have several benefits. The good news is, both Avent and NUK make quality glass feeding bottles. NUK Simply Natural Glass is a traditional bottle made from extra-durable borosilicate glass.
The Avent Natural Philips bottle is made from BPA-free glass.
Both brands’ glass options don’t get scratched as easily and can withstand higher temperatures. They’re also more eco-friendly and can easily be sterilized in steam sterilizers.
Are Avent or NUK bottles better?
One type of bottle isn’t necessarily better than the next. It all comes down to a baby’s preference. Many parents have reported success with a combination of both options. Avent however, has combined the benefits of an anti-colic system with a nipple that mimics the natural form and feel of a breast.
NUK could be a great alternative to using Avent under some circumstances as you can read in my article on bottles similar to Avent’s.
Avent bottles
Types
- Natural baby bottle: This bottle features a soft and flexible nipple that imitates a breast. A breast-shaped nipple makes it easy for babies to alternate between breast and bottle feeding. See the video below from Philips on the benefits.
- Avent Natural glass: For parents who prefer a plastic-free option, Avent’s glass option is both eco-friendly and easy to clean or sterilize. Glass bottles are also heat resistant.
- Avent Anti-colic bottles: Anti-colic bottles feature a special valve that keeps air in the bottle. Keeping the air in the bottle prevents colic symptoms.
Features
- Anti-colic Airflex valve reduces colic, burping, gas
- Variety of flow nipples
- Ergonomic shape makes it easy to grip
- Wide breast-shaped allows easier latching
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- BPA-free
- Available in glass option
- Super-soft nipple
Cons
- Thinner nipples
- Bottles get scratched easily
- No silicone case for protection
Do Avent teats fit NUK bottles?
Avent teats don’t fit onto NUK bottles because Avent has a much wider base. This means the NUK nipple base is too narrow to fit into the Advent ring. If you’re able to get the teat in the ring, you’re going to experience nipple collapse.
NUK Bottles
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- NUK Baby Bottles Perfect Fit: The Perfect Fit option features a special nipple that’s designed to accommodate the baby’s tongue while sucking. Nipples provide more space for the tongue and more room to move around more naturally.
- NUK Simply Natural Baby Bottles: The NUK Natural works best for babies who alternate between breast and bottle.
Features
- Angled nipples accommodate baby’s tongue while sucking
- Perfect Fit nipple makes it easier to switch between breast and bottle
- Silicone protectors for glass bottles
- Available in 5 oz, 9 oz and 10 oz
- Anti-colic system
Pros
- Not prone to leaking
- Perfect Fit nipple makes latching easier
- Nipples fit the shape of the baby’s palate
- Stain-resistant plastic
Cons
- Tight cap makes assembly troublesome
- Nipple moves around, affecting milk flow
Watch this short clip to see how the NUK Simply Natural bottle works.
Do NUK teats fit Avent bottles?
Since NUK teats have a 40mm bottle collar they won’t fit wide neck bottles such as Avent. They are interchangeable within the NUK product range. Here’s my article on wide neck vs narrow neck bottles so you can better understand this topic.
Conclusion
Both Avent and NUK are quality brands and it’s no wonder parents often use both. If you prefer an option that’s easy to transition between bottle and breast, Avent might be the option for you!
Another comparison you might be interested are Avent vs Dr. Brown’s bottles and accessories or comparing NUK vs Dr. Brown’s bottles, which I wrote about in a separate article.
Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
