Dealing with a baby with colic problems is no fun. When searching for colic relief, parents often find anti-colic feeding bottles are the solution. But, which one is better when looking at Dr. Brown vs. MAM for anti-colic features? When I looked at the differences, MAM Anti-Colic bottles were a close winner.
Differences Between Dr. Brown vs. MAM Bottles
Dr. Brown Anti-Colic bottles have a venting system that works from the top of the bottle while MAM Anti-Colic bottles have a vented base for smoother airflow. Both brands use silicone nipples with Dr. Brown’s being more elongated. MAM’s self-sterilizing feature makes it easier to clean the bottles.
Are Dr. Brown Bottles Better Than MAM?
Dr. Brown is a well-known brand with its anti-colic bottles working well for babies also suffering from reflux and excessive gas. MAM anti-colic bottles offer similar features but Dr. Brown’s venting system can be removed when your baby no longer needs it. However, cleaning Dr. Brown bottles are challenging when compared to MAM bottles.
Two Brands’ Features Compared
Dr. Brown bottles are widely used by parents when feeding their babies. When comparing Dr. Brown or Tommee Tippee bottles, the stand-out feature was Dr. Brown’s internal venting system. When comparing Dr. Brown vs. Comotomo bottles, also a popular choice for colicky babies, both have different venting system designs.
Comparing Dr. Brown with MAM bottles and their features showed that both brands offered very similar functions in helping reduce your baby’s colic symptoms. However, the venting system designs were different as were their cleaning features. I’ve compared various other features to help you make an informed choice between the two brands.
Dr.Brown vs. MAM Leakaging
Parents using Dr.Brown bottles do report leakage problems more frequently than parents using MAM feeding products. The reason for Dr. Brown’s bottles leaking is often the result of incorrect placement of the internal venting system. However, knowing how to stop your Dr. Brown bottles from leaking will solve all the problems.
MAM bottles do also leak if the milk or formula gets too hot. The sealing cap must also be removed before placing the bottle in hot water or a bottle warmer.
Dr. Brown vs MAM Anti-Colic Assembly
Assembling Dr. Brown’s anti-colic bottles can become a lengthy affair! With so many small parts to put together, many parents find Dr. Brown bottles are quite an effort to put together when using the internal venting system.
While MAM anti-colic bottles also come with many parts, the design is slightly less complicated, making it easier to assemble.
Ease of Cleaning – Dr. Brown vs MAM
MAM anti-colic bottles came out as my top product because it’s so easy to clean. With its self-sterilizing feature, you can clean the bottle in under three minutes using the microwave. All you have to do is fill the bottom base with 30 ml of water and place the nipple on top. This is screwed onto the bottom of the bottle while the sealing cap is placed on the top of the bottle. Pop the bottle into the microwave and in 3 minutes the bottle is fully sterilized for use.
Dr. Brown’s anti-colic bottles come with a pipe cleaner to clean the venting system. This can be time-consuming and fiddly work. However, all parts can be placed in the top rack of the dishwasher for a deep cleaning. MAM bottles are also dishwasher-safe.
Dr. Brown vs MAM Anti-Colic Bottle Materials
Both Dr. Brown and MAM anti-colic bottles are made with polypropylene, a material used in constructing most baby feeding bottles. The materials are BPA- and latex-free. The nipples used on both Dr. Brown and MAM anti-colic bottles are made with food-grade silicone.
Watch this video if you’re wondering if your baby has colic or not!
Dr. Brown vs MAM Anti-Colic Bottles for Easy Latching
Breastfeeding moms find the MAM nipples make it easier for their babies to latch when switching over to the bottle. The nipple is flatter, wider, and designed to resemble the mother’s breast. Dr. Brown’s anti-colic bottles have an elongated nipple with an anti-slip texture for better grip. However, breastfeeding babies sometimes battle to adjust to this type of nipple.
Dr. Brown Anti-Colic Bottles
Features
- Advanced internal venting system to help prevent colic, reflux, and spit-ups
- Venting system can be removed when no longer needed
- Come in a range of different sizes
- Soft silicone nipples with different flow rates
- Constructed with materials that are heat and thermal-shock resistant
- Includes a pipe cleaner for cleaning the venting system
- Dishwasher and microwave-safe
Pros
- Fits most breast pumps
- Helps preserve nutrients in the milk
- Been clinically proven to reduce colic and reflux
Cons
- Not easy to clean with many different parts
- Time-consuming to assemble
- Nipple design not conducive to easy latching for breastfeeding babies
Do MAM Teats Fit Dr. Brown Bottles?
The venting system design of both the MAM and Dr. Brown anti-colic bottles are different so you can’t use MAM teats on Dr. Brown bottles. While some teats may fit, they’ll interfere with the functioning of the venting system, resulting in the baby getting colic. Using other teats not designed for Dr. Brown bottles can also result in leakage or nipple collapse.
Can Dr. Brown’s Bottles go in the Dishwasher?
Dr. Brown bottles are dishwasher safe as long as you use the top rack. It’s also advisable to place all the different parts into a dishwasher basket to contain them during a wash cycle. If you’re using one of the best dishwashers for baby bottles, make sure to look out for the baby care cleaning cycle. This way, you can rest assured your bottles are properly cleaned for healthy use.
MAM Anti-Colic Bottles
Features
- Anti-colic venting system with a vented base
- Comes in a range of different sizes
- Soft silicone nipples designed to resemble the mother’s breast
- Self-sterilizing function
- Dishwasher and microwave-safe
Pros
- Easy to switch between bottle feeding and breastfeeding
- Easy and fast to clean with a self-sterilizing feature
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Wider bottle makes it harder for babies to grip
Do Dr. Brown Teats Fit MAM Bottles?
Dr. Brown’s wide-neck nipples can fit MAM bottles. However, to optimize the venting system, it is recommended to stick with MAM brand teats. This way, leakage and nipple collapse problems can be avoided.
Can MAM Bottles go in the Dishwasher?
All MAM bottles, including the anti-colic design, can go in the dishwasher. The manufacturer recommends using the top rack of the dishwasher and putting the different parts in a basket to keep them contained during a wash cycle. Some of the best dishwasher baskets for baby bottles will be suitable for MAM bottles and their parts.
Special dishwasher for baby bottles?
After discussing the cleaning of baby bottles in detail, there’s one essential appliance that I wanted to touch on that not many know of. Did you know there are special portable dishwashers for baby bottles?
Final Thoughts
It wasn’t easy picking a top product when comparing Dr. Brown and MAM bottles for anti-colic features. However, the MAM’s self-sterilizing feature was a winner for me as I know how useful it is to be able to clean bottles quickly. This feature also appealed to me as a family who likes to travel with our daughter.
This is why MAM bottles should be probably on your list in terms of offering an alternative to Dr. Brown’s bottles. On a final note, if you’re not so happy with the bottle, consider returning it to a store near you.
