Dr. Brown's Options Plus Review: Vent, Leaks and Fit

Researched, not hands-on tested. Specs checked on Dr. Brown’s US website and in the Dr. Brown’s bottle and nipple instructions on November 1, 2026. How we research products.

Your baby seems gassy after bottles, someone at the hospital handed you a Dr. Brown’s, and now you are wondering if the extra vent pieces are worth the washing, and why some parents say it leaks. This Dr. Brown’s Options+ review covers what the internal vent does according to Dr. Brown’s, the sizes and nipple levels, the real reasons it can leak (straight from the manual), when you can take the vent out, and how to use it safely. We use only the manufacturer’s pages and instructions, plus guidance from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

More on feeding: our baby feeding guides.

Quick answer: is Dr. Brown’s Options+ worth it?

It suits parents who want a vented bottle that Dr. Brown’s says reduces colic, spit-up, burping and gas, and who are fine washing two extra vent pieces with a small brush. It may not suit parents who want the fewest parts, who shake formula in the bottle, or who need a bottle that never drips when tipped.

Dr. Brown’s Options+ specs (from Dr. Brown’s)

Spec	Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+
Shapes and sizes (US site)	Narrow plastic: 4 oz / 120 mL and 8 oz / 250 mL. Wide-Neck plastic: 5 oz / 150 mL and 9 oz / 270 mL. Wide-Neck glass: 5 oz / 150 mL and 9 oz / 270 mL. Narrow glass 4 oz and 8 oz are listed but were sold out on November 1, 2026
Nipple included	Level 1 Slow Flow on the bottle pages we checked
Nipple levels sold	Preemie, Newborn, Level 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Y-Cut. Dr. Brown’s calls the Newborn nipple a middle ground between Preemie and Level 1
Materials	“BPA free”; silicone nipple; glass bottles are borosilicate glass (manual). The plastic type is not stated on the product pages
Vent	Internal vent system: an insert plus a reservoir tube that sit inside the bottle. Dr. Brown’s describes it as “vacuum-free feeding”
Without the vent	The vent can be removed “as baby’s feeding develops”; the manual says the bottle then works like most nipple-vented bottles
Parts in the box	Cap, nipple collar, nipple, travel disk, insert and reservoir tube. A storage/travel cap is sold separately
Cleaning	Dishwasher (top rack only), electric or microwave sterilizer, or boiling water. Boil all parts for 5 minutes before first use. Clean the vent with the wire brush; never use the wire brush on the nipple
Nipple replacement	The manual says to change nipples after six weeks of use, and right away at any sign of wear or damage
Compatibility	The manual says to use only Dr. Brown’s nipples; other brands “may leak or flow too fast or too slow”

Source: Dr. Brown’s US product pages for the narrow 8 oz, wide-neck 9 oz and wide-neck glass 9 oz bottles, the baby bottle collection page, the FAQ and the bottle and nipple instructions (links under Sources), checked November 1, 2026. Not stated by Dr. Brown’s: an age for each nipple level or the plastic type.

What it does well (according to Dr. Brown’s)

A vent system inside the bottle. Dr. Brown’s says its internal vent system is “clinically proven to reduce colic and helps reduce spit-up, burping, and gas.” That is the manufacturer’s claim. The AAP lists vented bottles among the designs meant to limit swallowed air, and says trial and error tends to work best.
One bottle with or without the vent. You can take the vent out later instead of buying new bottles, according to the product pages.
Many nipple levels. From Preemie and Newborn up to Level 4, plus a Y-Cut, so you can slow or speed the flow without switching brands.
Two neck widths and glass. Narrow or wide-neck, plastic or borosilicate glass, all cleanable in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Its limits

More parts to wash. The insert and reservoir tube are two extra pieces, and the vent needs the small wire brush. Parents in forum threads often name this as the main downside.
It can leak if used the wrong way. The manual and FAQ list the usual causes: filling above the fill line, shaking formula with the vent in, warming the bottle with the collar on, over-tightening the collar, and a nipple flow that is too slow so the baby sucks harder. Warm or mix with a storage cap instead, and fill only to the line.
Angle matters. The manual says to hold the bottle at about 45 degrees so the reservoir tube hole stays above the milk.
Travel. Dr. Brown’s says to keep it upright with the travel disk, and to remove the internal parts during air travel to prevent leaks from air pressure.
No age guide for nipple levels. You choose by watching your baby, and Dr. Brown’s FAQ says a flow that is too slow can itself cause leaking.
Claims are the manufacturer’s. The NHS says “there’s no evidence that 1 type of teat or bottle is better than any other.”

Safety notes

Recall check (November 1, 2026): we searched the CPSC recall database and news. We found no recall of Dr. Brown’s Options+ bottles or nipples. The two Dr. Brown’s-brand recalls in the CPSC database are for other products: Natural Bottle & Dish Soap (2017, bacteria) and Lovey pacifier and teether holders (2018, choking hazard).
Always use the bottle with adult supervision, never prop it, and do not let your baby take a bottle to bed (Dr. Brown’s manual and the CDC).
Pull the nipple in all directions before each use and replace it at the first sign of damage. Never use a feeding nipple as a pacifier, and never attach the bottle to cords or ribbons (manual).
Do not heat the bottle in a microwave: the manual warns of hot spots. Always check the milk temperature before feeding.
Glass bottles can break. Inspect them before each use, do not freeze them, and do not let your baby self-feed with glass (manual).
Clean bottles after every feeding; the CDC advises sanitizing at least daily if your baby is under 2 months, was born early or has a weakened immune system.

Who should pick something else

If you want fewer parts, a nipple-vented bottle may suit you better; our Philips Avent Natural Response review covers one with a valve in the nipple instead of an internal vent.

Breastfeeding and adding a bottle? Start with what matters in a bottle for a breastfed baby, where paced feeding counts more than the brand.

If gas or crying is the main reason you are shopping, read baby bottles for colic: what they can and can’t do before you buy a whole set.

For soothing steps beyond the bottle, see our baby colic guide.

When to talk to your doctor

Your baby cries for hours most days, or the crying sounds different from usual.
Your baby often coughs, chokes or gags during bottle feeds, or vomits forcefully.
You see fewer wet diapers than usual or are worried your baby is not drinking enough.
Call 911 if your baby has trouble breathing or turns blue.

Frequently asked questions

Why do Dr. Brown’s bottles leak at the collar?

Dr. Brown’s lists the usual causes: filling above the fill line, warming or shaking the bottle with the vent and collar on, over-tightening the collar, or a nipple flow that is too slow. Warm or mix with a storage cap, fill only to the line and check that the vent pieces are pressed firmly together.

Are Dr. Brown’s Options+ bottles dishwasher safe?

Yes. Dr. Brown’s says all parts can go in the top rack of the dishwasher, an electric or microwave sterilizer, or boiling water. Use the wire brush for the vent, never for the nipple.

Can you use Dr. Brown’s Options+ without the vent?

Yes. Dr. Brown’s says the vent works best in place but can be removed as your baby’s feeding develops. Without it, the manual says the bottle works like most nipple-vented bottles.

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Sources

This page is general information, not medical advice. Product details can change; check the instructions in the box and Dr. Brown’s current guidance. Talk to your pediatrician about your baby’s feeding.