AVENT is a highly durable baby bottle and one set lasts from birth until the toddler has grown out of bottles entirely, its compatibility with the more grown-up Magic Cup range makes the transition from baby to toddler easy
Philips AVENT Airflex Feeding Bottles are long-lasting and easy to handle change and clean. Just watch out for those unwanted leaks!
Launched in 1984, AVENT is one of the leading baby bottle brands in the UK. It’s certainly one of the most widely stocked, available in most supermarkets, chemists and babycare shops. It’s more expensive than Tommee Tippee, and Dr Brown for teats and similar to Tommee Tippee in cost per bottle. The bottles and teats come in a range of sizes from newborn to the 330ml ‘Magnum’ – most brands stop at the traditional 260ml. The teats can also be changed over for ‘sippy cup’ style nozzles when baby grows up and starts self-feeding.
What we love
Overall the components are very easy to handle, change and clean by hand or in the dishwasher. Philips AVENT claims that its Airflex system can reduce colic by having a valve in the teat seal that stops baby gulping down lots of air as well as milk. It also claims the ‘naturally shaped teat’ can reduce nipple confusion if you want to mix breast and bottle-feeding.
Many babies get on well with the teat shape and texture on the bottle in general but a baby, who fed happily from this bottle at two weeks old, still refused to feed from it at six weeks, typically when nipple confusion becomes an issue. Philips AVENT bottles are a standard shape so fit into most non-branded accessories such as sterilisers, insulating bags and bottle warmers, which can be really handy.
What to watch out for
Teats can become cloudy or worn so Philips AVENT recommends you change teats every two months though some have needed to buy new teats every month. There are sometimes unexplained leaks and while all components appear to be fitting snugly together, milk still comes out round the edges, sometimes enough to soak clothes quite thoroughly. When this has happened Philips has replaced the bottles.
Philips AVENT Airflex bottle also contains Bisphenol A (BPA) which has caused concern recently about chemicals possibly leeching from the bottle into milk at high temperatures. Philips AVENT points out that its bottles are within European guidelines on this and reinforces advice not to use cracked bottles or heat them in the microwave. Philips makes alternative bottle ranges without BPA – AVENT VIA and the Magic Cup range and the anti-colic BPA-free Feeding Bottle. Philips Avent launched this BPA-free Feeding Bottle in June 2009.
Who is Philips AVENT Airflex Feeding Bottles best for?
Best for mums who are looking for a long-lasting feeding bottle which is easy to use and can be put in the dishwasher.
Philips AVENT Airflex bottle is a highly durable baby bottle and one set lasts from birth until the toddler has grown out of bottles entirely. Its compatibility with the more grown-up Magic Cup range makes the transition from baby to toddler easy.
