In a nutshell

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

What we tested

  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Ease of cleaning
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Effectiveness
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
  • Design
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.6 out of 5.

Pros

  • Standard size, easy to clean, wide range of accessories

Cons

  • Teats need replacing frequently, one of more expensive brands, contains BPA, sometimes leaks

Philips AVENT Airflex Feeding Bottles are long-lasting and easy to handle change and clean. Just watch out for those unwanted leaks!

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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.

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MadeForMums verdict

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.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandPhilips AVENT
ModelAirflex bottle
Price£4.25
Available sizes

Teats:

  • 0m+ Airflex newborn teats
  • 1m+ Airflex slow flow teats
  • 3m+Airflex medium flow teats
  • 6m+ Airflex fast flow teats
  • 3m+ airflex variable flow teats
Suitable for
Child age (approx)Up to 12 months
Features
Bottle typeNarrow neck
Dishwasher safeYes
Microwave safeYes
Component parts (excluding teat)2
Features
  • Compatible with toddler magic cup range
Accessories
Optional extrasCan be added to with items from magic cup range, also compatible sterilisers, breast pumps, insulation bags
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