Dr Brown's Options+ 120ml Single Bottle: Newborn Buying Guide
By Dr Browns | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: Product Reviews
Decide whether the Dr Brown's Options+ Narrow Neck 120ml single bottle suits your newborn, when a small bottle is enough, and when to size up or buy a pack.
Quick answer
Buy the Dr Brown's Options+ Narrow Neck 120ml Single Bottle as a low-cost starter or trial bottle for a newborn, especially if you want the internal vent system and a small 4 oz/120 ml feed size. Choose a larger bottle or a multi-pack instead if your baby already takes more than 120 ml per feed or you plan to formula-feed around the clock.
Why a 120ml bottle makes sense for the first weeks
Newborn feeds are small and frequent, so a 120 ml bottle keeps the feed volume easy to judge and avoids mixing more than your baby will finish. The trade-off is that this size becomes limiting as appetite grows, often within a few weeks. Treat the 120ml bottle as a first-stage bottle, not your only bottle for the whole first year.
What the single-bottle format really means
A single bottle is a trial purchase, not a full feeding setup. Because the pack includes one bottle and one Level 1 Narrow Neck teat, you get no spare teat and no backup bottle while one is being washed or sterilised. That is fine for occasional expressed feeds or for testing whether your baby accepts the vent system, but it is frustrating for daily bottle feeding.
The vent system: benefit and extra parts
The Options+ internal vent channels air away from the feed, which is the reason parents choose this range for windy, colicky symptoms. The honest trade-off is more parts to clean and assemble than a simple bottle. The Options+ design also lets you use the bottle without the vent once feeding is established, but the catalog does not state a recommended age for that change, so follow the instructions in the pack rather than guessing.
Decision rules for buying the 120ml single bottle
- If you are testing a bottle before committing: Buy the single 120ml bottle first and use it for a few feeds before buying more. This limits spend if your baby rejects the teat shape or the vent setup. Set a short trial period, then decide on a pack.
- If your baby takes more than 120 ml per feed: Skip this size and choose a larger Options+ bottle. A 120ml bottle that is consistently emptied and topped up adds unnecessary mixing and washing.
- If you bottle-feed daily: Buy at least two bottles or a multi-pack so one can be cleaned while the other is in use. A single bottle creates a cleaning bottleneck, especially with the extra vent parts. Count your daily feeds before choosing pack size.
- If you are unsure about teat level: Start with the included Level 1 teat and only change flow if feeding is slow or your baby seems frustrated. The catalog does not list other teat levels for this pack, so check the teat markings you receive.
Product facts at a glance
- Dr Brown's Options+ Narrow Neck 120ml Single Bottle: The Options+ range uses an internal vent system that channels air away from baby's feed. If wind and colicky symptoms are your main concern, this is the feature that justifies choosing the bottle over a standard one.
Dr Brown's Options+ Narrow Neck 120ml Single Bottle - Dr Brown's Options+ Narrow Neck 120ml Single Bottle: The pack contains one 4 oz/120 ml narrow neck bottle and one Level 1 Narrow Neck teat. You get a complete first feed setup, but no spare teat or second bottle, so plan for washing turnaround.
Who this bottle suits
Best for
- Parents of a newborn who want a small 120ml bottle for first feeds
- Families trialling the Options+ vent system before buying a full set
- Occasional expressed-milk or supplement feeds in the early weeks
Not for
- Babies already taking more than 120 ml per feed
- Parents who want a complete feeding kit with spare teats and bottles
- Households that want the simplest possible bottle to clean
