Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Baby Bottle | Best Glass Baby Bottle | Best Collapsible Liner Design | Best Bang for Your Buck | |
Price | $7.50 List $6.36 each at Amazon | $13.00 List $8.75 each at Amazon | $30 List | $23 List $6.66 each at Amazon | $18.00 List |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A lightweight baby bottle with a nipple that is easy to latch onto and a design that is easy to hold | A silicone baby bottle that will keep baby and the Earth happy | A reliable glass bottle that is easy to use and clean | An innovative baby bottle with a reusable take on the drop-in liner system | Suitable for parents who want the perks of glass without the price tag |
Rating Categories | Tommee Tippee Close... | Comotomo | NUK Simply Natural... | Boon Nursh | Evenflo Vented + Glass |
Leakage (30%) | |||||
Nipple (25%) | |||||
Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
Eco-Health (15%) | |||||
Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
Specs | Tommee Tippee Close... | Comotomo | NUK Simply Natural... | Boon Nursh | Evenflo Vented + Glass |
Material | Plastic | Silicone | Borosilicate Glass (BPA-free) | Silicone, Plastic | Tempered Glass |
Available Sizes | 5, 9 oz | 5, 8 oz | 4, 8 oz | 4, 8 oz | 4, 8 oz |
Weight | 1.6 oz | 3.7 oz | 5.8 oz | 3.2 oz | 4.9 oz |
Bottle Mouth | Wide | Wide | Wide | Wide | Narrow |
Anti-Colic Feature | Vented nipple | Vented nipple | Vented nipple | Collapsible silicone pouch | Vented nipple |
Nipple Pinch Test | Very Firm | Very Soft | Soft | Very Firm | Medium |
Cleaning Method | Top rack dishwasher safe | Top rack dishwasher safe | Top rack dishwasher safe | Dishwasher safe | Top rack dishwasher safe |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Tommee Tippee is a manufacturer of baby products that began in the UK and has been in business for over 50 years. They produce some well-known products used by parents around the world. The Closer to Nature is one of the few plastic bottles to make it into our review, and we appreciate its usability and breast-like nipple.
Performance Comparison
Likes
We appreciate that this baby bottle has three parts and a wide neck opening, making it easier to clean and assemble. The dark volume markings are located directly on the side of the bottle and are very easy to read, no matter the lighting conditions. The lighter weight of this plastic bottle will be appreciated when packing up a diaper bag, and its durability makes it a perfect choice for daycare or to use during long trips.
The unique, short, and squat shape of the Closer to Nature gives it distinct advantages. The wide neck makes it easier to pour liquids or mix formula, and it provides the base for a large nipple mound, which is more breast-like and potentially more comfortable for the baby to latch on. The nipple has a single vent that allows air in, giving the baby fewer bubbles and less colic. We also think that the contoured shape is more natural for babies to wrap their hands around once they can hold their bottle.
Dislikes
The biggest downfall of this bottle is the material. We prefer to avoid plastic, especially when it comes to feeding. It can retain strange odors and colors and potentially leech harmful chemicals into a baby's food, particularly when used for storage purposes. The shape of the Tommee Tippee is contoured in a way that helps baby and parents to use it more easily, but it also makes cleaning more difficult, especially in the 5 oz version. It is so squat that the upper rim is a bit difficult to get to, and it may take a bit of maneuvering when feeding to get the last few drops of milk over the lip of the bottle.
Users have found that the volume markings wear off quickly from normal wear and tear, which leads us to believe that it isn't meant to last through multiple children, but as it is PP plastic, you should probably be replacing these bottles every six months anyway.
Tommee Tippee has glass and silicone bottle options, and all Closer to Nature bottles have interchangeable nipples and rings. This convenient feature allows you to have a mix of materials available to use in different situations without having to match bottles with less recognizable parts. We love this idea for parents who want to stick mainly to glass or silicone at home but want something more durable and less expensive to send to daycare with their baby.
Should You Buy the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature?
While the plastic composition brought this contender down a few notches in the baby bottle review, we think plastic options have their place. The bottle's simplicity makes it a convenient and wise choice for certain situations, like traveling or sending along to daycare.
What Other Baby Bottles Should You Consider?
The Comotomo offers an all-around better performance. It's a silicone bottle, a material we prefer over plastic. It's durable, easy to use, and simple to clean, making it a compelling candidate. Otherwise, if you're looking for an inexpensive option that's healthier than plastic, consider the Evenflo Vented + Glass.