Review: Playtex Nurser with Drop-Ins Liners is ideal for travel

I was initially skeptical about the idea of introducing a new bottle into our routine, but with an overseas trip on the horizon, I knew I we needed to make feeding as easy and mess-free as possible. Our everyday bottle system includes seven bottles, with six parts each, and a massive sterilizing routine—something that just wouldn’t work while we were on holiday. I wanted something that our daughter would take to seamlessly, was easy to clean and super convenient. Enter the Playtex Nurser with Drop-Ins Liners—a.k.a. our new favourite bottle (for real!).

There's a lot to like about this bottle: no leaks, it's large enough to hold a good amount of formula (especially important on an eight-hour flight!), and it's incredibly easy to keep clean since the Drop-Ins are single use and easy to dispose of on the go. Suddenly my pile of bottle parts has been reduced dramatically, which means there’s room in my carry-on for everything else I need.

We’re not leaving for a few weeks, but we decided to give the Nurser a test run. We had used the same bottles since our days in the NICU, and I’d heard nightmare stories from my other mom friends about their babies having trouble taking a bottle, period, never mind using multiple types with different textures, nipples, etc. Much to my surprise, it was a total success! That said, I made a point to not change any other part of our routine (and I use that word loosely—things are pretty chill in our house), and I definitely didn’t draw attention to the fact that we were using a new bottle. It was business as usual, and while our daughter gave me a bit of a “What the heck is this?” look at first sip, she was otherwise totally happy and guzzled her breakfast normally.

The bottle also has a cool tilt feature that I was initially indifferent to. To be honest, I kind of thought the adjustable angle for mom's comfort was a made-up benefit, but you know what?—it was actually amazing! I had never noticed the contorted angle my wrists were in while feeding, and this allowed me to keep my hand so relaxed that I could hold the bottle and support baby, freeing up my other hand to catch up on Instagram (feedings can be painfully long and boring!).

Maybe we’re just lucky. Maybe it’s that I have a super cool, roll-with-the-punches baby. Maybe it’s that this bottle is dynamite. Probably, it's a little bit of all those things. All I know is that I’m ready to start packing knowing that the bottle-feeding bit—the part of our vacation I was most scared of and stressed about—is under control.

Lauren Wilcock is a first-time mom in Toronto.

The Playtex Nurser with Drop-Ins Liners is a Today’s Parent Approved 2016 winner. When your hungry baby needs a bottle in a hurry, the Playtex Nurser is there to help. It comes with pre-sterilized disposable Drop-Ins Liners for quick prep and minimal cleanup: just pop one into the bottle, fill it up and attach the nipple, and it’s ready. But it’s not just about the convenience. The liner collapses as your little one feeds, mimicking breastfeeding patterns and helping to keep air out of your baby’s tummy—which means less uncomfortable gas. Tip: It’s also a great alternative to packing a bunch of bottles when you’re travelling, camping or taking a car trip. $5.99, babiesrus.ca

See all of the 2016 Today’s Parent Approved winning products