Best Baby Bottle Drying Racks
The OXO Tot Bottle Rack is highly functional and an all-around top-notch product. It offers stability, great capacity, and simple cleaning as it is top-rack dishwasher safe. For busy parents, this is a game-changer. With multiple short pegs, it holds up to eight bottles, plus pump parts, sippy cups, plates, bowls, utensils, and more. The product is sturdy and can withstand the weight of glass bottles. The detachable container holds small parts, like medicine droppers. The ribs keep items away from water at the bottom of the tray. This drying rack will look great in any kitchen and provide years of service, drying multiple items daily.
Users report that since the tray has no drainage holes, water pools in the tray's grooves creating a hotbed for residue and grime. This issue will occur to any product that has standing water, and regular emptying of water, plus occasional dishwasher cleaning, will help the tray stay sparkling clean. Also, with greater capacity, comes a larger footprint, which may not be ideal for a small kitchen. Nevertheless, we recommend this product to those with kitchen countertop space to spare and who value the product's greater capacity to hold multiple bottles and more.
The Boon Grass, Stem & Twig is a breath of fresh air to the drying rack world. This innovative, smart-looking design is a product you will be happy to have on your kitchen counter. The blades of grass are slightly flexible and accommodate various bottle sizes and weights, accessories, and especially small items, like breast pump parts and medicine droppers. The Stem and Twig accessories hold nipples, bottle rings, and other little bits, too, leaving more room for larger items on the grass. Water drains and collects into the lower tray. This rack is not dishwasher safe, but cleaning by hand is not too bad. Remove the blades of grass from the base and wash with warm soapy water. Once the days of bottles pass, use this for everyday toddler dishware.
Since water drains to the tray below, it is out of sight, thanks to the grass. But, as the saying goes: "Out of sight, Out of mind," that standing water can be easily forgotten and not regularly cleaned, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Luckily, remembering to wash this product frequently will avoid this issue. We recommend the Boon Grass to those who do not mind hand-washing the rack and accessories, and only use a minimal number of bottles daily as it offers medium capacity. If you fancy this product yet want more capacity, check out the larger-size, sister product, Boon Lawn, as well as the Boon Poke, a similar accessory that we think you'll appreciate.
Are you shopping on a budget? The Boon Sprig is hands-down a winner, plus it will add a pop of color to your kitchen. This functional, sturdy rack offers quality while taking-up less countertop space. This product is perfect for air drying up to six bottles of varying shapes, sizes, and weights, like glass. The sprig bed is where smaller items, like nipples and caps, sit to dry. An added perk of this product is that the sprigs spin on the white base, allowing easier 360 access. The springs are removable for easier storage and cleaning.
This product is not dishwasher safe, so it will need to be washed by hand. Although the overall task is more time-consuming, avoiding the high heat of a dishwasher can extend the product's longevity. The sprigs are nearly the same width, and it would be helpful if some were slightly thinner to provide more part arrangement opportunities. Also, some small, narrow pieces, like medicine droppers, can slip through the sprig bed. We recommend this product for those who do not need high capacity, enjoy its spunky style, and who want function and quality on a dime.
The OXO Tot On-the-Go is a travel set for cleaning and drying bottles, pump parts, pacifiers, and more while away from home. It is sturdy and has multiple, short fingers and ribs that lift items and keep them away from water at the bottom. It includes a bottle brush and a built-in stand to keep the brush upright while bottles dry. It measures 10.8" in width when open, and 5.5" when closed, making it compact and ready for travel. Tuck this product into a diaper bag or luggage, or perhaps leave it at work for cleaning breast pump parts. It is top-rack dishwasher safe, which is a convenient perk for busy parents.
The OXO Tot On-the-Go has limitations in space and thus capacity. It holds a couple of bottles and accessories, or pump parts, but not all simultaneously. If you need generous space and capacity while traveling, this product would not be a great fit. However, if you appreciate this all-in-one travel solution and you only have a handful of items to wash and dry each time, then we like what this product has to offer.
The Philips Avent Drying Rack is sleek, simple, and fresh in appearance. It can dismantle into a compact size for storage. The four removable prongs with branches hold up to eight bottles and accessories, and the white base holds pump parts, pacifiers, and more. Since the prongs run down the middle, accessing parts on the sides is more convenient. Its footprint is small to conserve countertop space, and the prongs are tall but do not obstruct. Water drains and collects in the bottom tray. The rack is a top-rack dishwasher safe item, or, if you prefer, handwash it with water and soap.
The black tray does not have a drainage hole, and you will need to empty water from time to time. Users report that the rack can easily tip. We did not experience this issue while testing baby bottles and accessories. However, we did place two glass drinking cups on the same side, and the top-heaviness did cause the rack to tip. Therefore, we do not recommend this product for heavy items, like stainless steel water bottles. Despite these small flaws, if you are seeking a rack with a small footprint that is dishwasher safe and can break down into a compact size to store easily, then we recommend this one for you.
The Termichy Bottle Rack is a run-of-the-mill product that gets the job done but offers no unique perks. It is sturdy and has a small footprint on the countertop. It is easy to assemble and dissemble. The branches range in heights, plus snap in and out of the holes so that you can design the layout. Excess water collects in the drip tray below. This product comes with a fabric travel bag that is nothing fancy but helps contain items for life on the go. We see longevity in this product as you will be able to use it to dry sippy cups, snack containers, and other items in the future.
The Termichy may be too small for families who wash and dry multiple bottles and pump parts every day. Since this product is not dishwasher safe, it will need to be washed by hand, which is time-consuming, given the number of branches. We recommend this product to families who do not have a heavy load of bottles and items to wash, who don't mind hand-washing this rack and appreciate the multiple branches of varying heights.
The Munchkin Fold may be minimal in appearance, but this rack is sturdy and durable. With pegs close together, it can hold more narrow bottles, like Dr. Brown's, than wide bottles, like Tommee Tippee or Philips Avent. It offers two different peg heights to hold bottles and accessories, pump parts, and more. As items dry, the base collects excess water. It features additional space to keep eight bottle sealing discs and posts to dry straws upright. The pegs fold flat for easy storage and have rounded tips to prevent scratching.
A disadvantage of this product is that it does not have a drainage hole, and standing water is not ideal. Thankfully, regular removal of the water and cleaning will solve this issue. If you use narrow bottles like Dr. Brown's, you don't mind regular cleaning, plus you appreciate a rack that can quickly and easily store, then the Munchkin Fold is one we recommend.
The First Years Spin Stack fits bottles and accessories into two adjustable spinning levels. It can hold up to 16 bottles, cups, or pacifiers. Water drains into the sink or a removable drip tray. To store, the pegs and center spindle dismantle. The rack can go through the dishwasher, top-rack only, which is a plus for busy parents.
Users report that the pegs that hold bottles easily fall off over time. However, testing shows that the pegs feel currently snug, and we suspect repetitious removal of the pegs creates weakness over time. A slight lip on the draining spout keeps water from escaping, and a tilt of the rack is needed to nudge the water along. Despite these drawbacks, if you use multiple plastic bottles each day and are searching for high capacity, plus at a budget-friendly price, then The First Years Spin Stack is a good fit.
The Prince Lionheart Deluxe offers an organizational layout with specific locations for bottles, nipples, bottle rings, along with slots on top for utensils and straws. Once the bottle days pass, use this rack to air dry sippy cups and snack containers.
This product is not dishwasher safe and will need to be washed by hand. When fully loaded with bottles and accessories, it can be challenging to reach items on the bottom level, behind the bottles. We found the task of assembling and disassembling this rack challenging due to multiple plastic tabs that click together. Also, the rack has many nooks and crannies to clean, which is not ideal and time-consuming. Although this product gets the job done, it is not one we would quickly recommend among the group. However, if you really like the organizational layout of this rack, then you may find it suitable to your needs.
The OXO Tot Space Saving frees up valuable counter space with an upright design that fits under most cabinets. With multiple pegs, it can hold up to nine bottles, plus a top compartment and base tray for small items, like valves, pacifiers, and more. The removable top compartment and base tray are safe to go through the dishwasher on the top-rack, but the white rack is not and will need to be hand-washed.
Unfortunately, the angle of the pegs is not steep enough and water pools at the neck of the bottles, which is far from ideal and results in a longer dry time. Users report the lack of space between the lowest row of pegs, and the base tray can make it challenging to store and access multiple parts. Also, wet items in the top compartment drip water onto the counter behind the rack, not on the base tray. We found placing a towel behind or underneath the rack will soak-up water, but we wish this issue did not exist in the first place. Nevertheless, despite these flaws, if your mind is set on this vertical design to save countertop space, this product will get the job done. However, among the competition, it does not stand out, and it is not one we quickly recommend.
Why You Should Trust Us
When it comes to baby gear and products, the BabyGearLab Team is exceptionally passionate and equally knowledgeable. We have extensively tested multiple products, including baby bottles, and bottle drying racks are an extension. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Research Analyst for BabyGearLab. With over 14 years of childcare experience, Molly knows all-things-baby. For Molly, proper bottle cleaning, drying, and sanitizing are familiar territory. Take advantage of her expert experience and recommendations to help guide you to the perfect product. We tested each product side-by-side for ease of cleaning, capacity, and more to find the best in the bunch.
Analysis and Test Results
Lots of washing and testing with a variety of bottles and accessories, plus other items like breast pump parts, medicine droppers, pacifiers, and more were used to simulate everyday use and to compare rack performance in the real world under normal circumstances.
Ease of Cleaning
Standing water either in a bottle or on a tray is a no go because it will allow bacteria and mold to grow. Therefore, it is essential that a bottle drying rack has an open, breathable design to promote airflow, which will help bottles, and pump parts dry quickly. In general, we recommend hand-washing plastic products as it is better for a product's longevity; however, as busy parents, products that are top-rack dishwasher safe are convenient, time-efficient, and easier to regular cleaning. A number of products in our review are dishwasher safe, like the OXO Tot Bottle Rack and the OXO Tot On-the-Go. On the flip side, the Prince Lionheart Deluxe is the most time-consuming and challenging product to dismantle to clean by hand.
Footprint Size
Consider the amount of countertop space you are willing to sacrifice to a bottle drying rack. A rack with multiple levels, like the The First Years Spin Stack and the OXO Tot Space Saving will help in this endeavor but needs to fit under a cabinet. The Philips Avent Drying Rack has a smaller footprint and offers one level with medium capacity. On the other end, the OXO Tot Bottle Rack has a large footprint and will take up space in your kitchen.
Capacity
No busy parent has time to play Tetris with a drying rack, so you'll want to find a product that offers enough space to house the number of bottles your child uses in 24 hours, plus pumping parts, pacifiers, and any other baby items that you would like to wash and dry. By pre-determining your ideal capacity, this will help narrow down the options. The OXO Tot Bottle Rack and The First Years Spin Stack offer greater capacity, whereas the OXO Tot On-the-Go does not; however, it is meant for travel, not as a primary rack.
Conclusion
Washing and drying baby bottles, accessories, and other items will be a constant in the beginning years of life. Fortunately, a drying rack is a designated space that will help keep these items clean and dry for your little one. We are confident that our review and expert recommendations will help guide you to a product that meets your needs.
— Molly Bradac