I have been known to be a little bit of a worrier when it comes to what goes into my kids’ bodies. So when I heard that plastic baby bottles may pose a risk for my newborn, I wanted to learn more.
The issue is with BPA (bisphenal A) which is a chemical used in most plastic bottles, food and beverage cans. If you do enough research on line, you will find that some believe BPA is released when bottles are heated. Some researchers are concerned that BPA may be linked to childhood obesity and earlier sexual development in girls.
Although there is no conclusive evidence that BPA is harmful and no baby bottles have been recalled, I went ahead and purchased Born Free bottles which are made without BPA. And I have to say that I love them. I used Avent bottles when my 3-year-old was a baby. And they were great, except for the leaking (which of course always seemed to happen in the middle of the night, or when my husband was feeding her). Born Free nipples are similar to Avent, so my 5-month-old didn’t skip a beat when I switched on her. The bottles are easier to hold and have a special inner valve that prevents leaking and an air vent that is supposed to help reduce colic and inner ear infections. I even tried out my Avent nipples with the Born Free bottles, and they fit. So I am hoping that I won’t have to buy additional Born Free 3- and 4-sized nipples.
The downside is that these bottles are very expensive, $19.99 for two 9-ounce bottles on amazon.com. And I had to order medium flow nipples, 2 for 9.99. I’m pretty sure you can find these at Babies R Us too. I highly recommend them if you want or need to invest in new bottles, but I couldn’t stomach replacing my entire drawer of baby bottles, so I just added these into the mix.
What eco-friendly bottles do you use?
12 comments
Thanks for this article, Jenny!All Medela bottles are BPA-free and have standard threads so most nipples (but not the large ones like Avent) will fit them.
I am a huge Dr. Brown’s fan and the also now make glass versions – 3.5 and 7 ounce I believe.
Nuby makes BPA-free bottles and they are less expensive. You can find them at Babiesrus in cute colors!
what about sippy cups? Which ones do you use that are BPA free?
aren’t sippy cups not really an issue because you don’t heat them?
Please check out this website for more information on BPA bottles…. http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/environmental-health/environmental-health-reports/toxic-baby-bottlesAny plastic that has BPA, sippy cups, bowls, etc. is a problem.
they would get heated if you are using a dishwasher, much like a bottle too. I don’t think it’s just the bottle warmer that they are refering to.
I also found out that Munchkin and Nuby make sippy cups that are BPA – free. They are both inexpensive. Most other BPA – free sippys are very expensive and made of metal.And yes, right now the only information that I found mentioned that BPA is release when heated, which includes the dishwasher, so it would effect sippy cups as well.
With the drop-ins you don’t have to worry about the BPA. Also, referring to previous post about Dr. Brown’s, I also used to love those until I found out those had one of the highest levels of BPA (plastic bottles only).
Thermos also makes a straw bottle and sippy cup. Their kid line is called Foogo. They’re better for the environment than plastic, and they don’t contain BPA. They sell them at Target now for $14.99. I think they’re worth the small investment to keep our kids safe and go green. Here’s a link to Thermos’ Web site for those looking for more info: http://www.thermos.com/SubCategoriesCatalog.aspx?CatCode=Foog&SubMenuID=0.
I have been using the Wee Go bottles that are glass and have a silicone colored sleeve. The sleeves come in a variety of colors so they are very cute. The bottle has been great, but the tops don’t stay on very well. I’m hoping I can find a different top to fit.
I use the glass dr. browns and am very happy with them. I ordered them off amazon and the labeling now doesn’t come off in the dishwasher. annoying 7 oz instead of 8 but peace of mind is worth it.