How to Choose BPA-Free Baby Bottles

By choosing a BPA-free baby bottle, you have one less thing to worry about.

With so much literature about chemicals and their dangerous effects on children, parents should stay safe when introducing a bottle to their babies. Choose a BPA-free baby bottle because the chemical bisphenol A may pose serious health threats, such as endocrine disorders and cancer, according to "The Washington Post." Since 2006, major retailers and manufacturers no longer use BPA in baby bottles, but you still need to choose bottles that are right for your baby.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Thinking cap
• Pen and paper
• Internet access

1. Choose glass baby bottles over plastic bottles. Glass does not contain any plastic, so it does not have any of the chemicals that are controversial.

2. Avoid hard plastic baby bottles marked with a 7 or "PC," which may still contain BPA. Buy new plastic baby bottles from American manufacturers that are clearly marked BPA-free and have the numbers, 1, 2, or 5 inside a triangle at the bottom of the bottle. Do not use plastic liners for the bottles, as they may leach chemicals.

3. Buy the larger baby bottles even if your baby is a newborn. The smaller bottles are recommended for younger babies. However, babies grow quickly, and you save money with one set of bottles that can be used when your baby is younger and older.

4. Choose a silicone nipple over latex because latex has been linked to allergies and cancer-causing components. Younger babies should have nipples with smaller holes so they can suck harder, while older babies need nipples with larger holes. Buy a selection for your baby because infants can be picky.

5. Sterilize your nipples and bottles in a pan of boiling water rather than the microwave. The microwave may leach harmful chemicals into the bottles.

Tips & Warnings

• Use filtered water if you are using powdered baby formula. Filtration removes harmful chemicals.

• Choose BPA-free breast milk pumping tools such as breast shields and storage containers.

• Avoid cans of liquid baby formula because BPA may be used inside the lining of the can.

References

• "Washington Post"; No BPA For Baby Bottles In U.S., Lyndsey Layton, March 2006
• EWG: EWG's Guide to Infant Formula and Baby Bottles
• Ecolife; An Overview of Safe Baby Bottles, Maryruth Belsey Priebe

Resources

• Ask Dr. Sears: Choosing Nipples