How to Choose BPA Free Baby Bottles

Surely you can just turn the box over and read the label to find out what the bottle is made of, right? Wrong! Manufacturers are not currently required to label their products. That leaves parents wondering what to do next.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thinking cap
• Pen and paper
• Internet access

1. First of all, what in the world is BPA?
   
   BPA is short for Bisphenol-a, a chemical that is actually an artificial estrogen. It is used to create the plastic called polycarbonate. Most major U.S. baby bottle manufacturers use BPA in their production, as well as many food storage containers and toys.
   
   Researchers have shown that even low levels of estrogen-mimicking BPA are harmful to animals and people, especially babies and young children. Many environmental scientists believe that Bisphenol-a may cause adverse health effects, such as cancer, diabetes, obesity and early puberty.

2. It all seems overwhelming as you stare at the myriad of bottles out there, doesn't it? Take a deep breath and relax. There are many wonderful resources available to help you find the perfect BPA free bottles.
   
   Start by reviewing the following guides:
   
   1) Smart Plastics Guide at www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=77083
   
   2) How to Find Safer Baby Bottle Alternatives at www.squidoo.com/nontoxicbabybottles
   
   3) Safemama's BPA Free Bottle and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet at www.safemama.com

3. Now that you have an idea what your options are, let's narrow down the list of bottles a little further. Jot down your specific needs:
   
   1) Does your baby prefer a regular neck or wide neck bottle?
   
   2) Does your baby need a vented bottle to help reduce gas and spit up?
   
   3) Are you concerned about the cost and need more affordable BPA free bottles?

4. 

   READY, SET, GO get those non-toxic bottles and start giving your baby an early health advantage today!

Tips & Warnings

• Look for reviews and comparisons of the BPA free baby bottles you're interested in.
• Consider trying several different bottles to see which your baby prefers most before you invest in your whole baby bottle stash. It will be worth the cost and effort in the long run.
• Remember that a bottle may not have BPA in it just because it's not marked as BPA free. Manufacturers are not currently required to label products with the materials they're made from. If you are unsure, contact the company and ask.
• This information is not meant to serve as medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if needed.

Resources

• The Soft Landing Baby Blog

[celiateoh]

on 2/18/2009 Hi there With the BPA issue, many brands claimed that their bottle is BPA "Safe'. i would like to share this, please read and understand the content of the material used to make the bottles. BPA safe vs BPA free.BPA safe bottles can still be made with polucarbonate. But the bottles that i am using is BPA Free with SGS certification which comply with EN 14350. The material used is P.E.S. Moms

[klchan]

on 2/4/2009 For those concern moms n dads. i strongly recomend "Evenflo" brand's glass bottles or w/o bpa bottles which i brought at Jusco. Make in Maxico. www.evenflo.com

[celiateoh]

on 1/28/2009 i am a concern mom and retailer dealing with children products. for BPA free bottles, can check out the brand safty plus brand in Malaysia or Think baby in overseas. For price comparison, can even email me at [e-mail]. regards Celia *Retail with Passion

[rolltide16316]

on 12/2/2008 Philips Avent bottles are BPA Free and what we currently use with our daughter. Here is a link to a website where you can buy directly from Avent at a discount. Our pediatrician gave us the site and thought it may be useful to the readers here. www.philipsaventfeeding.com

[tsan]

on 5/23/2008 Thanks for posting this information. For a comparison chart of some leading brands, check out: http://www.thecradle.com/bringingbabyhome/babybottles_breakdown

Best,
Tayte