How to Buy BPA-Free Dishes for Kids

Concerns about BPA in plastic bottles and dishware have parents looking for safe alternatives. Here's how to make sure the dishes you buy for your kids are BPA free.

Instructions

1. Look on the bottom of the plastic dish ware or bottles. There should be a triangle formed with arrows which contains a number. This number is a code for recycling purposes that tells you what sort of plastic the item is made of. BPA is found in plastics containing the number 7 or the letters PC in the markings.

2. Trust plastic dishware that is cloudy or soft. BPA is used in polycarbonate plastics to make them hard and clear. Cloudy and soft plastics are BPA free and safe to use as bottles and dishware for children.

3. Choose melamine for your child's dishes. Melamine is an entirely different plastic altogether and is actually a very environmentally safe alternative to traditional plastics. It is made of recycled materials and can be recycled itself, and most importantly, it does not leach BPA into the foods it contains.

4. Consider glass or ceramic dishes. Many preschools are moving to the philosophy that when given the responsibility of breakable dishware, children rise to the occasion and treat it with care. A ceramic dish is a good way to help give the older child pride in her ability to eat carefully and since no plastic touches the food, it is absolutely safe to use. Glass and ceramic are also environmentally friendly options for the older child.