The Best Non Toxic Baby Bottles
Finding safe, non-toxic bottles for feeding your baby can be confusing, but there are now more options than ever available to suit various lifestyles. Though plastic baby bottles are lightweight, durable and inexpensive, studies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Consumers Union and researchers at Nagasaki University in Japan found that bottles made of #7 polycarbonate plastic release bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting chemical, into baby formula when they are warmed up. Safer options to polycarbonate plastic bottles exist, such as glass, stainless steel and other BPA-free plastic bottles.
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Concerns about Plastic Bottles
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Plastic #7 polycarbonate bottles have been found in multiple studies to leech BPA into formula and milk, particularly when they are being warmed up or during heat sterilization. A 2008 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that about 93 percent of Americans had BPA in their bodies, with infants and small children showing higher levels. BPA has been linked to neural and behavioral problems. Newer plastic bottles are labeled as BPA-free, but some brands and many secondhand bottles still contain BPA. Polyvinylchloride (#3 PVC) is also used to make some bottles, bottle rings and even nipples, and it should be avoided as much as possible. Additives in PVC can increase the risk of birth defects and hormone-related cancers because the manufacturing and disposing of PVC creates dioxins linked to neurological, reproductive and developmental problems.
Glass Bottles
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Glass bottles are the classic choice for a non-toxic bottle. The downside to glass bottles is that they can break if dropped, but there are silicone sleeves on the market that can protect the bottles from breaking as well as giving baby a better grip. Glass bottles can be handed down from baby to baby without worries of leeching, and they are recyclable if broken. Evenflo, Born Free and Dr. Brown's all offer glass bottles.
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Stainless Steel Bottles
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Stainless steel baby bottles are another non-toxic option. More durable than glass, stainless steel bottles are lightweight and unbreakable. They're a bit more expensive than glass bottles, but many manufacturers offer replacement tops for baby bottles to convert them into sippy cups for toddlers and then to regular water bottles for older children. Klean Kanteen, Green Sprouts and organicKidz offer stainless steel bottles with options for replacement tops to grow with your baby.
Non-Toxic Plastic Bottles
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Newer plastic bottles are made from different plastic resins and are BPA-free. Polypropylene and polyethylene plastic (#1, #2 or #5) are safer than the #7 polycarbonate bottles, and they are recyclable, though heating them in the microwave is not recommended due to leeching concerns. Make sure any plastic bottles you choose are labeled as BPA-free and phthalate-free, as phthalates have been linked to health problems, including cancer, endocrine disruption, development delays, and reproductive system damage. Green to Grow makes a shatter-resistant polyethersulfone (PES) plastic bottle that is BPA-, lead- and PVC-free. Born Free and Dr. Brown's also make plastic bottles that are free of BPA, phthalates and PVC.
Bottle Nipples
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When choosing a nipple for your new non-toxic bottles, latex rubber and silicone are the two main options. Latex nipples can cause allergic reactions in some babies, and they can release nitrosamines, a carcinogen. Latex also breaks down faster than silicone, cause small cracks that make them difficult to clean. Silicone is a safer, non-toxic option and won't contribute to allergies or sensitivities. Silicone is also less porous and resists bacteria.
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