And this one touches us all, mamas, except those who nursed 100% of the time. And these days, whatever your gig (working, staying at home, dating, traveling), it's pretty hard to never use a bottle. And even then, there's all those toxins in our breast milk. Arrgghhh, you just can't win!
Get Informed. Knowing is one thing, changing how you do things another. EWG has a great guide for what to do about nipples (silicone), bottles (use glass!), plastic liners (don't use 'em), and formula (powdered). If you're way into this, the site includes the research details and loads more info about safe products. Another of our fave organizations, the Portland-based Oregon Environmental Council, also has good info about safe plastics for kids on its web site.
Tell 'Em You Don't Like it! Informed is one thing, making change is another. EWG has made it very easy to tell formula makers to cut it out!
Now that we're done with bottles in our house, I really wish I had known. Because we used: plastic bottles, liners at one point, and honestly, I don't even know what kind of nipples! Have you made changes to your baby feeding system as a result of all this? If so, was it hard? How's the new system working? And what to do with all the old equipment? Yup. I'm thinking another special delivery to legislators. Waddya think, mamas?
Is anyone else wondering about the availability and safety of GLASS baby bottles? Seen them for sale in town??
Posted by: Lisa | December 05, 2007 at 05:41 PM
So I think I need a little help. I don't want to use any bottles with upcoming baby 2 and am thinking of switching to glass. Here are some of my proublems though. My husband is one of those cheep-o-dads and would rather us get as much use out of something before we get rid of it (as long as it's safe). All our bottles, which are medela and are used only to warm up milk, and the nipples that go with them, also medela brand don't say what # plastics they are. I tried looking on the Oregon Environmental Council website for the info on this, but I can't seem to find it. Does anyone know of where to find a list of all the good/bad bottles. Thank you for your help.
Posted by: Becky | December 05, 2007 at 05:54 PM
EWG has offered to answer any questions we have, so if there are questions you think we should forward to them, let us know. Happy to do it - great resource!
Posted by: Lisa | December 05, 2007 at 08:08 PM
My second child was born in July, and I made the switch from plastic to glass bottles this time around. I nurse him 90% of the time, but he gets a bottle at least once a week so I can have a little free time. Anyway, Evenflo makes glass bottles and you can buy them at Babies 'R Us in both 4 oz. and 8 oz. sizes. They come with yellow nipples (I'm not sure what they're made of), but I bought silicone ones to go with the bottles. From what I remember, the bottles and nipples weren't too expensive. I wish I new more about the dangers of plastic when my first child was born!
Posted by: Sarah | December 05, 2007 at 08:43 PM
I have used "Born Free" bottles. They are great, easy to clean and bad-chemical free. They also have a line of glass bottles. http://www.newbornfree.com/
Their customer support is excellent as well.
Posted by: kirsten | December 05, 2007 at 09:53 PM
you can get glass baby bottles made by Evenflow at Babies R US and baby depot (burlington coat factory) and they are quite in expensive $1.99 each. However, they come with a brownish old-school nipple which I fear is the latex rubber the site says is bad, so you would have to find a clear silicone one to work with it. We have been using glass bottles from the start when I can't nurse and they work great, very durable.
Medela bottles are some of the only plastic bottles that the Oregon Environmental council card is ok with (they are the "cloudy and soft" plastic bottles and per the website that is ok). medela even states on their website that they do not use BPA. However, Avent bottles and Dr. Browns use the hard clear plastic you want to avoid.
Posted by: hil | December 06, 2007 at 12:16 AM
There is a new glass bottle that is just hitting stores now. I know Clementine NW will be carrying them here in OR, not sure about any others though. They are really expensive, but look great and would be well worth it to some.
From the manufacturer:
Because of the recent concern over leaching chemicals in plastic baby bottles, Babylife is reintroducing glass baby bottles, but with a new design and safety twist: the bottle is covered with a modern sleeve that will help protect the bottle from breakage and also prevent bumping into other articles in your diaper bag. This sleeve is free of plastics and is 100% non-toxic. The bottle and the sleeve can be boiled or put in the dishwasher together. The silicone nipple is latex-free and non-toxic. The plastic ring, plug and cap contain no polycarbonates and are food grade, FDA approved and recyclable. The sleeve provides a good gripping surface during feeding and also a great tactile experience for your baby. Babylife is proud to give you a choice in using a baby bottle that is bisphenol A, phthalate, PVC and polycarbonate-free.
Posted by: Brenna | December 07, 2007 at 11:20 PM
Lisa, I know exactly what you're saying about the safety of glass baby bottles. Just now while browsing around I noticed a product that might help with that: http://silikids.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Product_Code=&Category_Code=Baby_Products. It's a silicon sleeve for a glass bottle.
Posted by: catmom | December 23, 2007 at 08:38 PM
EWG let us know that Congress is investigating this issue: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=708628. Good news, I think.
Posted by: Lisa | January 22, 2008 at 03:23 PM
The Oregon Center for Environmental Health is running this campaign, too: http://www.oregon-health.org/action%20-%20Toxic%20Free%20Baby%20Bottles.html
Posted by: LTF | February 25, 2008 at 09:31 PM