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Plastic Paranoia

I'm pretty sure I sucked down my fair share of formula from plastic bottles as an infant. But ever since I first heard the word leaching (as in toxins leaching from water bottle into water - shudder), I've been a little obsessed over cutting down on the plastic I have in my life. I use a BPA-free Brita pitcher every day, carry my Biter bottle with me everywhere, and definitely, always pass on the plastic bags at the grocery store. I'm forwarding today's tip (flagged "important") to everyone I know who has an infant...or a plastic water bottle. I even pop my Amy's organic frozen dinners out of their plastic dishes and nuke them on a real plate instead, and so far the only drawback is one more dish to wash, so I'm sticking to it.

-NY Editor Beth...off to pick up a glass storage container for my leftover beef and broccoli...

Posted by: hsnavely on 05/08/2008
related tip
It's an eyeful you'd probably rather avoid. Unfortch, many baby and adult water bottles are made from plastic that contains the toxin bisphenol A (BPA). Opt for BPA-free bottles, and hide your eyes from the rest.
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Julia  on May 08, 2008 at 05:18 AM 1
Pretty unimpressive. If the whole point here is to stick to the green aspect let's not recommend baby bottles at all instead stick to the greener and all around superior option of breastfeeding. You only threw in one blurb about breastfeeding and it was pretty derogatory, shame on you.
allison  on May 08, 2008 at 05:21 AM 2
Do you have suggestions of BPA-free sippy cups that are spill proof?
colleen  on May 08, 2008 at 07:33 AM 3
Yes, breast feeding is best. But remember, some mamas have to work and bottles can be necessary. http://www.thesoftlanding.com/index.html has bottles, sippy cups, and other feeding items that are BPA free.
Cherie  on May 08, 2008 at 07:43 AM 4
I'd like to point out to Julia that it is possible (even likely!) for a woman to be breastfeeding AND still need bottles. Even full-time, stay-at-home mothers frequently need to use a bottle of expressed milk if they are away from their babies for more than a few hours. Or if they are sick. Or if they would like a beer or two. Or if, for any number of reasons, they would like some flexibility as they are serving as a 24-hour, 7-day dairy bar. For working mothers like me, bottles are the only way to continue breastfeeding. As I have currently been using the Playtex nursing system (the only one I've been able to find locally that has both breastfeeding-friendly nipples and no BPA), which, sadly, uses plastic liners, I appreciated the lead towards the BornFree bottles.
Beth  on May 08, 2008 at 08:22 AM 5
allison: we recently switched to using klean kanteen's version of the sippy cup: http://www.kleankanteen.com/2products/klean-kanteen-12oz.html it is the closest i've come to spill-proof. every once in awhile, the vent allows some liquid to escape, but i can usually shake it pretty hard and not a drop will come out. unlike the born free...
Carrie  on May 08, 2008 at 08:51 AM 6
I just wanted to applaud you for mentioning extended breastfeeding at all. It is so rarely talked about. Every bit of exposure helps shape peoples views of what's 'normal'. Way to go!
Jennifer  on May 08, 2008 at 09:15 AM 7
While I appreciated the comment about extended nursing (really really I did!) it would have been *great* it one of the actual bullet points was about breastfeeding. And, while I appreciate very much that many breastfeeding moms use bottles as well (including myself - and I've been nursing kids for a combined total of 5 years now!), this entire tip seemed written from a perspective that does *not* assume you are nursing. For instance, it would have been very easy to word things in a way that made nursing the "default" that you are assuming - my suggestion would have been to point out that "this bottle screws right into the Medela pump" or something along those lines. And could even have included a link to an explanation of how to hand express :-) just 'cause it's a great skill to have!
Celeste  on May 08, 2008 at 09:23 AM 8
We are a family of 3 and all have our own assortment of Nalgene water bottles - every last one with a 7 on the bottom. I'm ready to switch to the aluminum reusable water bottles, but would like to know how best to dispose of the collection we currently have. What suggestions do you have? Many thanks - Celeste
Danielle  on May 08, 2008 at 10:04 AM 9
Woohoo for long breastfeeding!! I am still nursing my 3 yr old because she loves to,I love to,and I have the encouragement from the dr. even. The dr. said if I could nurse till she's 1 that's great,till 2 that's even better,and beyond that for as long as possible he said. My child had a stroke at 10 months from our moldy house (landlord wouldn't clean it up under house)and it caused her stroke! She's helped heal from it from long nursing I believe.
Colette  on May 08, 2008 at 10:07 AM 10
My husband and I use SIGG aluminum water bottles. I'm surprised that these weren't listed under "Wanna Try" since you sell special "Biter" versions of SIGG bottles. I'm skeptical of all plastic containers at this point, as many of you probably are, so why not just steer clear of it all and go with aluminum? The bottles are expensive but they last a long time.
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