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BANG FOR THE BITE
Alternative-material bottles cost a bit more than the usual polycarbonate-plastic ones, but they're widely available and you can worry less about nasty chems slipping into your and your kids' drinks.
COCKTAIL FACT
Though they're usually mistaken for freckles or moles, 1 in 18 people has a third nipple.
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home › tip library › Bisphenol-A
Get a peek at the type of plastic in your baby's bottle?
The Bite
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.The Benefits
- Not nipping away at good health. A 2007 study links BPA to enlarged male breasts, earlier puberty in girls, and cancer.
- Only the breast for Ma Nature. The fewer dangerous chems we buy, the fewer will end up in nature.
Personally Speaking
A couple of us were breastfed until we were four, which may seem kinda weird, but at least it means our moms avoided plastic bottles (and bottles in general).Wanna Try?
- Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles marked with a 7 or PC (polycarbonate).
- BornFree Bottles - each bottle holds 9 ounces of the white stuff. Also: a glass version ($27/3).
- Babylife Wee-go Bottle - another 9-ouncer that comes in a protective, dishwasher-safe silicone sheath to avoid breakage ($18).
- Camelbak Better Bottle - 25-ounce bottle made from a new, clear, safer plastic called Tritan; in 5 colors ($9).
May 08,2008
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
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...
Biter Comments...
Do you have suggestions of BPA-free sippy cups that are spill proof?
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.
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.
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...
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!
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!
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
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.
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.
Some of us breastfeeding working moms need bottles too, Julia. I use Born Free. They're pretty cheap as BPA Free bottles go.
I don't think breastfeeding till four is weird, but I suppose I used to back before I had a baby. Now the more I read about the benefits of extended breast feeding, the more I wonder why so many people don't do it. Breast feeding is way easier than using formula, I think. Theres nothing to prepare! Just whip out your boob and BAM! You've made dinner. Awesome.
Come on guys! Why are you recommending "better" plastics (i.e. plastics that haven't been proven harmful *yet*) when you could recommend #1 Breastfeeding! and #2 Glass bottles.
I think Julia's point was valid---- if you're going to recommend a better product, why not recommend the BEST product. The main focus was bottle, bottle, bottle. Yes, of course some Moms need bottles even if they're breastfeeding, and a mention of the best product if you need to supplement with expressed milk would have sufficed, while instead it dominates the entire article! Perhaps that's the problem...there's nothing to SELL with breastfeeding! And I found the mention of extended nursing to be fairly insignificant within the context of the page... and a touch derogatory, as well!
Come on, people, its an article on BPA, not bottles. There is no BPA in breasts. Everyone knows breast is best, complaining that Ideal Bite didn't point it out is kind of like complaining that Ideal Bite has never written a blog about how the sky is blue.
And for the record, some of us breastfeeding moms have to supplement with formula also. Breast pumps don't remove as much milk as a baby does, and some people, myself included, just can't pump enough milk at work to feed our babies the next day as a result. There is no need to be so judgemental over how people feed their babies. What is important is that they are feeding their babies. I have known women who dont.
Hooray for the pro-breastfeeding comments! As a working mom who pumped for a long time - I wish I'd known all of this about the bottles!
But now we're trying to get the bad sippy cups out of our house. I love the Klean Kanteen sippy cups. And they are coming out with cool color ones soon! www.kleankanteen.com
Where's this study done in 2007 that links BPA to enlarged male breasts, earlier puberty in girls, and cancer?? I want to read it for myself!!
Question: I have a Nalgene bottle with a 7 and PC on the bottom. I know NOW that is a no-no bottle but don't know what to do with it? Should I just toss it in the recycle bin or have I already done the damage by buying it in the first place??? Thanks!
Guess what? Medela bottles are BPA- and pthalate-free. And always have been. In fact, I looked at the Web site (no I do not work for the company) and called and learned that all of their products that come into contact with breastmilk are BPA- and pthalate-free. Last I checked, these bottles were less expensive than Born Free. Check it out at http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/.
--a nursing, working mom
It was actually my understanding that anything with a 3 or higher on the bottom contained potentially harmful chemicals. It's sad that my university's free water bottle for freshman had a 7 on the bottom, considering we are in a very health conscious town.
I think plastic is wonderful for a lot of things... I just don't want it touching every piece of food I eat and everything I drink from. Our family has eliminated plastic bottles, as well as pop cans with the BPA filled liner and canned food. Drastic? Maybe. But I recall 13 years ago when my pediatrician recommended NOT using glass because it leached out nutrients. Now, I feel like my kids have had their fill of all the BPA they'll need for a lifetime. What's the next "safe" chemical that they're going to find in plastic bottles? We've made the switch to Klean Kanteens and Siggs. Check out www.h2ox2.com for adult and kids bottles.
Lisa,
You can read more about the 2007 and other BPA studies here: http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/scimedemail/la-na-plastic16apr16,0,5163929.story
And a whole lot more about the issue here: http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola
I think you need to be very careful when discussing breastfeeding - not only in your "bite" but in other people's comments. I fully believe breast is best, but there are circumstances where breastfeeding doesn't work. I have hypersensitive nipples and breastfeeding is excruciating. My inability to breastfeed led to post-partum depression and huge feelings of failure. I have been pumping and happily feeding my son from glass bottles for 4 1/2 months now. So for everybody who can't, or chooses not to breastfeed, Evenflow makes glass bottles that are readily available and relatively inexpensive.
This is a very touchy subject with women at an especially sensitive time in their lives, so be careful.
It wasn't that long ago that I heard we were supposed to get rid of aluminum pans, because of a possible relationship between Alzheimer's and aluminum. Why is it now suddenly safe again?
keep plastics to a minimum in your homes and lives! We breast fed for 14 to 16 months on all our children but used only glass and kleen kanteen or sigg bottles(totally leak proof when closed) post num-nums. All the hype concerning plastics may or may not be true(I.E. proven)but, if there is even a small chance that they could be problematic why would you chance it?
Yeah, plastic water bottles and plastic cups creep me out. I adore my SIGG bottle and really want to get the Ninja SIGG for my kidlet. Oh, and I loved the extended breastfeeding comment. The same kid who is getting the SIGG bottle also breastfed till just before his 3rd birthday. I did use bottles (expressed milk) and I wish I knew what I know now about plastic :( But honestly, it was so stinkin hard to get him to take anything other than milk fresh off the tap that I really couldn't be choosey. I did use the "breastbottle" for a while though. Kid would gag on just about anything. /ramble
I recently got BPA free bottles at Green to Grow and love them, http://www.greentogrow.com/ I wish that you had listed them in your daily tip email as well. I didn't want glass but need an alternative to plastic bottles because I work full time and pump so the little guy gets feed from a bottle most times. They also have sippy cups there as well.
Ya, plastics are everywhere. In the process of getting rid of all my plastic cups & glasses I found myself sucking on a plastic straw!!
Found some really cool glass straws though @ glassdharma.com.
Evelyn Saungikar:
Here's some information on aluminum and Alzheimer's:
"Pans - cooking in uncoated aluminium utensils can increase the amount of aluminium in certain foods such as fruits which are high in acid. Cooking foods in coated, non-stick or hard anodised aluminium pans adds virtually no aluminium to food." copied from:
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=99
SIGG aluminum bottles are coated with a non-leaching coating.
I would bet that most of your readers who have a baby are breastfeeding their babies, at least for the first year (if not for 3+ years like some of us). These 25 oz. bottles you wrote about are USELESS for those of us who need to pump breast milk for later feeding to our babies--we need more like a 4 to 6 oz. bottle. Please think about this whenever you next write about plastic/glass/silicone bottles. Thanks.
Um... I think the 25 oz bottles mentioned are for adults to drink out of. I don't know about your guys' babies, but my son never drinks 25 oz in a sitting. I don't think my boobs will hold 25 oz either.
We use the Sassy MAM bottles (BPA free) for our baby when I can't be with her to breastfeed. They're a lot cheaper than born free bottles. We also decided to get my mom a SIGG water bottle for mother's day & picked up a camel-back for myself. breast cancer runs in our family, my mom's already had it & won so i'd like to help her ward it off again if possible! Who knows?
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Julia | May 08, 2008 at 05:18 AM