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Greenhouse: BPA-Free Baby Feeding

Posted by Amy Kuras

By now, the concerns about bisphenol-A in baby bottles have been well-documented. Studies have shown it disrupts the endocrine system, can cause damage to egg cells and even cause hyperactivity. Attempts to ban it in some US states have mostly failed, but worried parents are starting to seek out options.

Most clear, rigid baby bottles contain it –it's BPA that makes them that way, and yes, that's just about every widely available bottle out there. There are BPA-free options, although they are generally quite expensive, around $10 for just one bottle. Of course, there's always good old-fashioned glass (which is less expensive but gives a klutz like me anxiety attacks, but it's apparently tempered safety glass and thus sturdier).

Once you have decided to use a BPA-free bottle, though, there is more to worry about. Like, what sort of nipple should you be attaching to that bottle? According to Green Daily, silicone, which is nonreactive, is a healthier and greener choice than latex. 

The same goes for pacifiers, of course.

Even if you exclusively breasfeed, you're likely going to need to give your baby a bottle of pumped milk at some point. So educating yourself on the options is a good idea.

They also have a Green Baby guide on the site, which lists earth-friendly products that are good for bottlefeeding and good for nursing.


Comments

 

Erin said:

What about the plastic bag inserts?  Do they have bisphenol-A?  

February 13, 2008 12:58 PM
 

steffmarcusky said:

If it's not rigid, probably not, but it might have phthalates, instead. I'm saying this off the top of my head, without all of the research I should do.

February 13, 2008 3:17 PM
 

steffmarcusky said:

According to the Medela website, their bottles are BPA-free, for those of us who pump.

February 13, 2008 3:19 PM
 

cooper1178 said:

According to Playtex, all of their drop ins and nipples are BPA free.  I couldn't find anything about their bottle nipples, but they do make a silicone Binky, so I would guess they would also have silicone nipples as well...

February 13, 2008 4:30 PM
 

Jess Weiss said:

The Nuby bottles - both 7 oz and 11 oz are PBA free - says so right on the package. They are easily available at Babies-R-Us - that is all we use now that we have transitioned away from the glass Evenflow bottles we started with.

February 13, 2008 5:02 PM
 

emmett's mom said:

Gerber's Clearview (with the blue, green, or purple caps) are BPA free according to the Z report.  As a plus, they fit the Medela pump and are at Target 3 for 2.99!

Best buy ever!

February 13, 2008 6:04 PM
 

abstractfigure said:

If you google this stuff there's a ton of info out there...for the most part it seems the clear nipples and pacifiers are the silicone (safe) ones. That Z Report site seemed to have a ton of information.

It's frustrating but once you start reading about and your "eyes are opened" to the issue, it's hard to pretend you don't know or not care.

The next step is to check all your beauty products (shampoo, lotion, etc.) for the ingredient "fragrance"...which pretty much means: phthalates. It's in all the Johnson & Johnson stuff and much of the mainstream-type baby products.

I picked up a book called Organic Baby that had a list of ingredients to avoid.

February 22, 2008 9:31 PM

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