Is Your Baby's Bottle Safe?

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

05 Mar 2007 11:52 AM

It has long been agreed upon by scientists that breastfeeding is the way to go when it comes to feeding your baby. Breastfeeding has been linked statistically to numerous health benefits including making your baby smarter, being developmentally advanced, reduced allergies, reduced risk of cancer and just about everything else under the sun that could be healthy and good for your baby. While formula cannot come close to mimicking breast milk perhaps another variable in the "breast is better" statistics is that hard plastic bottles have now been found to leak a dangerous chemical into the bottle's liquid.

An independent laboratory study, in conjunction with the Environment of California Research and Policy Center, sought to learn whether or not bisphenol A, a chemical used to make clear plastic, including baby bottles, was released into the liquids the bottle contained.

The group tested 5 major brands (Avent, Dr. Brown's, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex) and found that all 5 leaked enough chemical to cause harm to animals in research studies. Apparently, as you use the bottle, the chemical breaks down and then is leaked into the liquid in the bottle.

You should know that bisphenol A has been linked to neural, developmental and reproductive issues, including hyperactivity, early puberty, and cancer. The U.S. Center for Disease Control found the substance in the urine of 95% of the people they tested at levels much higher than what is needed to cause problems in laboratory animals.

So Now What Should You Do?

I am sure many of you that are reading this are frustrated. I am aware that many moms have to bottle feed and even breastfed babies can get breast milk from the bottle if mom pumps.

The report recommends that parents use bottles that are not made of hard plastic but that are glass or are made out of the much safer non-polycarbonate plastic. These bottles are more flexible and are more opaque in appearance. In addition, researchers recommend that parents wash bottles in warm water and gentle detergent to avoid speeding up the break down of the chemical.

As a result of this study, various organizations are asking the federal government to step in and regulate the amount and types of chemicals that are used to manufacture baby products.

Related Articles:

Bottle Feeding & Acid Reflux

What You Need to Know About Soy Formula

Meghan the Vampire Baby: My Nursing Nightmare

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

JeanLynn81 (24580) 05 Mar 2007 04:46 PM

Alyssa has been using Dr. Brown for almost 6 months now...hmm-I was not aware of this! :( Do you have any recommendations for safer bottles, that would not cause alot of gas buildup?

Valorie Delp (49340) 05 Mar 2007 04:57 PM

This was a new study and it is concerning. I have no idea what to recommend in it's place though. They said use glass bottles and/or the more flexible opaque kind of plastic instead of the clear hard plastic. I imagine that bottle with the disposable liner would be both safe and I know it's supposed to be good regarding gas issues. But that can get expensive! I looked and looked for alternative recommendations linked to these stories and could find nothing but I'm still looking.

Lyn Newton (3966) 06 Mar 2007 02:09 PM

I breast fed and thought that I was doing the healthy thing for my babies. I had to go back to work and the babysitter used a breast milk bottle. How upsetting to find out that the bottles may be dangerous. However, I did always use liners because I froze the milk in them. I have never really seen a flexible bottle, I wonder who makes them?

Valorie Delp (49340) 06 Mar 2007 02:34 PM

That's what I was wondering. Although I imagine that in light of this study some brilliant manufacturer is going to start marking his bottles as "safe" bc it's not made with the harmful chemical.