Why Choose a Non-toxic Baby Bottle?
If you’re preparing to bring a baby home, you may be on the search for the best baby bottle. It can be overwhelming to decide what will work best for you and your baby. Ultimately, it’s important to choose a non-toxic baby bottle that exposes your baby to as little chemicals as possible.
Infants and children are particularly susceptible to toxins exposure due to their size, as well as the fact that their organs are still developing. Some common baby products can contain toxins that are linked to hormone disruption, neurological and developmental issues, and cancer. Thankfully there are many options available for a safe, non-toxic baby bottle.
Why Not Use Plastic Baby Bottles?
BPA is a chemical widely used in the plastics industry that leaches into your food and liquids when the plastic is heated. Its use is associated with thyroid disruption, and neurological and developmental effects on fetuses and children (1). To learn more about BPA and other endocrine disrupting chemicals, check out my post on that here.
BPA has been banned in its use in baby bottles since 2012, due to its hazardous effects to human health. However, BPA-free plastics contain BPS instead. BPS is still able to leach out from the plastic and it is just as hazardous to your health. Since most people tend to warm their formula or breastmilk, and due to the fact that these cell-disrupting chemicals can leach into milk, I strongly advise against using any plastic baby bottles if possible.
What Materials are Non-toxic Baby Bottles Made of?
So, what materials are safe, non-toxic alternatives to plastic baby bottles? Overall, there are three options that are going to be safer than plastic: glass, silicone, and stainless steel.
Glass Baby Bottles
Glass is easy to heat and you don’t have to worry about leaching. Also, most companies sell protective sleeves if you’re worried about them breaking. That’s what I used when I had my twins (so we went through a LOT of bottles) and we loved using glass!
We used the Philips Avent Glass bottles and the only time we had an issue with a bottle breaking is when my dog somehow knocked one off our kitchen counter and onto our tile floor. Talk about crying over spilled milk! Cons to glass bottles are the potential for breaking, and they’re heavier than some other options. This can make it harder for your baby to hold their bottle on their own. Aside from that, we found them to be durable, easy to clean, and convenient for at home or out and about.
Silicone Baby Bottles
Silicone has become a popular substitute for plastic. It’s flexible, easy to clean, and is safe to be heated to temperatures up to 300 degrees before any leaching of chemicals occur. This means silicone baby bottles are also dishwasher safe. It’s also more lightweight and durable than glass.
I loved our Como Tomo silicone baby bottles. They were lightweight and easy for my babies to hold. I didn’t have to worry about them breaking, and they were easy to clean. However, they can be a little wobbly/can tip over easily which is something to be mindful of when preparing bottles.
However, even food grade silicone can contain fillers, and can sometimes absorb odors and flavors which can then impart on your food. Although there are still some unknowns with silicone, it is free from the endocrine disruptors like BPA/BPS/Phthalates found in plastics.
Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
Stainless steel is non-toxic, will not absorb or impart flavors, and is durable. It is dishwasher safe. Stainless steel can get hot to the touch when warmed, so most stainless steel baby bottles come with a protective sleeve.
One downside of stainless steel is that it’s opaque. You can’t see from the outside how much milk or formula is left in the bottle, which can be important for certain families if you are closely tracking your baby’s intake.
If you have an older baby or toddler and aren’t worried about tracking intake, I think stainless steel is a great option. It’s also a great option for older babies and toddlers that might be handling their own bottles, as it’s more durable than glass.
Pura Stainless sells stainless steel bottles with interchangeable tops so you can start with a nipple and upgrade to a sippy cup lid or a straw lid when they are older. Their lids are completely plastic free and made of medical grade silicone.
Now you know that there are so many options for non-toxic baby bottles that are safer than plastic! No matter which of these three options you use, you are providing your baby with a safer option and exposing them to less chemicals at such a vulnerable time in their life. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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