BPA FREE BABY BOTTLES

Almost all babies drink from a bottle at one time or another. Despite your efforts to buy only healthy products for your baby, many of the bottles on the market today contain a chemical called bisphenol-A or BPA. This chemical has been shown to leach out of plastic into food when the container is heated. Babies and young children can be especially vulnerable to the effects of overexposure.

In fact, it has been implicated as a cause of cancer, diabetes, ADHD, as well as neural and behavioral abnormalities. As a result, environmental health organizations in Canada and the United States recently began calling for a ban on using bisphenol A in plastic consumer products. As more attention is drawn to these studies, it is becoming important to many parents to find BPA free bottles.

BPA NEWS

Since this became public, Canada has proposed a ban on the use of bisphenol A, and U. S. retailers Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us have promised to stop selling baby bottles that contain BPA.

Medela, a major manufacturer of bottles and breast pumps, has stated it would stop using it in the products it makes. Even Nalgene, who makes reusable plastic water bottles, has issued a statement saying it would no longer use the chemical.

Obviously these companies agree with Canada that something should be done to stop babies from being exposed to this chemical, and that safe baby bottles should be made available.

REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO BISPHENOL-A

• Choose glass, stainless steel or polyethylene bottles versus polycarbonate bottles.
• To avoid leaching, don't heat foods in polycarbonate containers.
• Reduce your consumption of canned foods which may have contamination from the interior coating of the can.
• Check with your dentist before getting dental sealants to verify that the ingredients in the sealant do not leach bisphenol-A.

SHOPPING FOR SAFE BABY BOTTLES

There are many other companies who make BPA free bottles and sippy cups. Just take a look at the mainstream companies featured above.

Keep a list with you so when you're shopping at the store, you can purchase items that are safe for your baby. Glass bottles make safe baby bottles. Some companies also make safe baby bottles made of plastic.

You can find a comprehensive list at Safemama.com .

Print out a copy to refer to when shopping. By choosing a bisphenol A free bottles, you'll help your child avoid potential difficulties caused by overexposure.

Other Baby Bottle Articles

Sources: (1) An Alaska Community Action on Toxics Fact Sheet, September 2007