Baby Bottles: The Breakdown
All You Need to Know When Choosing a Bottle
by Adam Grossman
hen my mom bought baby bottles for my brother and me 30 years ago, it wasn’t that big a deal. She went to the store and chose from one or two brands of glass bottles with rubber nipples. For the most part, they came in one size. These days, shopping for baby bottles can be a major project. The choices are numerous and confusing - and with the recent buzz about the health risks of bisphenol-a (BPA), the market is now flooded with even more alternatives. The grid below will help you cut to the chase by comparing some of the popular brands and their more salient characteristics. Good luck!
The Criteria
BPA
Bisphenol-a is a chemical used to make polycarbonate, a clear and rigid plastic found in many household containers. The problem with baby bottles made of polycarbonate is the potential for BPA to leach from the plastic to the milk. BPA has the ability to mimic the hormone estrogen and create an “endocrine disruption” that can interfere with a child’s normal development. Many studies published over the past decade have linked exposure to BPA to increased rates of breast and prostate cancer, reproductive abnormalities, ADHD, obesity, and diabetes. In spite of this, the FDA stands by its decades-old approval of polycarbonate based on two studies - both of which were funded by the plastics industry.
A tiny amount of ingested BPA may or may not have an effect on your child’s health - but with so many options out there, why take a chance?
Glass
Glass bottles contain no leaching chemicals, but they do carry the risk of breakage. Some manufacturers offer this option and one (Wee-Go) offers a BPA-free plastic sleeve to make their bottles more durable.
