Safe Baby Bottles
Safe baby bottles are difficult to come by these days, especially since the once most trusted brands all use polycarbonate plastic to mould and make their baby bottles which contain Bisphenol A (BPA), PVC and phthalates.
Since the banning of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles in Canada the playing field is rapidly changing, although Australia has been slow to take the innovations up.
It does seem a little comical but polycarbonate plastic baby bottle alternatives have been on the market in Australia for quite some time, though the option have been limited to glass baby bottle alternatives. The most reputable brands of the plastic baby bottle alternative are Happy Baby and Dr Brown's who both make glass baby bottles. In fact, Happy Baby Bottles have been used in most maternity wards in Australian hospitals for over a decade.
Alas, there is finally a movement towards alternative plastics hitting our shores - the answer is Polypropylene. Polypropylene is an opaque plastic that does not leach carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Be mindful of the recycling symbols for plastics: polyethylene has #1, #2, or #4 on the underside, and polypropylene has #5 (Polycarbonate bottles are #7.) The best way to work out if your baby bottle is made from polycarbonate is to call the manufacturer. Be mindful, however, that all plastics require huge amounts of fossil fuels to produce and thus have a big impact on our carbon footprint.
Glass Baby Bottles
The risk to babies of BPA are not fully understood yet, or certainly agreed on by the whole scientific community, but it does make good sense to limit your baby's exposure to it. As mentioned above glass baby bottles are a time-tested alternative to polycarbonate plastic. Glass is a renewable resource (great for your carbon footprint), easily recyclable, and do not leach nasty chemicals. Glass baby bottles are, of course, subject to breakage, and there are risks of serious cuts to your child. Additionally, glass can chip or crack, and can break when sterilized, allowing glass splinters to end up in baby's beverage. Choosing a baby bottle can be a tricky exercise, but if you do choose glass over plastic keep in mind that glass tends to bounce if it hits carpet, rather than floor boards or tiles.
It's also not advised to let your baby or toddler walk around and sleep with it's glass baby bottle. These precautions help prevent tooth decay and mouth injuries; they also help prevent breakage and injuries from glass bottles. As with plastic, careful and regular inspections of the bottle allow parents to detect any flaws in the glass. Recycle any scratched, cracked, or chipped glass bottle.
Safe Teats & Nipples
If you purchase a baby bottle that has a rubber/latex (amber looking colour) teat you should try and replace it as soon as possible with a clear silicone teat. Silicone teats are not only free from cancer-causing nitrosamines, but they tend to last a lot longer. As a habit you should check the state of your baby's teat for cracks and tears, these can store bacteria and if they break could pose as a choking hazard.
Whether you choose a BPA free baby bottle or a glass baby bottles, careful cleaning and safe use can be paramount to your baby's health. No matter what type of baby bottle you use it must be sterilised before it's first use in boiling water. If your baby has some health issues baby bottle sterilisation in this manner is not necessary, washing your baby's bottle in hot, soapy water will suffice and ensure that any baby bottles with either cracks or deep scratches are discarded.
Never heat your baby's breast milk or formula in the microwave, as this can cause hot spots/blobs that can be much hotter than the surrounding milk, that could either burn your baby or block the teat. The stovetop heating method is also fairly bad as you can crack glass baby bottles and melt BPA free baby bottles.
The two best ways of heating your baby's bottle are:
- Place the baby bottle in a bowl of hot water and swirl it around at varying intervals until it is the right temperature - test on the top of your hand where the skin is most sensitive
- We call it the 50/50 method. In a clean baby bottle add your formula, whilst the kettle is boiling, then add enough water to fill 50% of your baby bottle. Fill the other 50% with purified cold water from the fridge and shake well. Always test the temperature of your baby's bottle on the top of your hand before you give it to her