Safe Baby Bottles

Why And How To Use BPA Free Baby Bottles

I thought my wife was over-reacting until I got online later that night and realized what BPA really was. I had no idea your everyday plastic baby bottle and sippy cup could be considered unsafe for your baby.

But they certainly can. Make sure you use safe baby bottles the next time feed your infant.

Safe Baby Bottles 101

• What is the deal with BPA?
• Why your baby bottles may be unsafe?
• What you can do to protect your baby?

What is the deal with BPA?

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration released a report raising concerns about the possible adverse effects of BPA (Bisphenol-A). BPA is a chemical compound found in plastics, used widely in products such as baby bottles and food containers. In addition to the FDA, many consumer safety groups warn of BPA in baby bottles.

BPA has been in use since the 1930s. It has been completely legal almost worldwide until Canada became the first country to restrict its usage in baby bottles in 2008. Since then, some states have enacted their own bans in the United States, including Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut, San Francisco and a handful of counties in New York State. BPA legislation is also being considered in Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

Why your baby bottles may be unsafe?

While not a lot of research can tell us the effects of BPA on humans, studies on animals suggest it may be dangerous to brain development, the reproductive system and the immune system. Experts from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly believe BPA levels currently found in humans are higher than the levels found to cause problems in the studies on animals.

What you can do to protect your baby?

• Breastfeed your baby in order to avoid BPA in bottles and formula can liners.
• If you bottle-feed, use glass bottles or BPA-free bottles (Born Free is one brand known for using BPA-free products. Find other BPA free brands and products here at Amazon.
• If you formula feed, use a powdered brand.
• When your plastic baby bottles and sippy cups turn cloudy, scratched or cracked, throw them away.
• No plastic cups, bottles, sippy cups or food containers in the dishwasher or microwave!
• When buying any plastic bottles, sippy cups or food containers, look at the code on the bottom of the containers. Avoid purchasing ones labeled with the number 7 (they contain BPA), number 3 (they may contain phthalates - another possible contaminant) and number 6 (they may contain styrene - same).

More On Bottle Feeding

• Tips For Bottle Feeding You Baby Day And Night
• Weaning From Bottle To Sippy Cup
• Bottle Feeding, Formula And Baby Tooth Decay

References

• http://www.bisphenol-a.org/
• Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

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