Other Baby Bottle Considerations -- Staying BPA-Free

As a follow-up to yesterday's post regarding baby bottles, I thought I would add a few additional points for you to consider when purchasing a baby bottle, regardless of the maker.
 
First, I'm sure you've heard of BPA (otherwise known as bisphenol A) and its potential harmful effects on humans.  There was a time -- way back in 2006 -- when it was the scare du jour. 

BPA is of particular concern in baby bottles because they often contain heated formula or milk.  It is this contact with heated liquids that is thought to cause BPA to leach from the plastic, in turn contaminating the liquid within.  Moreover, studies have concluded that there is "some concern" that BPA can have an adverse effect on the brain, behavior, and prostate glands in infants and children.  (As opposed to "negligible concern" in adults.)

As of this post, the FDA has stopped short of an outright ban on BPA-carrying plastics for baby products, yet it has noted that there are some concerns that the chemical can be harmful and is committed to further studies on the issue.   

So what does this mean for you?  Importantly, it means that -- despite the potential health risks -- bottle makers are not required to refrain from using BPA-carrying plastics in their baby bottles.  But don't freak out just yet.  In 2009, the six largest manufacturers of baby bottles (Avent, First Years, Gerber, Dr. Brown, Playtex, and Evenflon) agreed to ban the substance from their bottles (at least, for products sold in North America -- See FAQ on Philips Avent Site and this article).  No doubt you have seen the advertising on these bottles signifying that they are indeed "BPA-Free."   

Even with these measures, caution is still warranted for several reasons:

(i) parents are prone to accept hand-me-down bottles made prior to 2009;

(ii) sippy cups are still likely culprits to be made with BPA-carrying plastics (and most parents will not hesitate to give their child a sippy cup around the six-month mark);

(iii) there are undoubtedly some unscrupulous manufacturers still busy making bottles and sippy cups containing BPA; and

(iv) some overseas products, even those made by the largest bottle makers, may include BPA.

So, how do I ensure that my baby bottles don't contain BPA?  Here are a few suggestions:

First, buy only new BPA-Free bottles or sippy cups from trusted sources.  Don't buy an off-brand or knock-off unless you can attest that the maker stands behind their claim that the bottle does not contain BPA-carrying plastics.  Instead, buy from one of the six largest manufactures: Avent, First Years, Gerber, Dr. Brown, Playtex, or Evenflon (and buy from a North American distributor).   

Second, don't buy or accept old bottles without ensuring that they are BPA-free.  How do you figure out if the old bottle contains BPA?  Here are three pretty basic and non-scientific ways:

(1) Figure out when the bottles or sippy cups were purchased.  If they were bought before the middle of 2009, there's a chance that they contain BPA (Philips Avent, for example, stopped selling BPA baby bottles in North America on December 31, 2008).  To further assess whether the pre-2009 bottles contain BPA, see points (2) and (3) below.

(2) BPA is leached only from certain types of plastics.  The most common type used to make baby bottles, sippy cups, etc. is polycarbonate plastic.  Because polycarbonate plastic fits into "Type 7" in the list of packaging materials, it can often be identified by looking for the "Type 7" label somewhere on the product.  Accordingly, if the bottle or sippy cups have the symbol below (or identifies itself as being made from polycarbonate plastic), do not use it: 

(3) Because BPS is only contained in certain types of plastics, you can safely rule it out in others.  For example, many Dr. Brown's bottles (including the inner pieces -- the nipple is silicone) are made from polypropylene, which does not contain or leach BPA.  Polypropylene plastics can often be identified by the "Type 5" packaging label.  Thus, if it indicates on the packaging that it is made from polypropylene, or has the label below on the bottle, then it is OK. 

(Note that the nipple and inner-workings of Dr. Brown's bottles are made from acceptable polypropylene plastic, but some pre-2009 bottles were made from polycarbonate plastics. As with any hand-me-down baby products, choose carefully when deciding whether to use them.)

Third, and finally, you always have the option of choosing glass instead of plastic.  While heavier and less durable, if you are overly suspicious of all types of plastic and want to guarantee that your baby is not getting BPA, then this is the way to go.
   

So there are my thoughts on BPA and why you should choose BPA-free baby bottles.  What are yours?  Do you use glass bottles and cups to avoid BPA?  Do you use hand-me-downs?  Do you think the scare over BPA is overblown? 

Give us your thoughts.  We Stubborn Dads want to know.

  

Stubborn, Very Stubborn, Baby Bottles

Here we go:  Baby bottles.

They can't really be classified as gadgets, but they often have lots of parts; are covered by many, many patents (look at the packaging sometime); and are an absolute necessity for every child (at least at some point).  So they're almost gadget-like, and thus a good topic for discussion.  (Not to mention that a friend asked that I write about them -- thanks Jo!) 

My first qualm with baby bottles is that there are just too many options!  And the makers of these products are no fools.  Take a look at any bottle packaging and you'll most likely see well-placed and effective marketing.  It's a fact that you're newborn will likely have acid-reflux or an immature esophagus and will like to belch up lots of milk every time you turn around.  It's prevalent in about half of newborns -- a rite of passage, some might say.  Bottle makers are aware of this, and they are ready to pounce on your every emotion to get you to try their bottle in order to keep that white mess from flowing back up.  In addition, bottle makers also seize on the fears of parents that their baby will develop colic through use of an improper bottle (which may simply be a myth). 

But the problem is really that -- no matter what the bottle you try -- odds are you won't be able to completely stop the stuff from coming up!  (Experience tells me so.)  Only time will really solve the problem.

So does that mean that the bottle doesn't make a difference?  No.  I do believe that a good bottle can help tide the upchucks (along with putting the baby in a more upright position, burping often, and finding the correct nipple flow).  But then there's the problem of figuring out which bottle works. 

And again we have a problem.  Each child, like their respective parents, has its own temperament.  (Go figure!)  So trial and error may be the only solution in some instances.  That said, I've had my fair share of trial and error with baby bottles, and like most things, I have my stubborn opinion on which ones are good -- and which ones you are best leaving at the store for another unsuspecting parent to try, figure out it doesn't work, and discard with all the rest.

First up, the sizes: wide or narrow nipple?  Does it really matter?  Answer is, I don't know, but my guess is probably not.  Some articles I've seen on the subject suggest that some babies "prefer" wide nipples, and other articles suggest that breast-feeding mothers should choose wide nipples to deter nipple confusion.  I don't particularly like the wide ones because they tend to overflow often.  I otherwise don't have a preference, but your baby might.  So go with your gut (and baby) on this one, and let us Stubborn Dads know if there's a reason you prefer one over the other.   

Second, I can plainly say that, for a variety of reasons, there are some bottles that I would avoid.  These go in the category of marketing is good, but bottle... not so much.  They come in the most appealing packages, they're snake-like clever in their marketing, and they seek to appeal to your every emotion.  They say things like, "helps prevent fussing and colic" (or some similar empty promise that is hard to substantiate).  Not that their intentions aren't in the right place, but execution is lacking.     

Let's start with the Ventaire by Playtex. 

These bottles are unique in design because they can be opened at either end, and they have an angled neck, which allegedly helps alleviate inner-ear infections in babies. (Any time a bottle is used for feeding, your child has a greater chance of developing an inner-ear infection -- simply putting the baby in an upright position helps negate this possibility.).

My problems with the Ventaire bottles are numerous.  First, I'm not sure it always works.  You can tell when its working by the sound of air escaping the bottom of the bottle.  This means that you can also tell when it's not working -- something that happened often in my experience.  Second, there is a small rubber seal that goes in the bottom of the bottle to perform the "venting" process.  Word of warning here:  If you forget to put this seal in, it won't take you long to figure out that it's not there.  More than once I was the victim of uncontrollable spillage due to this design.  Third, although this is the second-best bottle in terms of retaining nutrients (based on the study discussed below), it's not the first -- and that matters.    

Next, there's the Philips Avent Airflex bottles.

These bottles have a "unique skirt" that purports to allow air to escape naturally while feeding. (See website for explanation.)  As with other bottles, there are also various nipple sizes that you'll need to select for your baby.   

Again, my main problem with the Aventis is that I didn't notice either a lack of spit-up or a lack of fussiness in my little one.  Moreover, I found the wide-mouth nipple to cause incredible spillage when in use.  With no proven ability to stop colic, these bottles also don't offer the added nutrient benefits (see discussion and graph below). 

Then there's the First Years Breastflow bottles. 

These bottles are designed to induce the natural sucking motion that babies use when breastfeeding, while also helping alleviate "fussiness and colic."  This all sounds well and dandy, but I'm not sure that babies really care if the bottle makes them perform the exact sucking motion used when breastfeeding, so long as they're getting milk.  Nipple confusion aside (to the extent that is a definitive problem), this is a non-factor.  Also, these bottles again didn't alleviate the frequency or volume of spit-up or fussiness (thankfully, no issues with colic for us). 

Further, due to the unique nipple design of the First Years, these bottles were a nightmare to operate and clean.  The nipple has two parts, an outer nipple and an inner contraption (for lack of a better description).  During feeding, milk fills the cavity between the two parts and refuses to return to the bottle unless two notches on the inner contraption are squeezed together (which is actually by design).  This additional requirement when using the bottle is frustrating and, moreover, in practice seems to cause more overflow of milk than decreased spit-up.  Thus, the First Years Breastflow is not a winner for me.    

Finally, for those who live by and religiously follow Moms on Call (a great tutorial on baby care, which I highly recommend), I'm sure you're prone to try the inexpensive Gerber bottles.  These are terrific bottles, but I don't think they can beat my first choice below.  That said, if you are looking for an inexpensive, yet good option, then try them.  And if you like the Gerber bottles and think they work just as good as my suggestion, then please let us know. 
     

So, after all that rambling, what is my Stubborn Recommendation?  For those looking for a bottle that truly meets the promises of its advertising, try Dr. Brown' BPA Free bottles (and ensure that you have the correct nipple level selection -- level one (newborn), level two (3+ months), level three (6+ months), etc.).

Dr. Brown's bottles are good for a couple of reasons.  Most importantly, they seem to really limit spit-up when used correctly.  This is due to the patented airflow system (positive-pressure, vacuum-free feeding -- see below), which diverts air away from the nipple, in turn limiting the intake of excess air into your already gassy child. 

But the bottles also offer another benefit that can't be matched by the others -- a feature especially beneficial for the mother using the bottles as a break from breastfeeding.  In particular, a recent test suggests that Dr. Brown's bottles best help limit the loss of essential vitamins inherent in baby milk that occurs through the natural oxidation of nutrients that occurs during bottle feedings.  

This means that -- when using the patented Dr. Brown bottles -- your little one is likely to get all the nutrients he or she needs from the milk or formula.  As noted in the test, this is particularly important when breastmilk is given through a bottle.  (Notably, the second place bottle was the Ventaire bottle discussed above.)    

The knock on Dr. Brown's is that "there are just too many parts to keep up with."  But guess what?  Having an infant around is pretty complicated, and the least of your worries will be keeping up with the two extra pieces that make this product work like it's supposed to.  And any baby bottle -- whether it costs $0.89 or $10.00 -- will have at least two pieces (the nipple and the collar) in addition to the bottle itself.  Accordingly, adding two more pieces (which are not likely to be confused with anything else) shouldn't cause that much additional grief.  Find a drawer to stuff the extra parts in and figure out where they should go each time you load the dishwasher.  If you do that, you're set.

But, hey, if you'd rather have a gallon of milk on your clothes, then by all means feel free to keep making the argument...

So there you have my long-winded thoughts on this subject.  What are yours?  Have you been through trial and error and found one bottle to reign supreme?  Do you agree that Dr. Brown's are the best?  If not, which one(s) do you like? 

Please do tell.  We Stubborn Dads want to know.

Stubborn Baby Carriers

Let's start with a debatable topic: Baby Carriers.

First, why do you need one?  The answer is simple -- to give you the freedom of mobility to get things done while taking care of your child.  God gave you two hands; a good baby carrier gives them back to you.  (I'm not saying that you shouldn't spend a lot of time holding your little one, but there are times when you or your back need a break.)  A baby carrier keeps your child close, allowing them to feel secure and you to ensure their safety, while also giving you some needed freedom of movement to get on with needed tasks in your life.  But read this as meaning small chores, like making up the bed or washing clothes; strapping on a baby carrier will not allow you to mow the lawn or paint the house (but if anyone has tried that, I'd love to know). 

Second question: So they're helpful, but are they safe?  No doubt you've heard the news that baby slings are bad for your child. But does this actually come as a surprise? Put your head into a soft pillow -- face first -- and see how well you can breath. This is the same situation that you put your baby in (who, I might add, is much less inclined to protest) when you use some of the less desirous baby carriers on the market.

In March of this year, Infantino recalled more than 1 million baby slings due to its potential for suffocating babies. In particular, the carriers were deemed unsafe by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission because of their poorly designed baby orientation -- that is, the slings placed the babies' faces tight against their mothers' chests and oriented their heads down (arching their necks), causing asphyxiation in extreme cases.So what does this mean? Don't visit eBay, Craigslist, or a yard sale with the intention of buying a baby carrier and end up with a dangerous "Infantino Sling Rider" or any other type of sling for that matter. If it looks like it would smother your baby (see below) -- don't get it!

But also don't get turned off from all baby carriers on the account of a few poorly designed ones. This stubborn dad is not about to loose the ability to enjoy the production of having two hands free while keeping my child occupied just because a few poorly designed models have been identified. Sure, caution is warranted -- even with the good models -- but let common sense rule the day.

Aside from the dangerous sling variant of baby carriers, there are the more commonsensical harness carriers. These don't "compress" your baby. Instead, they put your baby in an upright position, typically just below your head, so you can periodically ensure they are still breathing.  When they are young, before they can hold their head up themselves, they face inward against your chest, and later, when they're ready, you can turn them around to face the world.  These carriers also allow plenty of air to enter through the various holes in the device (for arms, legs, and head), and the material that they're made from is stiff and isn't likely to clog your child's nose and mouth.

However, just because you have a baby harness doesn't mean that your baby is ready for it. If he or she doesn't meet the weight or height requirements for the device, then don't use it. Some babies are huge when born, some are not. If yours is a munchkin, don't be overeager. Small mouths are much easier to obstruct than large ones.

Now for my Stubborn Recommendation:

There are many models, by many companies, of harness carriers. In fact, the much-beleaguered Infantino has now abandoned all of its sling carriers in favor of various styles of harness carriers:

While the Infantino harnesses are at a good price point, I still would not advise going with them.  The stigma of the recall is too fresh, and there are times when I wonder if I'm paying too little for something that is supposed to protect my little one from injury.  I'm all for being cheap -- but in some instances, a little warning goes off in the back of my head that screams, "There's a reason things are cheap," which is true.  Not sure if the Infantino is cheap for the wrong reasons, but there's no need to buy one and find out if there are more capable (and reasonably priced) models out there.    

I'm also not sure I understand the concept of the "Front2Back Rider" by Infantino.  If I'm going on a long walk, the last thing I want to do is carry my child the entire way on my back.  I'm not a Nomad or a camel.  And what happens to your baby when he or she is behind you?  You don't know, do you?  Because you can't see them!  Anything that allows you to put your child out of sight doesn't meet the common sense rule for me.

Granted, there are a lot of other "backpack" style carriers on the market (see, e.g., Kelty FC 3.0 Child Carrier, Blue; Chicco Smart Support Backpack, Red), but I'm not the long-hike-with-a-baby-on-my-back kind of dad, and you're probably doing a disservice to your child if you strap 'em in and forget about them on a long hiking trip.  Maybe when they're older, but now now. 

So a "City" carrier does me just fine.  In fact, that's my recommendation:


The Baby Bjorn Original -- City Black ($62) is what I recommend based on personal experience.  While more expensive than the Infantino models, its less expensive than the Ergo models -- Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining ($110); ERGO baby Carrier Galaxy Grey/Galaxy ($105); Ergo Baby Carrier - Camel ($105) -- and it does the trick. 

The Baby Bjorn company dates back to 1961, and it has a long history of collaborating with pediatricians to get its products right.  The Baby Bjorn original is not complicated to use (see instructions), can be used when your child is a newborn (assuming they weigh at least 8 lbs. and measure 21 inches long), and avoids the pitfalls of the slings warned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

There are, of course, other models of harness carriers made by Baby Bjorn.  These include the following:
















These are all good products, but the added expense doesn't really justify the added functionality, does it (is the Comfort Carrier really twice as comfortable)?  Why pay more for something that can be done just as well with the original?  It's a fascinating concept as to how marketing can make things more appealing -- a topic that I'll save for another day.

In conclusion, you're not running a race with your baby, and you probably won't be walking around for more than 30-45 minutes with him or her in the carrier (either because your back hurts or because your baby is crying up a storm). Therefore, stick with the original.  If comfort is an issue, consider paying the extra cash for the BABYBJÖRN Comfort Carrier, Anthracite, but otherwise, go with the Classic and save your money for something more important -- like The Stroller.

Now you have my take -- what's yours?  Is anyone else stubborn about their carrier?  Is anyone unreasoanble and perverse enough to still use a sling?  If so, why?  I assure you I'm curious to know.  And who else agrees that the Baby Bjorn Classic is the best-in-class, no-frills carrier? 

Please let us Stubborn Dads know.

Welcome!

Welcome to Stubborn Dads.

Let me introduce myself. I'm a father of two and stubborn. It's a common trait in my family -- I come from a long line of stubborns. Mr. Webster defines us as: (1) unreasonable or perversely unyielding, or (2) justifiably unyielding. I prefer number (2) because I'm neither unreasonable nor perverse, yet always justified. You may have a different view.

In any event, I've welcomed myself to cyberspace to espouse my views for your reading and disagreeing pleasure. It's my prerogative, correct? This is my blog. I can say what I choose. Your opinion is relevant here too, but don't think you'll change my mind. Because you won't. I'm stubborn that way.

In this particular blog, and for some time to come, I hope to impart my "wisdom" regarding fatherhood. In particular, I'll focus on the gadgets invented to make life easier for us stubborn dads. Baby gadgets are what I think most men adapt to most quickly, because it's the closest thing to wiring surround sound or installing a flat-screen TV. And in a way, being a dad is a lot like assembling baby toys. It's a big mess at first, but then it all comes together.

So we'll proceed as follows: I'll pick a gadget, give you the scoop on what's available, tell you what makes or breaks each product, and give you my stubborn conclusion. I won't guarantee that I've had personal experience with each product, but I will guarantee that I'll have an opinion.

Whether you agree or not, please join the discussion. Let us stubborn dads unite. Together, we can argue over whose right or wrong, and when we agree, justify almost anything.