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.