BPA and Our kids

Moms everywhere are outraged about the use of Bisphenol A in baby bottles and sippy cups. What can be hard is figuring out what products are safe and what aren't. So here is the skinny-
What is Bisphenol A?
Bisphenol A is a harmful chemical found in polycarbonate plastic which is used to make many popular baby bottles and sippy cups, among other things. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen, which alters our body’s natural pattern. BPA can leach from polycarbonate plastic, usually a hard, clear plastic that is common of many products we use everyday. Effects at even low BPA exposure include prostate cancer, breast cancer, early puberty onset, alterations in gender-specific behavior, decreased sperm count, affects on fertility, behavioral effects including hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning and other changes in behavior, and other problems.
Many companies use this chemical in their packaging including cans, soda cans, and plastic food containers. There is a risk of absorbing this chemical through the use of containing foods and liquids but can also leech into our water systems through landfills.
Many leading experts argue that the use of Bisphenol is safe to the human public but research may begin to further prove otherwise. No level of BPA has been deemed as safe by independent research.

What To Look For:
Most plastic baby bottles are made with polycarbonate, a rigid durable plastic that has the potential to leach bisphenol A into your baby's drinks. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been linked to a number of health concerns, including hormone disruption and some cancers, and the National Toxicology Program recently concluded that there is "some concern for neural and behavioral effects" in infants and children, given current exposure rates to BPA. Fortunately, preventing exposure is easy if you choose glass or safer plastic (#2, #4 or #5) bottles.

Safer Materials
Glass
Glass baby bottles are a time-tested alternative to polycarbonate plastic, which is can leach hormone-disrupting bisphenol A into your baby's food. Glass is a renewable resource, easily recyclable and does not leach toxic chemicals. Glass 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. The American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents not to let babies go to sleep with a bottle, and toddlers should not be allowed to walk around with a 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.

Plastics: #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE and #5 PP
Although polycarbonate bottles containing bisphenol A are the most common kind of baby bottle on the market, there are other plastic baby bottles available that do not contain bisphenol A. These opaque bottles are made of either polypropylene or polyethylene, which are not known to leach carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Recycling symbols can provide some information about the plastic: polyethylene has #2 (high-density polyethylene, HDPE) or #4 (low-density polyethylene, LDPE) on the underside, and polypropylene (PP) has #5. Polycarbonate bottles are #7. Because many bottles are not labeled with a recycling number, the surest way to know whether a bottle is made of polycarbonate is to call the manufacturer. Keep in mind, though, that all plastic bottles are petroleum products, requiring the use of non-renewable resources.

PES Plastics
New to the baby bottle market is a plastic called polyether sulphone, or PES. Although PES hasn't been studied as thoroughly as #2, #4 and #5 plastics, lab studies have found that it does not leach BPA or phthalates (a hormone-disrupting plasticizer commonly used in #3 PVC plastics). Fredrick vom Saal, a lead researcher on BPA, has said that because PES doesn't react as readily as polycarbonate to heat, acidic liquids or dishwashing detergents, it doesn't break down as quickly and is therefore less likely to leach chemicals into a bottle's contents.

Silicone Nipples
Replace standard rubber nipples (amber-colored) with clear, silicone nipples. Not only are silicone nipples free of cancer-causing nitrosamines, but they last longer. Inspect nipples regularly and discard any with cracks or tears, which can harbor bacteria and also pose a choking hazard.

This is a great “cheat sheet” that was compiled by SafeMama. It’s a very extensive list, so I wanted to share. If you are aware of a BPA-free bottle or sippy that is not on the list, please let me know and I will add it. That said, this may not be a comprehensive list as new products are released all the time. Additionally, please be aware that Avent, Dr. Brown’s, Nuby and others do have products made of polycarbonate plastics, so please choose wisely. I hope this relieves some concerns or helps you select products that are considered safe.

BPA Free Bottle Products
Adiri Natural Nursers
Avent “Via” disposable bottles
BornFree - All bottles and cups BPA free *see note
EvenFlo Glass bottles
Playtex Opaque Soft Bottle, Playtex Drop in liners
Gerber: Gerber Clearview, Fashion Tints (also called “Plastic Pastels”), Gerber GentleFlow
Medela: All bottles
Sassy MAM bottles (UltiVent), Baby Food Nurser Kit
Green to Grow Bottles **see note
Sassy Baby Food Nurser Kit
ThinkBaby Bottles
Momo Glass Bottles
Nuby: Standard Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, Standard Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, 3-Stage Wide Neck Easy Grip Feeding System with Non-Drip Nipple.
Nuture Pure Glass bottles
Babisil Silbottles
Weego Glass Bottles
Siliskin Glass Bottles
Dr Brown’s: Glass Bottles (all vent system pieces BPA Free), Dr. Browns Polypropylene bottles (due in store’s April 15th)
*If you are currently using Dr. Browns polycarbonate bottles and would like to switch, the Dr. brown’s venting system (the internal pieces) are BPA Free and are made of polypropylene plastic. Also, they FIT and work with BornFree bottles which could be a little bit of a money saver.
** Dr Browns bottle nipples fit with Green to Grow bottles. As we know once a baby is comfy with something it’s sometimes a pain to change so it’s good to know we don’t have to change everything if we don’t have to.

/>BPA Free Sippy Cups
Avent Magic Cups
Playtex: Coolster Tumbler, Insulator, Einstein Training Cup, Sipster, Create My Own, Quick Straw, Insulator Sport, Sip and Discover, First Sipster
Gerber: Sip & Smile Spill-proof Cup, Easy Grip Insulated Soft Straw Cup, Insulated Cool Cup, Fun Grips Color Change Spill-proof Cup, Grins & Giggles Spill-proof Cup (source)
BornFree sippy/drinking cups
Kleen Kanteen
Thermos Foogo Sippy Cups, and drinking bottle with straw
SIGG Toddler Water Bottles
Kid Basix The Safe Sippy
Boon Sippy
GrowPure Multi-Stage Feeder and Sippy Cup
iPlay Aqua Bottle
ThinkBaby Training Cup
Sassy Snack Time Infa-Trainer Cup
Munchkin: Cupsicle, Cupsicle Straw Cup, Big Kid Sippy Cup, Mighty Grip Flip Straw Cup, Mighty Grip Trainer Cup, licensed character Sports Bottles, Re-usable Straw Cups, Re-usable Spill-proof Cups
Nuby: No-Spill Sports Sipper, Insulated Soft Silicone Spout Cup, Soft Spout Easy Grip Cup, Gripper Cup with Soft Silicone Spout, 2-Handle Cup, Tinted Mega Sipper
The First Years: Take & Toss, Spill-proof Cup, Insulated Cup, Licensed character sippy cups, Insulated Spill-proof Cup, 2 Handled Cups

BPA Free Milkand Food Storage
Avent Via 8-oz. Nurser Kit
Avent Snack Cup / Formula Dispenser
Mother’s Milkmate Storage bottles
Medela Milk Storage bottles and breastpump accessories
Playtex Breastmilk storage kit
Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bags
Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bottles
Gerber Breastmilk Storage Bags
So Easy Fresh Baby Food Kit
Baby Cubes
Laptop Lunch System

Visit Z Recommends for product reviews on many of these BPA-free products. They have done an outstanding job of researching and reviewing these products.

-SBH