Tips for Finding Safer Plastic Water Bottles and Baby Bottles

Recently the effects of BPA found in polycarbonate plastics like water bottles and baby bottles has been in the news because this harmful chemical can leach into the water. BPA, a hormone-mimicking chemical, is an endocrine disruptor. Finding safe water bottles and baby bottles for your children is a growing concern. With so many choices in in the stores, how do you know which bottles are safest? 

BPA is everywhere, but the greatest exposure is through food and drink since it is most readily absorbed through food and drink containers. The dangers of BPA on children and fetuses are higher since they may be able to absorb more of the chemical than adults. 

Chances are if you are using a reusable clear, hard plastic bottle with the recycling #7 on it, then it includes BPA. More BPA can potentially leach into liquids in polycarbonate plastics if you add boiling water when making formula or use high temperatures for cleaning bottles because this may “damage” the bottle.

The recycling code can be helpful to identify bottle safety, but it isn't foolproof because it is a code for recycling and it does not identify the BPA. You can check the packaging on newer bottles for a BPA-free label. You can also call the manufacturer to find out the plastic used in a particular plastic bottle.

Tips for finding safer bottles:

• #1 plastic bottles like the ones you buy with water in them at the grocery store are fine for one-time use according to the FDA. Do not reuse them or add hot/boiling water to them because this can damage the bottle and cause BPA to leach into the liquids inside.
• BPA-free plastic bottles include #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene) and #5 PP (polypropylene).
• Plastic reusable bottles with a number 3, 6, or 7 are potentially unsafe because they can release BPA.  
• Just to make it confusing, not all plastic bottles with the #7 on it are unsafe. The #7 clear, hard plastic Nalgene reusable bottle is made from polycarbonate contains BPA, but the new corn-based, compostable plastic dinner plates and cups are also labeled #7 are safe according to National Geographic: The Green Guide

BPA-free baby bottles

Here are a few links for BPA-free baby bottles: 

• BornFree Bottles made of a BPA-free plastic (Whole Foods).
• Foogo Cup from Thermos (Target) 
• The Safe Sippy™ from Kid Basix
• Evenflo glass bottles from (Target)
• TheSoftLanding.com features a variety of non-toxic baby feeding gear
• As concerns over BPA increase several US companies have announced they will phase out plastic bottles and baby bottles with BPA. Wal-Mart and and Toys ‘R” Us will phase out baby bottles with BPA.