If you choose to formula feed your baby or to express breast milk and feed it your baby from a bottle, Baby Center recommends choosing the safest baby bottles possible to protect the health of your little one. Many baby bottles are made from plastic because they are more convenient and are less likely to break than glass baby bottles. Baby Center reports that plastic baby bottles can contain potentially harmful chemicals that can leach into the formula or milk. For this reason, glass baby bottles are once again gaining popularity.
Sterilize and Clean
Before your baby drinks out of a glass bottle for the first time it is important to sterilize the bottle and the nipple. According to Kimberly Rider, author of "Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living," the easiest way to sterilize glass baby bottles is in a pan of boiling water for at least five minutes. Rider also recommends sterilizing the bottles at least one per week to keep them clean and safe for your baby. Bottle sterilizers work well too, Rider says. Glass baby bottles should also be cleaned with warm soapy water or placed in the dishwasher after each use.
Prevent Breaks
Glass baby bottles pose a safety hazard to your baby if they are dropped, chipped, or cracked, reports Baby Center. Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones, authors of "Great Expectations: Best Baby Gear," recommend using baby bottles made of tempered glass because it is less likely to break if dropped. If a glass baby bottle is dropped, it is important to inspect it for any damage to prevent injury to your baby. If you do notice any damage, Baby Center recommends that you throw the bottle away in order to prevent shards of glass from getting into your baby's food or injuring your little one.
Avoid Microwaving
Many babies enjoy warm formula or warm breast milk and it is important to warm it safely to prevent burns or injury. According to Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler, authors of "Your Baby's First Year Week by Week," you should avoid heating a glass baby bottle up in the microwave because the glass could get hot enough to cause burns. Microwaving glass baby bottles can also cause cracks that you may not notice until after the bottle is empty. Curtis and Schuler also caution that heating a glass bottle in the microwave could cause it to explode.
References
- Baby Center: Feeding with the Bottle
- "Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living"; Kimberly Rider; 2007
- "Great Expectations: Best Baby Gear"; Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones; 2008
- "Your Baby's First Year Week by Week"; Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler; 2000
