1. Plastic Bottles: The Code Controversy
Manufacturers code their products for recycling purposes, and some sources will tell you this code means something as to whether chemicals will leach out of the plastic or not. Codes touted as "safer" for recycling are 1, 2 and 4. Try to avoid codes 3, 5 and 6. Recycling code 7 is generally a mixture of plastics and may or may not contain the dangerous chemicals reputed to create the health concerns.
2. Check the Label for "BPA Free"
Bottles labeled "BPA Free," will not have the much-debated chemical bisphenol A in them, and will therefore considered a safer alternative. Several government agencies have studied this chemical. Currently a professor at the University of Washington has selected a group of Chinese people exposed to the chemical and studied their fertility rates and their children's development. Much more study needs to be done to know if this chemical is harmful, but in the meantime, you can buy cups, bowls and all your children's eating utensils labeled "BPA Free" to ensure you are getting the safest bottles available.
3. Never Ever Nuke Plastic Bottles
The microwave leaches chemicals out of the plastic dishes it cooks along with the food you heat. Although most American homes have a microwave, you can survive without it. Consider increases in cancer and certain other diseases, such as ADHD. The opponents of nuking your food say that the rise in these numbers must be connected. While this is hotly debated, studies show that when you microwave plastic, it breaks down, leaving BPA and other chemicals on your food. It's safer to use your hot tap water to heat up the baby's bottle.
4. Plastic Bottles Need Hand Washing
Washing plastic in the dishwasher might seem like a quick and easy answer to getting your baby's bottles clean and disinfected in one step, but hold the detergent. The harsh chemical dishwasher detergents and the "scrubbing" and heating of the dishwashing process can cause plastics to break down more quickly than hand washing. Be sure to wash all your plastic by hand and to follow your doctor's recommendations for disinfection. Also, any plastic that shows any type of wear, such as burn marks from the microwave, scratches or "tackiness" should be tossed out.
5. Choose Safer Alternatives to Plastic
You might not realize it, but you do have alternatives when it comes to buying plastic bottles. Gerber still makes the old-fashioned glass bottles, which do not leach anything into your baby's food. While these are breakable, they are more resilient than you might think. The glass can also be safely washed in the dishwasher. You might also choose disposable liners, which will not break down like regular plastic bottles over time since they are new each time you use them.
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