Plastic bottles unsafe??

[melbel]

technically it depends on the level or parts per million as to labelling etc.....the catch is that BPA is actually more dangerous in smaller levels as this is how it passes the blood barrier...at larger levels the molecules tend to clump together and are too big to pass the blood barrier and do harm. At least that is what my reasearch to date tells me....

[Schmickers]

BPA is legal in most countries; at this stage only Canada has moved to ban it's use in plastics that are used to handle food for human consumption.

We use the MAM bottles here.

[Gigi]

Becoming a mum, and suddenly buying lots of baby products, learning about more baby stuff, i have been astonished just how many UNSAFE baby products are sold, with things in them that you would never think it would be LEGAL to sell, for use on a baby.

it boggles my mind, makes me realise how vigilant i need to be, not just trust well known brands and what hospitals use, i need to do my own research.

some people say it doesn't matter

when my baby develops rashes because of it, it matters to me.

it took me five years to become pregnant, i will not be having any more, if i am over careful, so what, i am over careful then, she's my child. we don't have private health insurance, i cannot risk extra hospital visits, i will do what i can to keep her healthy and safe.

As soon as you become pregnant, even complete strangers suddenly want to give you advice on EVERYTHING! I am very wary of the ones that start off with "YOU SHOULD . . . . . ".

there are possibilities, there are options, there are many things you COULD do, but YOU are the mum of this child, you will make the decision, not them.

you gotta do what's right for you.

between Google and the wonderful people on this forum (like Melbel's excellent research above), you can become more informed, and then make informed choices - if you want to.

[Pandora]

Theres an eco/green shop in Prahran that sells BPA free bottles as well as a lot of chemicla free baby products I can find the info for you if you are interested.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Can I ask why you need to buy bottles at all?
All you planning to not breastfeed?
Im not advocating that FF is bad (I have been since 9 months) but I do think that buying bottles before the inability to breastfeed is setting yourself up for failure.
You shouldn't microwave bottles anyway because it puts blackspots in the bottles...
Just a thought...

[Kailani]

Wow there is so much to learn! Ummm what is BPA?? And what is the risk of having it in plastic? Like what can it do to the baby???

Thanks so much for that info melbel! Can I be a pain and ask for the dummy list as well?

Cookie - I definitely want to BF but if I have to express or just in case I can't BF at all I thought I'd get some bottles...should I not bother and just wait and see?? lol this is all very new and I just wanted to be prepared! Speaking of expressing, I've heard that there are particular bottle teats that are meant to replicate the nipple, to avoid confusion for baby, might have to research those too??

Rayray, I am very interested in that shop! Prahran is really close to me

Gigi, I agree with you, I'm just so overwhelmed about what is safe/unsafe and everybody's differing "advice". I hate the "you should" comments! And yep, that's why I love BB - it makes this whole unknown process become a lot easier!

And thanks girls for the microwave tip...I didn't think anything of it, I would have put the bottles straight into the microwave! Well don't I feel so silly and unprepared I agree with you all to do what is best for me and bubs and ultimately that it's my choice. It's just a bit hard to make that choice with so many people doing different things and having strong opinions on everything

Shmickers, are the MAM bottles free of BPA and are they glass? lol I am starting to sound like a paranoid nut, but I can't help it now that I know this!

Eeeekkk!! Thanks so much lovelies, all this info is very helpful

ETA...Oh happy new year!!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Holly, sorry for my abrupt post - I was drunk at the time I wrote it... LOL!

There are a few different bottles that are supposed to replicate the nipple.
I used the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles but found that they are a little to flexible because baby can push the teat in on itself sometimes.
There are the Pigeon Peristaltic (I think that's what they are called) & AVENT do nipple ones too but I don't like the AVENT ones at all.
Then there are some the ABA recommend that are more expensive, but "ideal" for increased likelihood of maintaining a dual breast/bottle feed routine (IYKWIM).

Something else to considered is not giving a bottle when expressing starting with a sippy cup from very young or syringe feeding is better in terms of maintaining breastfeeding. My DS weaned completely off the breast once he learnt he could bite on his bottles instead of sucking, and now he won't suck at all.

Honestly I had so, so many bottles because noone in my family had breastfed so I was going to formula feed... and I never used them. I bought a sippy bottle when DS was 7 months old and that's all I have used. It's sort of a waste if you don't "need them" because they can be pricey. And whilst it is great to be prepared in case you are struggling with breastfeeding - it's probably better to put into an envelope (and hide in your undie drawer or something) what you would spend on bottles, sterilisers, breastpumps so you have it aside, IF and WHEN you need it. And add a little bit to it, because many early problems with BF can be assisted and helped by a Lactation Consultant.

The way i see it - if you have all the FF stuff prepped and ready to go the temptation is there and it is easy to give in and buy a tin. If you have an envelope full of cash, sure send hubby to get a ready made carton so bubs will go to sleep for the night... but spend the rest on an LC. Just the way I see it anyway, I hope I am making sense.

ETA: Check out downtoearthorganics dot com dot au. They have a whole range of BPA products on there. Medela products are BPA free, as are most Nuby products.

Oh, and also - I'm pretty sure the ABA actually recommends a standard teat - I did look but couldn't find the info, but FionaJill or BarbGlare would be the best help in that respect. They recommend the Medela breastpumps so I can only assume they would recommend the Medela bottles to go with it. I liked the closer to nature ones because they replicated the same kind of attachment, but breasts are all different so I can imagine some bottles would differ for each mum and baby... maybe another reason to wait until after baby comes?