Why no plastic, you may ask? What’s so bad about that? They’re making BPA-free plastic nowadays!

The answer to that is, even though bottle manufacturers may offer BPA-free claims, mounting scientific studies now suggest that many plastics including BPA-free ones, contain added chemicals that may be just as, or even more dangerous to health.

A big uproar about BPA in plastic baby products arose in the early 2010s when the chemical was found leaching out of plastic bottles into the milk that’s in contact with it, leading to the possibility of babies taking in small doses of the toxic substance. Thankfully, BPA has now been banned from baby products in many countries.

Bisphenol-a (BPA) is a chemical used in the production of plastic, which makes it see-through and virtually unbreakable, but it is also linked to health problems related to brain development, reproduction and cancer.
 
Leaching of the chemical tends to occur when plastic bottles are heated (and it is required to sterilize baby bottles) or the contents of the bottle are hot (it is custom to warm milk for babies in bottles).
 
As a conscious parent, avoid buying plastic bottles altogether for your child – even if it says BPA-free. So what plastic alternatives are truly safe for your little one?

Glass
Old-fashioned glass is a classic that has been used for decades in baby bottles. It’s a safe and healthy option that’s easy to sterilize clean in boiling water. Glass is also more durable and can be easily used for your next baby. Plus, it’s recyclable, making it better for the environment.
 
The disadvantage of glass bottles is that they’re slightly heavier that their plastic counterparts, making it harder for babies to self-feed at an earlier age, and there are chances of breakage. Although, silicone and fabric sleeves are now available to help in preventing breakage.
 
We are big fans of Dr Brown’s glass wide-neck bottles with their anti-colic vent system and Life Factory’s trendy glass bottles with their colourful silicone sleeves.

Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is virtually unbreakable, very durable and naturally insulating, which means it will keep its contents hot or cold for a long period of time. This makes it an ideal choice for baby bottles, especially when out and about, as it will prevent you from having to warm up your bottle to feed your little one if there are no facilities available.
 
Though a steel bottle will be heavier than a plastic one, new designs have made it easy for little hands to hold onto.
 
Pura Kiki and Think Baby are good options for stainless steel baby bottles with spout options to transition from a baby bottle to a sippy cup and beyond. 

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Silicone
Food-grade silicone is a non-toxic polymer mostly made from silica (sand), which is lightweight, soft like rubber and does not break, making it the perfect material for eco-friendly baby bottles. 

Unlike plastic, it can withstand heating and freezing without leaching harmful chemicals that will contaminate the milk. We love the fact that silicone bottles are flexible and squishy, making them perfect for little hands that like to explore.
 
Comotomo silicone baby bottles, with their wide base nipples designed to mimic the breast are definitely a favourite.

Plastic may not be the best material for baby bottles anymore, but luckily there are plenty of safer alternatives to choose from.

Let us know if you’ve used any of the bottles from our list or if we missed any? Please write to us at community@masilo.in, we’d love to hear from you!