OT - Toxic baby bottles!!

[Schmeck]

So b/c you don't know for sure if everything is safe, you shouldn't bother to stay away from things that you know AREN'T safe??? That doesn't make any sense.

The more harmful substances you can remove from your body and environment the better. And why would you, or rather, HOW could you continue to use something for your children when you KNOW that there are doubts about its safety and it's probable link to cancer/illness.

We just found out my SIL has a brain tumor. She is only 27 and pregnant with her second child. We are all stunned, to say the least, b/c she is healthy as a horse! The doctors say it's just "one of those things" and they have no idea what caused it. SO, she'll have to have a C-section and 8-12 weeks later have brain surgery. Can you imagine??? On a side note, she is the oldest of four kids and the ONLY one who was fed formula in bottles, all the others were breastfed. Now, can we say that the BPA in the formula/bottle is the cause? Not for sure, b/c there are tons of kids (mine included) who have been fed with formula/bottles and are fine; (so far anyways, SIL is 27, so there is no telling what is in store for my son and other bottle fed babies his age when they grow up) BUT it is a strange coincidence. I don't buy that tumors just show up for NO reason; SOMETHING caused it, we just don't know enough (aren't being TOLD enough) about all the man-made crap we put into our bodies. I for one, am IRATE, that I trusted these profit seeking companies and the FDA with the health of my child, and I seriously hope he turns out OK.

These past few years I have been learning a lot about healthy living and realizing that I used to be part of the masses that just believed everything that was told to me by the government, or actually fell for all the advertising crap on TV. When Atkins came out companies were putting LOW CARB on things like Mayonnaise and bacon, trying to pass it off for healthy b/c it was LOW CARB.... Puh-lease.

So, no, I don't trust formula companies who say their stuff "is just as good" as breastmilk, cause it's not.... and I wish I would have known that a few years ago.

But not only are the plastics in the baby bottles unsafe, so are all the things I've mentioned - they've been found to have all kinds of nasties in them. Almost every manmade product out there has some type of negative effect on us. Just the radiation from the sun and manmade radiation from microwaves, cell towers, TV signals, radio signals... So yes, try to limit exposure (don't go drinking tons of organic chemicals like benzene - they are the really toxic ones!) but realize that even the air you and your baby breathe is tainted, and cancer cells are just regular cells that forgot to turn off the multiplier. We have cancer cells developing in us from time to time all through our life (which is too long anyways and that's why we all eventually get cancer of some kind) but most of the time our bodies get rid of them. About the only option we have is to go back to our caves, and die early, before our cells live long enough to mutate and give us cancer!

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[mickeywho?]

Right, I understand that toxins are everywhere....which is why it makes even MORE sense to stay away from as much as you can. You have to go out into the sun, but you don't have to lather yourself in oil and lay in it for hours at a time. You don't have too much choice about the air you breathe. BUT, I got rid of my microwave as soon as I found out how they basically nullify the nutrients in your food.

If you know the stuff is in baby bottles, you can quit using them, thereby decreasing your exposure to those toxins. Every bit helps! You shouldn't just use them anyways, b/c "oh well, it's in everything, whatcha gonna do?" You can refuse to buy products that are harmful, and force companies to make better and healthier stuff, that's what you can do.

So, according to your logic...we should all just go jump off a bridge, cause hey, we're gonna die anyways.

I never understand why people use the "we're all gonna die someday" excuse to be lazy and not care about the products they put into their bodies. That's what it is, laziness. Now that I know these products COULD harm my future children, there is no possible way I could give it to them anyways. Just like fast food.... once I realized just how unhealthy, processed, and pure crap the "food" (if you wanna pretend and call it that) was... I could NOT give to my son. To KNOW, that something is harmful, and to have the power to stay away from it, but to consume it anyways, for whatever reason.... is lazy.... among other things.

You got there before I did. Well said!

 

[Camno's Mama]

So glad I breastfed all of mine! How in the world can some factory make anything as good for babies as what God made my body to make? Plus, it was free and I never once with four kids had to go to the kitchen in the middle of the night and fix them a bottle while they screamed. Mommy is always ready!
I know some moms really cannot breastfeed, and it is not easy (you have to work at it a little and it is harder to leave the baby and get away) but I am always amazed at how many moms don't want to breastfeed. I always looked forward to it, it was a natural part of my mothering instincts!
My dh and I and all of our siblings were bottle fed. When formula was new doctors told moms "Don't bother breastfeeding, just go buy that stuff they make in factories now. You're FREE!" YUK!!
Besides, breast milk is sweet and formula tastes like chalk. Try it.....

Uh-oh...

 

[Disneychix]

I never understand why people use the "we're all gonna die someday" excuse to be lazy and not care about the products they put into their bodies. That's what it is, laziness. Now that I know these products COULD harm my future children, there is no possible way I could give it to them anyways. Just like fast food.... once I realized just how unhealthy, processed, and pure crap the "food" (if you wanna pretend and call it that) was... I could NOT give to my son. To KNOW, that something is harmful, and to have the power to stay away from it, but to consume it anyways, for whatever reason.... is lazy.... among other things.

It seems to be the buzz lately to find harm in things and then get some big business or activist group or gov't official to back it up. Look at butter: good until the 80's, bad in the 90's, now good again? Look at red meat, eggs, chocolate, wine, sugar. I could go on and on. You can live your life the way you want but don't judge others too quickly. In 2 years I'm sure someone will find something wrong with the very items you feel are the best for your family right now.
I am NOT lazy, as you say, becuase sometimes I enjoy a meal out or because I cook in my microwave. I was not lazy when I gave my premature son formula in a bottle (Um, Hello, in the NICU they GIVE PREEMIES FORMULA) because I could no longer express milk. I am not lazy because I want to continue to LIVE my life instead of always thinking of what could kill me.

BTW, you might want to stay away from WDW too. They have a smoking section in every park and resort and I do believe they have microwaves onsite

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[3"Mouse"keteers]

Ok, I am exhausted so maybe I am not following you very well...but what am I supposed to avoid? I have 2 kids one DD7 who had formula in a bottle till she was 2 and is now being treated for early puberty. I also have a son 14 months old who I just gave his bottle of formula like I do every day. So is it the formula? the bottle? We use ready to feed plastic bottles of Isomil and did with both. When DD got older we used powder, but not for too long.

I think the plastic bottles of formula are okay.........the problem is with formula that comes in metal cans. Most bottles out there are also made with the toxin, so you need to be careful what type of bottles you buy.

 

[two-foxes]

For those of you looking for baby bottles - the Born Free ones are great and are sold everywhere here now. So they are becoming much easier to find.

Sorry, Born Free Bottles are not great. The nipples collapse, they are NOT good for babies with acid reflux or colic and they are insanely over priced. Just MY experience, however. Of course, I discovered that after spending $100 on them in an effort to ensure my son is not getting BPA from his Avent and Dr Browns bottles. Luckily, Dr. Browns is coming out with a BPA free bottle and they also have glass bottles on the market as well. Although I am not happy with producing the extra waste with Playtex drop ins, they are now my bottle of choice for DS, as they are BPA free and fabulous for acid reflux and colic.

I agree with some issues on both sides here. I will do my best to ensure my little man is safe from chemicals that can be easily avoided by switching to other products. I can't stop giving my little guy formula, which I have ensured is organic (but he is almost 12 months, so cows milk here we come!), but I have stopped purchasing all Gerber baby food in the plastic containers (#7) and switched to glass baby food containers. Also, thankfully, I do LOVE the born free sippies, and although expensive, they are one of the few out there that are BPA free.

Ultimately, make good choice with confirmed information that is out there. We cannot predict the future or know what effects everything in our lives or our childrens lives, but we can act on information that is out there....

 

[Emma's Dad]

Sorry, Born Free Bottles are not great. The nipples collapse, they are NOT good for babies with acid reflux or colic and they are insanely over priced. Just MY experience, however. Of course, I discovered that after spending $100 on them in an effort to ensure my son is not getting BPA from his Avent and Dr Browns bottles. Luckily, Dr. Browns is coming out with a BPA free bottle and they also have glass bottles on the market as well. Although I am not happy with producing the extra waste with Playtex drop ins, they are now my bottle of choice for DS, as they are BPA free and fabulous for acid reflux and colic.

I agree with some issues on both sides here. I will do my best to ensure my little man is safe from chemicals that can be easily avoided by switching to other products. I can't stop giving my little guy formula, which I have ensured is organic (but he is almost 12 months, so cows milk here we come!), but I have stopped purchasing all Gerber baby food in the plastic containers (#7) and switched to glass baby food containers. Also, thankfully, I do LOVE the born free sippies, and although expensive, they are one of the few out there that are BPA free.

Ultimately, make good choice with confirmed information that is out there. We cannot predict the future or know what effects everything in our lives or our childrens lives, but we can act on information that is out there....

Thank you very much for this post, two-foxes. I was very curious to see real-world experience on how difficult it is for someone trying to avoid known products that contain BPA.

 

[Camno's Mama]

It seems to be the buzz lately to find harm in things and then get some big business or activist group or gov't official to back it up. Look at butter: good until the 80's, bad in the 90's, now good again? Look at red meat, eggs, chocolate, wine, sugar. I could go on and on. You can live your life the way you want but don't judge others too quickly. In 2 years I'm sure someone will find something wrong with the very items you feel are the best for your family right now.
I am NOT lazy, as you say, becuase sometimes I enjoy a meal out or because I cook in my microwave. I was not lazy when I gave my premature son formula in a bottle (Um, Hello, in the NICU they GIVE PREEMIES FORMULA) because I could no longer express milk. I am not lazy because I want to continue to LIVE my life instead of always thinking of what could kill me.

BTW, you might want to stay away from WDW too. They have a smoking section in every park and resort and I do believe they have microwaves onsite

I totally agree with you. I breastfed both my boys for almost two years and I feed them very healthy food at home. But we use a microwave and we love to eat out at the more "healthy" fast food places. You just have to pick your battles.

If that makes me lazy, then so be it. Pretty soon people will be telling me that letting my boys dig in the dirt is dangerous and that I should be facilitating more "safe" play for my kids.

You just have to do your best. I think that this thread started out as something informative. I hope that it doesn't turn into one of those judgmental parenting things.

 

[mickeywho?]

Here's a list from Rubbermaid that shows all their products that do/do not contain BPA. http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/bpa-info.jhtml
Of course, most of mine seem to fall in the "do" category so I'll be cleaning out my cupboards tonight and switching to the alternative.

 

[ajh88]

I don't know the safety of BPA - I haven't done my own research yet. I just want to say that when reading articles of this nature (sort of scare-tactic driven), it is always important to consider the sources. The EWG is a conservation activist group (and thus funded by other like-minded organizations, individuals, and businesses) - they may have ulterior motives for the 'research' they choose to promote. My point is that this story may not be presenting the entire picture, or perhaps even an accurate picture of the side they did choose to present. Again, I don't know - haven't hashed it all out yet - and it's more difficult because they didn't actually cite any published research that has been conducted.

Anyway, I believe we should do everything possible to protect our children and families and by all means if people are worried about BPA then avoid it as much as possible.

 

[tjlovespooh]

Thank you very much for this post, two-foxes. I was very curious to see real-world experience on how difficult it is for someone trying to avoid known products that contain BPA.

There are actually quite a few BPA-free baby bottles available on the market. I've been doing research recently as we're expecting DC#2. Here's a list I've compiled:

Born Free - available in both Glass and BPA-free plastic http://www.newbornfree.com/pics/bornfree/index.htm

SILISKIN - glass baby bottles http://silikids.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=S&Product_Code=Siliskin_8oz&Category_Code=Baby_Products

Green to Grow - BPA-free plastic http://www.greentogrow.com/

ThinkBaby - BPA-free plastic http://www.thinkbabybottles.com/

Wee Go - Glass bottles http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/2007/09/glassbaby.html

Dr. Brown's Glass Bottles http://www.handi-craft.com/bottles/News.asp

Also, since so many plastic bottles are made with BPA I started using Sigg http://www.mysigg.com/ bottles for DS2 instead of a sippy cup. I also bought one for myself to replace my old Naglene-BPA waterbottle. I recently heard Naglene was coming out with a BPA-free version though.

HTH someone

 

[saucymb]

www.safemama.com has a very comprehensive list of bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, and teethers that are BPA free. And lots of other good stuff.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Here is another site recommended by baby bargains that has been following the BPA free situation for quite some time http://zrecs.blogspot.com/

It is interesting how this has been around now in the baby world for a while but because of the study it's getting mass media coverage. I think most retailers will stop using it - Walmart is pulling any bottles off their shelves by 2009 that contain BPA.

Personally this will make things easier for us going forward as we are working to eliminate it from our home as best we can.

 

[Kid in Me]

Is this BPA found in the newer water bottles? Such a Nalgene? Just curious because I will start cleaning out the cupboards.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Is this BPA found in the newer water bottles? Such a Nalgene? Just curious because I will start cleaning out the cupboards.

Nalgene received a lot of press this week - check the bottom of your bottles for the # and then do some web research. Many of the nalgene's are 7's which per the study are bad.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I've heard on the news that most of the plastic Nalgene bottles have it. But I also heard that the BPA leeches out when there is hot liquids in the bottle. So if my son only drinks room temp or cold formula, then he shouldn't be exposed as much?

 

[tjlovespooh]

I've heard on the news that most of the plastic Nalgene bottles have it. But I also heard that the BPA leeches out when there is hot liquids in the bottle. So if my son only drinks room temp or cold formula, then he shouldn't be exposed as much?

My understanding of BPA leaching is that it can occur with either hot liquids in the bottle or when the plastic is heated (as in the dishwasher or microwave). So, even if you only use cold liquids the BPA can leach if you wash the bottles in the dishwasher.

 

[Schmeck]

Did you all know that the foam in carseats has formaldehyde in it, etc, etc, and that we are still safe using car seats? That's because the amounts are so low tthat it does no more harm than everything else around us...

So, if you want to throw out bottles, go ahead, but throw out your carpet, your couches, the vinyl siding on your houses, the oil-based paints, all your generic medication (because if it's generic it could be from China, which has no controls over what's in the stuff, you know!), don't ride on the highway behind a diesel bus or truck, don't take junior to the playground, and the plastic chairs in schools are toxic too...

USE YOUR COMMON SENSE!

Has BPA been tested and shown to cause harm to humans, or are they just basing this on the 'poison-a-rat-with-it-until-it-dies' type of study?