The plastic bottle/sippy cup danger

So I was just watching the Today show and they talked about the harmful chemicals in some plastic bottles. To be honest, I've sort of ignored this topic thinking it's all been overblown. But when they said that 95% of the people tested had BPA levels considered dangerous, I started thinking that this was a lot more serious than I thought. I just went through my cabinets and all of our water bottles (Nalgene and camelback ones that my DH uses all the time) are all number 7----one of the numbers they say is the worst. I went to go look at our sippy cups and I can't even find a number on them. Does anyone know what number the Nuby sippy cups are? I also have some Munchkin ones, and I can't find the number on those either! Which ones do you use that are considered safe. I'm so annoyed that I've got yet another thing to be worried about!


Reyna

 

I saw the SAME piece this morning.... I have been using playtex but I'm pretty sure hteir on the naughty list so I'm curious to hear people's answers. My kids don't really hae the hang of sippy cups down yet so it's more of a toy than a cup to them but hopefully they'll get the hang of it soon.

ps. as an aside when did you kids get the hang of sippy cups?

 

About the time they can self-feed at the highchair is when I would give a sippy cup with a little water in it for them to practice with. Now that mine are almost a year old they get all their liquid from a sippy cup (aside from the 2x a day I still nurse them). Let's hope someone has some answers for us!

Reyna

 

I saw the report too. I use Dr. Brown bottles and there is no number on them. I just bought Nuk sippy training cups and noticed that they are #7 also. I want to be cautious but not paranoid. After all, they did say that in all lab tests, rats were given thousands of times the exposure that we get on a daily basis. It isn't really practical to give your kids glass bottles (and sippy cups) all the time!

 

I didn't see the special, but heard of this danger. I had been using all avent bottles and trashed them. I use playtex now if I give a bottle--I use the drop-ins. They are okay. There's a website--I don't have the link, but you can try to look it up. There is always something for a mother to worry about!!!

Lisa

 

I think the Nuby cups are okay. It's clear, hard plastics (polycarbonate) that you want to avoid -- milky, soft plastics are typically polypropylene or polyethylene (labled #5 or PP) and don't contain BPA.

Thermos has a stainless steel cup called Foogo -- comes in straw or regular sippy spout -- that is just fantastic. I send the straw cup in Nadia's lunch, and it keeps liquid cold all day, doesn't leak, and it really easy to use. Goes in the dishwasher. It's pricey ($18 or so at Target), but we only have one. I'll get only one for each of the babies, too, when they need it....

I will probably still use the Playtex straw cups for milk, though, as we'll need several a day. They're not labeled, but I'm fairly sure they're not polycarbonate.

 

Klean Kanteen also makes a metal sippy that is safe. We typically use SIGG bottles (Dax has learned how to drink out of the spout) or, occasionally, the Take n Toss which is #5. I try to stick with metal though because there are no questions about it's safety. This plastic danger has been out for years but it's only now getting a lot of media coverage. I'm sure we'll be hearing about more problems with other plastics and chemicals (there's already some talk about baby toiletries) in the years to come. I can only imagine how bad disposable diapers are.

 

Ugh! I saw that yesterday too. We all (me, dh, and all 4 kids) each have our own camelback #7. Dh asked what we should do. I am really wanting more info. but think we will take the kids away from them.

Does the BPA get in the water from just regular use or it's when the water sits in the bottle for an extended pd of time?
If they are handwashed does that help?
Etc.

They seemed to imply that the bottles are worse if put in the microwave and dishwasher.

 

Just watched it...I don't have the answer. Maybe an email or call to the manufacturer would answer the question.

For those who haven't seen the piece, here's the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24046273#24046273

 

We use the Born Free sippy cups. They're BPA and phalate free. I love these cups; they don't leak and it's easy for my girls to get the water out of them. For the adults in the family we use SIGG metal bottles.

To answer a few of the questions posed by PPs, there are two different plastic types to be aware of. The first are the hard clear plastic bottles that contain BPA. Dr. Browns bottles have BPA in them. The second type are the typical baby plastics, used for a lot of sippy cups, toys, etc. The plastic is usually colored and isn't super hard but isn't super soft. This type of plastic frequently contains phalates.

Some of the Nuby sippy cups are BPA and phalate free, depends on which one you have. I think all of the Munchkin ones have phalates in them.

There are a few websites that sell only "safe" plastics. The one I buy stuff from is www.softlanding.com They sell bottles, sippy cups, plates, utensils, etc.

 

we use the born free and mam bpa free bottles.
here's a good site to check out
http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/11/z-report...ottles-and.html

 

I was getting my boys' lunch ready and happened to look on my baby food containers. Both Gerber and Parent's Choice brands are #7. I WASN'T expecting that! I don't microwave them but it still makes me a little concerned.

 

We use the Playtex Insulator sippy cups and they are #5 while our Playtex liners are #4. I think is is numbers 3,6,and 7 that are on the bad list. I imagine we were all raised using these things without a worry and we turned out okay - well, for the most part anyway!

 

QUOTE(first-time-mom @ Apr 10 2008, 03:50 PM) [snapback]715144[/snapback]
I was getting my boys' lunch ready and happened to look on my baby food containers. Both Gerber and Parent's Choice brands are #7. I WASN'T expecting that! I don't microwave them but it still makes me a little concerned.


I've heard that they fill up those plastic baby food containers with super hot food so there would definitely be leaching into the baby food. I usually make my own baby food but I have bought the plastic containers for trips and I won't be anymore. Glass only.