Eco-Friendly Basics for Baby

Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives available. Some plastic baby bottles on the market do not contain bispenol-A. These opaque bottles are made of polypropylene (#5) and polyethylene ( #1, #2, or #4), which are not known to leach carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Rubbermaid, Evenflo, Gerber, and Medela offer bottles made from polyethylene and polypropylene. Check recycling codes or call the manufacturer.

Glass baby bottles are a time-tested alternative to polycarbonate plastic and do not leach toxic chemicals. Evenflo makes tempered-glass bottles (meaning they can withstand heating) and Lansinoh makes untempered breastmilk storage bottles (which should not be heated). Glass bottles are, of course, subject to breakage, and there are risks of serious cuts to your child. Additionally, glass can chip or crack, and can break when sterilized, allowing glass splinters to end up in baby's beverage.

For glass bottles, check out Evenflo (800-233-5921) and Lansinoh (800-292-4794). For plastic bottles, see Evenflo, Medela (800-435-8316), Gerber, and Rubbermaid. For more information, read The Green Guide's Baby Bottle Product Report.

Maintain safe baby bottles. The American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents not to let babies go to sleep with a bottle, and toddlers should not be allowed to walk around holding one. These precautions help prevent tooth decay and decrease the risk of mouth injuries. Careful and regular inspections of glass bottles will enable parents to detect any flaws or chips. You can recycle scratched, cracked, or chipped glass bottles. Inspect nipples regularly, too, and try not to buy nipples and pacifiers made of #3 PVC, which can leach phthalates and adipates, which have been linked to reproductive harm and liver cancers in mice. Clear silicone bottle nipples and pacifiers are safer than plastic latex ones and they last longer.

You can also find some of the products mentioned above in The Natural Baby Catalog (888-550-2461), online at Kid Stuff and at Baby SuperMall (888-276-6654).

This is a story from The Green Guide.