Overview

Plastic has been the go-to material for baby bottles for decades, but recent concerns have raised questions about its safety. Although BPA was banned in baby bottles over a decade ago, similar chemicals like BPF and BPS are still used as replacements, and research on their long-term effects is ongoing. Additionally, the issue of microplastics in plastic bottles has become a growing concern, with studies suggesting that babies may be exposed to tiny plastic particles that could impact their development. In this episode, you’ll learn practical tips to minimize risks associated with plastic baby bottles, from safe handling and cleaning practices to the importance of avoiding excessive heat. We’ll also discuss alternatives, including the pros and cons of glass, silicone, and stainless steel bottles. Whether you’re already using plastic bottles or exploring other options, this episode will empower you to make a well-informed choice for your baby’s health and safety.

Listen Now

Article and Resources

Vanessa, thank you so much for your podcast. I have learned so much, and I feel so prepared. I am working on my baby registry and I went down a rabbit hole on the safety of plastic baby bottles. I do plan to breastfeed but I would like bottles to be able to pump and give my baby a bottle. Are chemicals in plastic baby bottles a concern? Should I be worried about microplastics? How safe are glass baby bottles or are there better alternatives? I appreciate your research-backed information so much, and I would love any information to help me choose the safest bottles for my baby.

-Catherine

Catherine, thank you for submitting your questions. I have been down the plastics rabbit hole more than once and I know that can be scary and confusing trying to figure out what is safe and what you should avoid. Let’s talk about the potential concerns of plastic baby bottles, how you can reduce risks for your baby, and alternatives to plastic.

BPA

BPA (bisphenol A) is an industrial chemical most commonly found in plastics, food packaging, and in thermal paper receipts are printed on. Exposure to BPA is a concern because it is a hormone disruptor. BPA is a xenoestrogen, which means that it mimics estrogen. Specifically, it mimics estradiol which is the strongest of the four main types of estrogen hormones in your body.

The good news is that the FDA banned BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant formula packaging over a decade ago. The bad news is that there are questions about whether the chemicals replacing BPA are genuinely better. The two primary replacement chemicals for BPA are BPF and BPS. Both of these have a similar chemical structure to BPA, and there have been concerns that these replacements are not safe alternatives; they are just not as well studied, and there is less information available on their safety.

There is evidence that infants exposed to analogues of BPA, like BPF or BPS during pregnancy and lactation can result in fetal growth restrictions, neurological dysfunctions, and metabolic disorders with the potential to persist throughout childhood. In a study published in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, researchers looked at the effects of BPF and BPS on testosterone secretion, and they found that these alternatives impacted testosterone secretion at least as much, and in some cases more than BPA.

The bottom line is that we do not know that products labeled as BPA-free are safe because they could contain BPF or BPS. We simply do not know enough about these chemicals to know whether they are safe on their own and safer than BPA.

Microplastics

Another concern with using plastic baby bottles is microplastics. These are tiny fragments of plastic, ranging from microscopic to small but visible. Plastic particles are released over time as a product is used, especially when worn down. 

A study investigated the potential exposure of infants to microplastics from consuming formula prepared in polypropylene infant feeding bottles. Researchers found these bottles release microplastics with values as high as 16,200,000 particles per liter. They also found that sterilization, exposure to high temperatures, and mechanical friction, like shaking a baby bottle to mix formula, can significantly increase microplastic release. There is evidence that microplastics can cause changes in the digestive, reproductive, central nervous, immune, and circulatory systems of a child. Unfortunately, microplastics are impossible to avoid completely. They are found in our water, food, and even the air we breathe.

In June 2024, class action lawsuits were filed against several baby bottle manufacturers, including Dr. Brown, Nuk, Philips Avent, and Tommee Tippee. The lawsuit claims the companies failed to properly warn caregivers and parents that their bottles and baby cups allegedly seep harmful chemicals into food when heated. Interestingly, nearly all baby bottle manufacturers now have glass, silicone or options available, and years ago there were very few brands that offered alternatives to plastic.

Your Options

You have two options if you are concerned about chemicals or microplastics in plastic baby bottles. One is that there are actions you can take to reduce the risks with plastic bottles. The other option is to avoid plastic and buy baby bottles that are made from other safer materials.

Reducing the Risks of Plastic

Heat breaks down plastics, and unfortunately, baby bottles can be exposed to high heat during sterilization, cleaning, and warming.

Sterilizing Bottles

It is a general practice to sterilize bottles before you use them for the first time. Some parents make it a habit of sterilizing them periodically. It is not necessary to sterilize them before each use. Sterilizing bottles is more of an issue with premature babies. You can always ask your care provider or pediatrician for their recommendation for sterilizing bottles.

The only method of sterilization that does not use heat is UV light. By placing baby bottles in a UV sterilizer for a few minutes will kill or deactivate bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. UV sterilizers use a specific type of UV light, called UV-C, which has a wavelength that’s effective at damaging the DNA and RNA of microorganisms.

Other methods of sterilization rely on heat to kill any bacteria, viruses, or microorganisms. This includes sterilizing bottles by putting them in the dishwasher, using a microwave or electric steamer, or placing bottles in boiling water. Whether you decide to sterilize bottles and how often you do that is a personal choice, and your pediatrician is an excellent resource. If you want to reduce plastics breaking down and the release of microplastics you may consider limiting how often you sterilize plastic bottles.

Cleaning

You can limit the heat used in cleaning if you hand wash bottles rather than running them through a dishwasher. Or if you choose to use a dishwasher you may consider removing them to air dry rather than running through a heated dry cycle.

Warming

You have several options to warm a bottle for your baby from an electric bottle warmer to letting a bottle sit in a container of hot water. If you are warming a baby bottle you could heat milk or formula in a separate container, then pour it into a plastic bottle. It is recommended that you do not heat bottles in a microwave because it can create hotspots that could burn your baby’s mouth. Plus, the heat created can break down plastics and even break down some of the nutrients and change breastmilk’s composition.

Breastmilk Storage Bags

The risks of microplastics are also present with breastmilk storage bags, and a study that tested the six most popular plastic breastmilk storage bags found microplastics. Unfortunately, the most convenient way to freeze breastmilk is in plastic storage bags. If you are freezing milk only on rare occasions, you may consider using a glass bottle. Unfortunately, that isn’t very practical if you are freezing milk often or storing it for long periods. If you do use breastmilk storage bags, you may want to move the milk to a separate, non-plastic container to heat it rather than heating it in the plastic bag.

Alternatives to Plastic Bottles

The alternatives to plastic baby bottles are glass, silicon, or stainless steel. There are pros and cons to each of these options.

Glass Bottles

There are two main benefits to using glass bottles. One is that glass does not have any of the risks of chemicals used in plastics and does not shed microplastics. The other is that, unlike plastic, glass has an entirely smooth surface, making it easier to clean. Although plastic looks very smooth, it has tiny indentations and can scratch easily, making plastic a bit harder to clean, and bacteria can hide in those scratches and indentations.

There are also some downsides to using glass. There is always the risk that the glass breaks. Often, glass bottles are used with a silicone sleeve to help cushion the bottle and keep it from breaking if you drop it or help contain the glass if it breaks. Some bottles are sold with a silicone sleeve or this may be an additional purchase. Which leads into the next downside, which is that glass bottles are more expensive than plastic. Lastly, some daycares will not allow glass bottles for liability reasons.

Silicone Bottles

Silicone is a synthetic material made from silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. This material is flexible, durable, and temperature-resistant. Silicone does not have the risks of chemicals or microplastics that plastic bottles have. This material is also soft to the touch, and it is thought that some babies find it comforting. One downside is that it is more expensive than plastic.

Stainless Steel Bottles

Another alternative is stainless steel. Stainless steel is more durable than plastic or glass and easy to clean. The downsides are this material is not transparent, measuring how much milk is in the bottle can be challenging, and stainless steel is more expensive than glass, silicone, and plastic bottles.

Tips for Buying Baby Bottles

You may need to try several bottles before finding one your baby likes. Resist the urge to stock up on bottles before your baby arrives. If you are planning on registering for bottles for your baby shower, pick out a few starter kits from different brands so you can try them out. Once your baby settles on one they like, you can stock up and buy more of that particular brand. Here are a few recommendations that I would add to my baby registry if I was having a baby and wanted bottles made from materials other than glass.

• Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Wide-Neck Glass Baby Bottles
• Tommee Tippee Glass Baby Bottles
• Evenflo Feeding Classic Glass, Twist Bottles
• Nanobébé Flexy Silicone Baby Bottle
• Tommee Tippee Silicone Baby Bottles
• Comotomo Silicone Baby Bottle
• Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Baby Bottle

Practical Tips to Limit Plastic Exposure for Your Baby

Catherine, it is so easy to go down rabbit holes and start panicking about all kinds of things your bay could potentially be exposed to. Plastics are everywhere, and even if you could eliminate them in your home, your baby would still be exposed to them elsewhere. One of the easiest ways to reduce the risks of plastics is to not subject them to excessive heat or to replace plastic items periodically. The good news is your baby only needs a bottle for the first year. In that year you will likely replace bottles to increase the size. After a year, this won’t be a concern.

Balancing Risk and Practicality with Plastics

One easy rule I follow is that I don’t have plastic dishes, cups, or food storage containers, and I never put plastic in the microwave. It isn’t a perfect system, and I have a lot of plastic items in my home. Even the Pyrex containers I use to store food have plastic lids. I also try to avoid paper receipts anytime I buy something at a store. Receipts are a common source of concern for BPA exposure since the thermal paper most receipts are printed on can be coated with BPA. For me it is about balancing risk with living my life. The thought of completely eliminating all plastics from my life sounds very overwhelming. However, by making a few simple changes, I would like to think I reduce my family’s exposure to some of the risks of plastics.

Additional Resources

Guide to Bottle Feeding and Infant Formula: A comprehensive guide to bottle feeding your baby, from introducing a bottle to choosing the right formula.

BPA Safety During Pregnancy & for Your Baby: How BPA can affect you and your baby, whether BPA is something you should be avoiding, and how you can reduce your exposure to it during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.

Thank you to the amazing companies that have supported this episode.