Why Glass Baby Bottles Are Safer Than Plastic

Plastic baby bottles release microplastics, and even more when microwaved.

The construction material of baby bottles has been a hot topic. 

In the early 2000s, BPA (or Bisphenol A), a plasticizer, was discovered to have negative health effects on human health. This material was commonly used in older baby bottles until their eventual ban in Europe and the US. However, some of the plastics that replaced BPA, such as BPS and BPF, have been found to release similar amounts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

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Plastic baby bottle manufacturers have also moved towards other types of plastics, such as polypropylene (PP).

These plastic baby bottles are often microwaved to warm the baby formula inside, but can have dangerous results.

A recent American Chemical Society study estimated that microwaving baby bottles release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles are released for every square centimeter of PP plastic, and can kill human embryonic kidney cells with only a fraction of that contamination with every serving.

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Microplastic exposure, specifically for young children, can inhibit physical and cognitive development, fertility, and even cause cancer.

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Replacement your plastic baby bottles with glass to reduce their microplastic exposure.

A great first step towards reducing your little one’s exposure to microplastics while feeding is replacing your standard plastic baby bottles with glass.

High quality glass is inert, easy to clean, durable for children, relatively cheap, and most importantly does not leach harmful chemicals, even when microwaved.

Are silicone nipples safe?

You should limit the use of silicone nipples, and wash them carefully.

Silicone, while commonly referred to as the ‘safest’ version of plastic for food-grade applications, can still release microplastics under high heat and abrasion.

Soft plastics, such as silicone, are usually the go-to material replicating the mother’s nipple.

We have previously recommended against the use of silicone for preparing and cooking food, but we have not been able to find a baby bottle brand with truly inert (plastic-free) nipple attachments due to the requirements for a soft and flexible construction.

With that being said, you can still reduce the overall microplastic exposure by never microwaving, boiling, steaming, or washing baby bottle silicone nipples with hot water when possible.

The best glass baby bottles.

Based on reviews, we’ve found great glass baby bottles with a variety of different features and sizes that do not contain internal plastic components.

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Philips’ AVENT glass baby bottles come in 8oz and 4oz variations, both of which include large silicone nipples that only release milk when actively drinking, mimicking a natural breast.

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Evenflo’s simple twist cap bottles feature an durable ergonomic twisting exterior for easy handling and come apart into three easy to clean pieces. Six bottles is a great value for $17 and makes formula prep less time consuming since more servings can be prepared and stored at once.