BPA - Chemicals in plastic Bottles

[Molly2]

Hi Ladies,

Appologies, as I'm sure this question has been asked many times before but I'm not pulling up much with the search function and couldn't see anything in the FAQ's so I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

I bought a LOT of AVENT products last time round (21 mths ago), used solely their bottles, steriliser, breast pump as it was just handy to stick to the one brand and they seemed to suit DD well enough.  I'm due again in 2 weeks and have since heard that there is a concern with the chemicals used in their manufacture and I'm wondering if this has been given any weight and have most people bought bottles which do not contain BPA.

Buying some new bottles wouldn't be a huge deal, but the expense of a new steriliser and double breast pump (which I found really useful last time) would really hit me.  I know its heat which causes the concern but all of the items I used would go in the steam steriliser so it seems to me that they would be subject to high heat?

Thanks in advance

Molly

[Maffoos mummy]

Marking as I was an Avent fan too.xxx

[lyndsy_p]

In Canada (where I'm from) they have banned BPA products. I was using a medela pump with avent bottles and I threw them all out. I would say to err on the side of caution, just ditch them. The pump isn't a HUGE deal because it barely touches the pump for long, but if you can only get an avent bottle to fit on the end that may be a problem. I pumped into the medela bottles that came with the pump and then transferred the milk into the playtex disposable liners.

HTH
Lyndsy

[Mashi]

It's my understanding (possibly misunderstanding!) with BPA that it's when you are heating the bottles with the formula IN it that causes the problem.

So, you could get BPA free bottles (I have a feeling that Dr Brown's are BPA free but maybe not in every country) and use them in your Avent steriliser.  It's fidgety and you can only get 4 plus bits and bobs in at a time, but they fit.  So, no need for another steriliser.  Use your Avent pump and bottle to express into, but if that bottle is not BPA free, pour it into a sterile Dr B's bottle to heat up the milk before you feed?

Seems like a bit of faffing about but would save money on a new pump and steriliser and once you got into a routine probably not that much extra work?

[debo620]

all I know is that in Canada, one of the main chain stores recalled and refunded money for all of those advent products...so yes I think there must be some weight to those concerns.

[Mashi]

Here are some links I've found that list BPA free bottles. Not sure if the products will be the same in all countries, however, but if you choose which ones you want and then go onto their website or call the company you may be able to find out.

Also note that some of the websites are "newer" than others and so may have more up to date info, but I've included them all so you can compare, and because some may list bottles not available in every country:

http://safemama.com/2007/11/22/bpa-free-bottle-and-sippy-cup-cheat-sheet/

http://babyproducts.about.com/od/feedingdrinks/tp/BPA_free_baby_bottles.htm

http://www.parents.com/baby/feeding/bottlefeeding/bpa-free-baby-bottles/

http://www.cookiemag.com/brain/kidhealth/2008/01/bpafree

Hope those links are of some help!

[shivi]

double woopsxxx

[* Paula *]

Hello ladies,

This subject has come up a number of times, so I am going to sticky this for future reference.

[mommytocandd]

I used avent too, was a huge fan.  I checked their website not that long ago, they claim their bottles are safe, but are coming out with a bpa free line, so you have to wonder.  Health Canada has banned them, but I did see some avent products in the grocery store the other day, not sure if they're the new or the old (too busy to check!).  Health Canada also says that bpa is found in the lining of the cans for ready made formula, and recommends not using that, but you can still get that in the stores here.  My bottles and pump have been used for 2-3 years now, a lot of runs in the sterilizer and dishwasher, they're starting to look pretty worn, I'm going to get news ones just to be safe.

[shivi]

another link
http://ecb.jrc.it/documents/Existing-Chemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/ADDENDUM/bisphenola_add_325.pdf

[spanna]

I completely bottle feed my 4 month old and when  I was changing bottles, ( to a bigger size), a while ago I did hours of research into BPA free bottles. I got quite pedantic about it!
I ended up with MAM ultivent bottles as they were the only BPA free ones I could find locally, (Australia), apart from Medela, (but by now these were too small).I like to touch, pull apart, etc anything I buy for the LO, so "Dr. Browns" was no good as only on net here as were "Greentogrow" where I am living.....

I was very concerned about the effects of BPA but yes the problem lies in heating the milk IN the bottles so sterlising should pose no concerns. I have some BPA bottles now, (tommee tippee) as my LO preferred them. I definitley DONT heat them and she only drinks room temp milk from them

I think it's worth remembering too that BPA is in many everyday plastics, not just baby products.....takeaway containers,(that get reheated in the microwave,)  drink bottles,(which we often leave in the car where they get warm in the sun, then we drink from then later!) Not only are out bubbies important  but, so are we! Our naturopath warned us against heating ANYTHING in plastic containers as this can effect your fertility!
The health effects are well documented, but a little common sense also goes a long way and there are ways around not heating bottles such as Avent, (which is a very trusted brand that I too bought), so that you don't  have to replace your entire range, tres expensive!! Having said that, if one country thinks there's enough of a health risk to ban the chemical, you have to wonder why countries like US and Australia are so slow to follow suit

OK I'll get off my soap box now

[Molly2]

Ladies,

Thanks for all the fab information provided.  I am going to look through all the links in detail before finally deciding what to do. 

I wanted to quickly post the info that I found on the Avent site. 

http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/gb/consumer/cc/_categoryid_MCC_BOTTLE_FEEDING_CA_GB_CONSUMER/#/consumer/en/gb/consumer/cc/_categoryid_MCC_BOTTLE_FEEDING_CA_GB_CONSUMER/

It says that Canada haven't banned their products but are currently undergoing a study to see if they will.  I agree that if Canada are going to ban, I don't understand why the US, UK etc aren't also.  But Canada do seem to be ahead on matters of health sometimes.

I am hoping to breastfeed and it seems that the problem is when the milk is heated in the bottle.  So that leaves me to believe that the pump itself (my biggest expense) is fine.  The steriliser I have doesn't contain BPA so that should be fine.  Also if I'm heating milk in a bottle, in either the bottle warmer or a jug of boiling water - I guess the temperature that I'm heating to will be pretty low - would just be taking the chill out of refrigerated milk.  I haven't completely decided but think its not as worrying as I initially thought.  Also their via cups do not contain BPA so I could do my heating in these cups and transfer!

What is worrying me now is that I always bulk cook and freeze and heat DD's food in plastic containers which I guess all probably contain BPA.  Also her evening milk is in a little sippy cup which I also heat in the microwave - yikes.  This is a whole can of worms.

Thanks again for all the help

M

[shivi]

great news about the via system, Molly, I use it too for frozen soups, sauces etc for Oscar.,..and used it for EBM from the beginning as well.....phew!

We are also freaking out about his milk in his magic cups etc.....

so sticking to the via system should be safe enough then?

hugs

Siobhain x

[spanna]

I use the little AVENT cups and I think they are safe......we use then to heat too, so good alternative. personally I would use those in micro/jug of boiling water over  bpa bottles. bottles get pretty hot to touch somtimes even in a jug of boiling water

I just checked out the info on the Phillips site, I'm curious......... what they are saying is VERY misleading... Yes it is tue there is a draft  bill to ban BPA totally but it is banned from baby bottles;

"Canada yesterday became the first country to ban a widely found chemical from use in baby bottles, spurring a leading Democrat in the U.S. Senate to call for legislation that would prohibit use of bisphenol A, or BPA, in a number of everyday consumer products." Washington Post April 19th 2008

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/04/18/ST2008041803545.html

phillips haven't exactly lied but theyv'e been good politicians!!!!!

[mommytocandd]

I've decided to use my avent pump again, the milk will have a really short contact time with it.  Today I bought some playtex liners that are BPA free.  I'm hoping to pump into the avent system and transfer into the liners and freeze.  None of the avent line was labelled BPA free at Babies r Us, so I'm confused as they were supposed to be taken off the market here.  However, the last times, I did use the avent liners to freeze the milk, and they do not sell them anymore in the store.  I'm not sure if this is due to BPA, or maybe they just weren't popular.