Bottles

There are so many baby bottles available that it is enough to make your head spin. Let's start with bottles and sort it out.

First, only get bottles that are BPA Free. It is not required but strongly recommended. Click here to find articles and read more about BPA.

Second, bottles come in three basic sizes: 4, 8, and 9 ounce. As you might have guessed, the smallest is typically used for newborns (or small meals). However, these smaller bottles can also be used later for things like juice and water. The bigger bottles are a must have as your baby grows. You are going to need some of both. I will tell you that the more of any particular size you have, the less often you have to clean.

Now that you know the sizes and their uses, let's turn to bottle types. Again, there are 3 basic types: straight, angled, and disposable systems.

Standard bottles These are the bottles with a straight neck and body and have been used for generations. These are reusable and easily marked for measurement. Buy clear bottles so you can observe the milk flow as baby drinks it.

Angled bottles These are the bottles that have an angled or a curved neck. The design of this bottle type is to reduce baby's air intake. Less air intake usually means less gas.

Disposable systems Disposable systems have a hard plastic shell called the nurser, which holds disposable plastic bags. You can use the nurser over and over, but the bags are one-time use. One advantage to this system is that you don't have to "clean" the bottles as much because you are using a new, pre-sterilized with each feeding. Another supposed advantage is that the disposable bags contract to prevent babies from sucking in air bubbles that cause them to spit up. Although you may not have to clean the bottle each time, you will still need to clean the nurser (from time to time) and nipples just like a regular bottle.

Nipples

The other big component of bottle feeding is the nipple. One of the most important thing to look for is the size of the nipple hole. The smaller the hole, the lower the flow. Newborns need a small flow of milk; whereas, older babies can handle more. If baby appears to be sucking too hard, you probably need a fast/medium-flow nipple; an overly resistant nipple could collapse under baby's strong sucking motion. Conversely, if baby seems to be sputtering and gulping often, try a slow-flow nipple.

Just as with baby bottles, there are a variety of nipples to choose from:

Traditional, bell-shaped nipples These have a range of hole sizes from standard to small for newborns, to large for toddlers or for pulpy juice drinks. Slow-flow nipples usually have just one hole, while faster-flow nipples have multiple holes or a Y-shaped opening that allows you to determine the feeding pace.

Orthodontic nipples Orthodontic nipples have an irregular shape and are designed to resemble a mother's nipple in the baby's mouth after repeated sucking. The nipples are elongated and have an indent in the center to evoke the same tonguing action of breastfeeding babies.

Latex nipples This nipples are elongated to promote breastfeeding-like suckling action, latex nipples cause the milk to be delivered at the back of the baby's tongue instead of the mouth. However, latex nipples should be checked after two to three months for deterioration, cracks, or clogging.

Silicone nipples These are made of a clear, heat-resistant material that can withstand being washed in a dishwasher. Since silicone is a less porous material than latex, it isn't as prone to bacteria. Typically, silicone nipples last three to four times longer than latex, but all nipples should be checked every two to three months for deterioration.

With that said, the news is reporting that containers identified as "MICROWAVE SAFE" may allow or increase the chance of BPA leeching into the food when the container is put in the microwave. (read full article)  As I noted in an earlier post, heat has been identified as a source of causing BPA to leech into food.

As we discussed earlier, the Environmental Working Group identified the packaging of powdered formula as having the lowest BPA content and the ready to use formula package with the most.   So, seriously consider powdered formula and do not heat it in the microwave in a bottle.

]]> http://saveonbabyformula.com/microwave-safe-and-bpa/feed/ 0 http://saveonbabyformula.com/the-right-baby-formula/ http://saveonbabyformula.com/the-right-baby-formula/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:11:20 +0000 Brent http://saveonbabyformula.com/?p=157 Picking the Right Baby Formula Packaging

If you thought I was going to tell you to pick Enfamil over Similac, sorry about that.   Choosing the right brand and formulation depends on your baby and his or her unique needs.  If your baby is having issues, or you have concerns you should consult your pediatrician.  Otherwise, you can probably choose from one of the standard formula.

Whatever the formula you chose, you might want to consider its packaging.  According the folks at Environmental Working Group (ewg.org/babysafe)  powdered formula cans have the least BPA of any other packages.  According to the group, the ready to feed has the highest levels of BPA in the packaging.  They strongly recommend going with powdered formula.

Here is a great video from the group:

This is a video from the folks at Playtex who spoke to mother's about issues and solutions that they have encountered with bottle feeding. The panel of moms raised a lot of issues, though not all, that most new parents experience about bottle feeding.  So, I wanted to share the video and some solutions they discussed with you.

Much of the discussion focused on the advantages and disadvantages of the type of bottle (ie, the delivery system) that they used.  Although some had issues, most of the mom's indicated that they preferred bottles that had a disposable inner liner.  Most of the moms said they liked one of two things.  Either the disposable drop made cleaning bottles easier or that it reduced the amount of gas experienced by their child.

In case you don't know what they are talking about, these are the bottles that they are referring to

Playtex VentAire Bottle 9 oz.3pk.
You just put in a disposable liner (listed below) and feed.   Because you throw away the liner, all you have to clean is the nipple, not the bottle.  The liners are BPA free and they collapse so less air gets into little tummies.  This should reduce gas and, in turn, reduce crying and symptoms of colic.

Playtex Drop-In Disposable Bottle Liners - 4 oz - 100 count

Playtex Standard Bottle Liners 8 oz 140 count

Playtex Drop-In Disposable Bottle Liners - 8-10 oz - 100 count

Playtex Drop-Ins Pre-Formed Soft Bottle Liners, Expandable to 10 oz.

have previously posted about my concern over BPA and its health risks, as wells BPA free alternatives. Although the FDA has given the all-clear to BPA use, that decision is coming under significant fire.

Some members of Congress have questioned the FDA for hiring a private consulting group, with  ties  to the industry, to perform some of the analyses that went into the FDA's determination that BPA is safe.

More damning, in my opinion, is the FDA's own advisory board vote that finds the agency ignored critical evidence suggesting that a controversial plastic chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, could harm children.  The FDA's science board, a group of outside experts, voted unanimously to endorse a report that found major flaws in the agency's decision to declare BPA safe.  There are specific issues raised in connection with the study.

In light of the questions about the study and the history of drug recalls, after FDA approval, I continue to beleive that BPA free products are a better choice for our children.

In case you have not heard, Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is often used to make plastic, resin, and other products.  It is in a lot baby bottles, pacifiers, lining of food cans, and everywhere else.

There is currently a lot of debate going on whether BPA poses a health risk and, if so, how much.   The plastics industry says it is harmless. The government is investigating it, but are not recalling anything at this time.  In contrast, some scientists are saying that labratory studies are showing it causes an increased risk of certain cancers, fertility problems, and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems.  Some large retailers like Wal-Mart have pulled baby products containing the stuff.  Read article.

The problem is that BPA leeches into into baby formula from bottles we use.  Factors that increase this process are thought to be high temperature (eg, microwave, boiling water to heat) and harsh detergents.

Switching to glass bottles or other BPA free baby products eliminates this possible health risk.  My wife and I decided not to continue exposing our children to this potential harmful chemical, while we wait and see if it is really OK.

Some of the most common products we found that we could replace were baby bottles, pacifiers, and sippee cups.

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow(R) BPA Free Bottle 8 oz. 3-Pack
List Price: $14.95
All the health benefits of Dr. Brown's...plus the peace of mind of going BPA-free! Unlike conventional negative-pressure bottles, this positive-pressure bottle prevents air from entering baby's system, reducing the risk of colic and gas pain. (The difference? While conventional bottles mix air with formula, Dr. Brown's special vent allows milk to flow continuously and automatically, eliminating air bubbles.) Each 8 oz. bottle comes with one patented vent, one Level 1 nipple, cover, travel disc, and cleaning brush. All plastic parts are also BPA-free.

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow(R) BPA Free Bottle 8 oz.
List Price: $5.95
8 oz. bottle comes with one patented vent, one Level 1 nipple, cover, travel disc, and cleaning brush. All plastic parts are also BPA-free.

RazBaby - Keep-It-Kleen Pacifier Bundle, Fish/Airplane, BPA Free
Not only is it BPA free, it keeps the pacifier clean even when it hits the floor! The Keep-It-Kleen closes instantly when dropped.

RazBaby - Keep-It-Kleen Pacifier Bundle, Ladybug/Princess, BPA Free
Same BPA free, self-closing pacifier.  This is just in designs for girls.

RazBaby - Hands-Free Silicone Teething Pacifier, BPA Free
Get the hands-free teething pacifier that is all silicone!  NO BPA.

MAM - Boys' 5-oz. Bottles, 3-Pack, BPA Free
These MAM bottles feature a special vent and nipple design for less air intake, less gas and less colic.

Baby Einstein - Eat and Discover Infant Mealtime Set, BPA Free
This innovative feeding set is designed to meet the specific developmental needs of babies as they learn to eat solid food.

Thermos - Foogo Sippy Cup, Pink, BPA Free
Now you can keep foods and beverages safer and healthier longer by utilizing Thermax Vacuum Insulation technology.

Thermos - Foogo Sippy Cup, Blue, BPA Free
Thermax Vacuum Insulation technology.

Thermos - Funtainer Superman Bottle, BPA Free
Keep your drinks at the temperature you want with the "Funtainer" Superman bottle. It features the Thermax double wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention, hot or cold.

Thermos - Funtainer Batman Jar, BPA Free
Keep your food fresh with the "Funtainer" Batman jar. It features the Thermax double wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention, hot or cold.

The First Years Disney Cars Melamie Feeding Set, BPA Free
Disney Cars Feeding Set by The First Years. Have meals with wheels on dinnerware featuring the loveable Disney/Pixar Cars crew. Your child will love the colorful images. You'll love the tot-friendly design. The place setting includes a deep-sided bowl, sectioned plate and easy-grasp stainless steel spoon and fork. Dishwasher-safe.Y9354

The First Years Take & Toss 28-Piece Variety Pack, BPA Free
Tired of leaving behind your child's expensive feeding gear when you're out and about? This ingenious pack is filled with essentials that make it easy to feed your toddler while you're on the go. You'll find cups, bowls and flatware that are affordable enough to lose and durable enough to reuse over and over.

The First Years - Meal Mates Ariel Insulated 9 oz. Sippy Cup, 2-Pack, BPA Free
The Meal Mates' insulated Sippy Cup features a spill-proof valve built right into the lid so there are no extra pieces to lose. The double wall insulation keeps drinks cooler for longer.