Updated for 2019!
Some babies drink from a bottle 5 -10 times a day. That's a whole lot! But a lot of bottles are made from plastic. We rounded up some safe glass and stainless steel baby bottles. Read about why plastic BPA free bottles do not mean exactly what you think they mean.
Why some plastic options are okay and what the alternatives are if you're not into plastic.
First of all, hats off to you for bringing forth and sustaining a life with your body! We salute you!
And, if you've managed to figure out your breast pump, a pumping schedule, and bottle feeding, then you deserve all the props in the world. Now, you have nutritious breast milk for your little one while you sleep, go to work, or go out on the town (gasp!). If you are curious about how to safely store, freeze, and defrost your liquid gold, we've got you covered.
Advice and 3 Simple Recipes from Pediatrician Dr. Julia Getzelman
Did you see that thing about there being lead and arsenic in baby food pouches and packaged snacks? What about the one where there's RoundUp (or glyphosate) on cereals and oatmeal? It takes long enough to get your kids strapped in their highchair, so you probably don't have time to do tons of research on which brands and products are safe. Not sure about you, but that's definitely not happening in my house. Don't worry! That's why we sat down with Dr. Julia Getzelman, MD, integrative pediatrician and founder of GetzWell Personalized Pediatrics in San Francisco, to get her advice on what to feed your kids. She gave us some of her best tips and even a couple of recipes, and we are going to share them with you.
Are you trying to get your baby to take a bottle? We know the struggle. And, while we don't want to make the process any more difficult, we have some tips for using healthier and safer baby bottles for your little one.
First off, we know plastic baby bottle are convenient and cheap. You can buy them everywhere, they don't weigh a lot, and when baby throws them (because they will) you don't have to worry about them breaking or making a huge amount of noise. And, pretty much all of them have a sticker now saying BPA-free. That has to be good, right?
It's a good habit to get into, plus it will reduce toxic chemicals
We know that balancing your baby over the sink or corralling your toddler onto the step stool to wash their hands is not an easy task. Sigh... is anything about parenting easy?
Even if it's noon and you haven't managed to leave the house, it's still a good idea to wash your kiddo's hands before they start eating. Of course it's an especially good idea to prevent colds and for obvious dirt and grime from playing in the sand box. But it's also a good idea because a common place people don't often realize they are being exposed to contaminants and potential toxics is in their household dust. We know, gross!
Alternatives to plastic dishes and spoons for your growing kiddos
Yay solids! It's so exciting to introduce your baby to food. When the time is right, we rounded up some safe baby-friendly dishes, spoons, and baby food storage containers. Fingers crossed they eat ALL the things!
So, we did some digging and have good news
Pouches for baby food seem to be a big trend now. They are light weight, less messy (at least in theory), and the kids can figure out how to eat them on their own pretty quickly. On the other hand, they are also made of plastic, and might seem like a toy or art material instead of food. So, what's the deal with baby food pouches?
Just like our recommendations for baby bottles and reusable water bottles, these sippy cups and bottles with straws are durable, super cute, and great investment for your kid's health.
