All you moms listen up! As I have started to buy bottles to get ready for our baby I have found some very good information on the plastics issues. I was first warned of this by my mother in law then just last week a sister in our ward spoke to it. The information. . .
90% of government funded studies found significant adverse effects that include: early onset of puberty, and stimulation of mammary gland development in females- changes in gender specific behavior
- changes in hormones (related to increased risk for cancer)
- increased prostate size
- decreased sperm production
- altered immune function
- behavioral effect including hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning and other changes in behavior
Canada has already pulled all of the defective products from there shelves and recalled much of the product. The US has decided to allow all products to fade out. However, they have know of the problem (as far as I found documents) since 2003. Apparently it takes longer than 5 years to change.
Plastics to Avoid for baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles and Tupperware
- Any that say #3, 6, 7, V, PS, OTHER on the bottom on the plastic
- Anything that is Polycarbonate
- Bottles to Avoid: Advent, Dr. Browns, Evenflow (clear) First Years, Playtex, Vent Aire, Sassy, TupperCare (this is a list from a few years ago so if they have changed there plastic it may be fine but if not get rid of them, I know that I'm returning my Advent bottles to Target because they are still using PC)
- Sippy Cups to Avoid: Gerber Susy Zoo and Sippy Snaker, Gerber soft starter
- Use #1 and #2 plastic bottles once then dispose
- Most hard clear plastics are made of PC so avoid those unless they state that they are made with non-polycarbonate product
Safer Alternative
- Any plastic that is labeled #1, #2, PETE, HDPE (for one time use) or #4, #5 , LDPE, PP(for multiple use)
- Don't heat liquids in plastics (easier said than done but as least use the safer plastic when you have to or if you baby will on take a PC bottle heat in another container and transfer)
- Soft plastic bottles that are colored or opaque.
What to Do
- Well that is up to you but the sister in my ward called Gerber spoke to them. They said they would refund her money for all the Gerber bottles she owned. Tis is her 5 child so some of them she has had for a while. You might try it as well!
Sorry for the long post but I thought maybe you could all use a starting place to make you decision. I know that someone else starting the research for me helped a lot. Good Luck-let me know if anyone gets a response from any of the manufactures.
