simple + green

I just bought some replacement nipples for our Born Free bottles and realized that they would be a good one to discuss.

Like most parents, we’re often overloaded with information about raising our kids, risks, options. As Green parents of 2+ year old twin boys, we’re highly tuned to choices.

Here is what we know:

1. Conventional plastic bottles often contain Bisphenol-A.

2. Studies have shown that these are detrimental to our health, and actually leach out of the container and into whatever food or liquid it has been in contact with. Not the kind of things we should give kids (not to mention ourselves).

3. Buying Bisphenol-A free bottles is one major way to avoid this.

While glass bottles are one option, those with kids know that plastic ones are overall safer (and lighter). BornFree makes this a no-brainer by providing eco-friendly plastic baby bottles. In their words:

Most major U.S. baby bottle manufacturers use the chemical Bisphenol-A in their production.

BornFree™ is made from a safe honey-colored plastic called PES (Polymer) that is free of Bisphenol-A.

So what exactly is Bisphenol-A (BPA)? Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic. Sounds a little harsh.

Should we be worried by its presence in our containers? According to sources such as The Green Guide: yes.

Depending on whom you talk to, BPA is either perfectly safe or a dangerous health risk. The plastics industry says it is harmless, but a growing number of scientists are concluding, from some animal tests, that exposure to BPA in the womb raises the risk of certain cancers, hampers fertility and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems such as hyperactivity.

Here are other BPA facts:
* BPA has been found to migrate, under some conditions, from polycarbonate plastic water bottles.
* The most commonly encountered uses of this chemical are in plastic water and baby bottles, food and beverage can linings and dental sealants.
* BPA has been found to leach from bottles into babies’ milk or formula; it migrates from can liners into foods and soda and from epoxy resin-lined vats into wine; and it is found in the mouths of people who’ve recently had their teeth sealed.
* Some scientists have discovered that BPA disrupts hormones in laboratory settings.

Definitely scary stuff for everyone, mostly for pregnant women and children, due to their rapid rate of development.

For parents with young kids, we have choices:
* Use a Sigg bottle to drink from, buy them for your kids. We’re a family of happy Sigg users!
* If your child/children are young enough to still use bottles, use BornFree. We’ve been customers of their for over 2 years now, and are so glad to have found them. Besides being BPA-free, BornFree bottles are also made without PVC, another highly unhealthy plastic.

BornFree products are available at stores such as Whole Foods, Babies R Us, Diapers.com. Sigg bottles are likewise available at Whole Foods.

Both BornFree and Sigg are highly endorsed by simple+green!