Dr. Brown’s bottles, anyone???

[Anonymous]

I bought Dr. Brown’s bottles b/c they are supposed to reduce gas/colic and were suggested by my dr. Now we find out that the bottles, when heated/washed in hot water and with soap, release a chemical that’s been linked to cancer…What the —- Now they’re suggesting glass bottles. What do you ladies think? Switch or leave it alone? I kind of feel guilty of letting this go knowing that it can’t be that good for Ariella.

Parenting is getting more and more frustrating. Don’t eat this, don’t do that, don’t go there…otherwise your child will get sick. What happened to just “let mommy fix the boo boo”???

[Anonymous]

Marianna,

It’s a hard decision. We just had a recent thread on this report that was released. The chemical they’re talking about bisphenol A is present in our drinking water, bath water, and our blood. It’s present in all plastics to some degree, and all plastic bottles, not just Dr. Brown’s. This chemical hasn’t been directly linked to cancer in human models, just lab rats. Also, the methodology they used was quite exaggerated.

I’ll bump the thread for you. The initial portion contains both a link to the report, as well as some discussion, and towards the end, the other viewpoint is presented.

Good luck in your decision. We are still using Dr. Brown’s, but have stopped putting them in the dishwasher (since you don’t need to sterilize after a few months anyhow) and will replace them as they wear.

[Anonymous]

I just found this article:

A new study by an environmental group has parents on edge after researchers found some popular baby bottles leach potentially harmful levels of a toxic chemical known to link developmental, neural, and reproductive problems.

The Environment California Research and Policy Center found that the plastic material used in the bottle breaks down through use and releases bisphenol A into liquids and foods.

Five brands of bottles were tested: Avent, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex. All five leached bisphenol A at levels “found to cause harm in numerous laboratory animal studies,” said Environment California spokeswoman Rachel Gibson.

Bisphenol A has been linked by scientists to cancers, impaired immune function, early onset of puberty, obesity, diabetes and hyperactivity, Gibson said.

Prior to the release of the study, members of the National Institutes of Health reviewed the data. They are expected to meet next week to review the issue.

Meanwhile, the chemicals industry says this week’s report is simply a rehash of an old controversy and also said the test used by Environment California Research and Policy Center was flawed.

“The bottles were heated with water for 24 hours at 80 degrees centigrade, hardly relevant conditions for how baby bottles are actually used,” Steven Hentges, executive director of the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group of the American Chemistry Council. “Had the bottles been tested under relevant use conditions, as has been done by many other researchers, the level of bisphenol A would have been much lower if detected at all.”

The Institute for Agriculture has some recommendations for concerned parents. Click here for the group’s safe plastics guide.

Experts recommend parents avoid polycarbonate plastic baby bottles and “sippy” cups. Safer alternatives for both are bottles and/or “sippy” cups made of polypropylene or polyethylene.

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Bottles to Avoid
Avent
Dr. Brown’s
Evenflo (clear)
First Years
Gerber
Playtex Vent Aire
TupperCare

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“Sippy” Cups to Avoid
Gerber Suzy’s Zoo & Sippy Snacker
Playtex First Sipster & Sparkling Sipster

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Safer Alternatives – Bottles
(non-polycarbonate examples)
Evenflo glass or pastel polyethylene plastic
Gerber polypropylene opaque plastic
Medela breastmilk polypropylene storage bottles and polyethylene milk storage bags
Disposable bottle systems with polyethylene plastic inserts (e.g., Playtex Nurser, Playtex Drop-Ins)

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Safer Alternatives – “Sippy” Cups
Avent Magic Cup
Evenflo cups (inner lining)
First Years Take & Toss
Gerber Color Change, Sport Fun Grip & Soft Starter
Playtex Sipster, Big Sipster & Quick Straw

[Anonymous]

There was another thread on this, I think it’s in “general feeding” issues. It’s a tough question, but I’ve decided to continue with Dr Brown’s too, although I did buy new ones as mine were starting to show a little wear. I’m also not putting them in the dish washer anymore either. It did seem like the circumstances were a little extreme in the experiment, not your usual everyday conditions.

I did find glass evenflo bottles at babies r us the other day if you are interested in those, they were only about $4.99 for 3.

[Anonymous]

I used Dr Brown’s early on and swear by them. After reading all the views on the other post I decided simply to replace my avent (they were also showing wear and tear) and treat them better (no more harsh scrubbing and dishwashing). So in answer to your questions i’ve decided to “leave it alone” and just treat my bottle better

[Anonymous]

They also sell a “scratchless bottle brush” at, I believe, The Right Start, which I’m sure would help cut down on wear & tear. I haven’t been able to find it at Babies R Us or Target, but I’m sure you can find it on line too!

[Anonymous]

I’ve been looking for a scratchless brush but couldn’t find one. Thanks for the tip.

[Anonymous]

i saw another mom ask this.. on the other thread.

but.. does anyone know if the nuby sippys are o.k?

[Anonymous]

I think I’m the one who asked it, but I don’t thinki anyone knew the answer! I guess if we treat it the same as the bottles (no dishwasher etc), it should be ok!

[Anonymous]

I too use Dr Brown bottles with Reidun and love them! So far they are the only bottles she will take (she gets 2 bottles a day, 4 days a week when I am working)! Due to the new findings, I ordered some glass bottles. I hope we will still be able to use the same Dr Brown insides with the new glass bottle outsides. I’ll let you know if this works and all the pieces work together. I’m crossing my fingers

[Anonymous]

I tried that. I think might work, but the straw thingy is a little long so it sits on an angle in the glass bottle. (The Dr. Brown’s bottles are taller than standard bottles). I’m not sure if the bent straw effects the function of the Dr. Brown parts or not, though. I guess you could cut off a part of the straw to make it a little shorter. Then I think it would work just fine.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Christine! It should be easy enough to cut, as long as the top parts fit together 🙂

[Anonymous]

I understand that I don’t need to sterilize the bottles anymore but what happens when I warm the milk??? Isn’t it heating the bottle?

[Anonymous]

I normally make each bottle as I need it, so I warm the water in a glass in the microwave, then transfer it to the bottle and mix from there. You could do the same with the formula if you have it premixed, just have 1 glass you only use for her formula, warm it in that however you warm it, then transfer to the bottle. If you use a bottle warmer, I’m sure you could find a regular glass that would fit in it, or you could get a glass baby bottle to do all the warming/storing in, then transfer to tghe Dr Brown’s when she’s ready to eat.

[Anonymous]

That’s what I did, store, heat and mix in glass bottles or glasses and the pour into Dr. Brown bottles. Kind of PITA, but worth it.

[Author]

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