Like all parents, you want the best for your child. And when baby's tummy aches and wiggles after every feeding: the first thing to do is of course to buy a anti-colic feeding bottle.
But did you know that not all feeding bottles are created equal? If you've read our other articles, you'll know that most bottles in circulation have :
- features,
- shapes,
- and texture.
Anti-colic feeding bottles: which materials are dangerous for your baby?
Although new laws have been passed in the last two decades to protect the health of the population, it's worth remembering that some baby bottles, designed BEFORE these laws were passed, are still available to parents.
The second-hand market is the main reason for this.
→ What are the hazardous materials that really make up a bottle, anti-colic or not?
→ What are the risks if your baby ingests them?
→ And how can you prevent them as early as possible?
As usual, Élhée takes stock and helps you implement the healthiest solutions for your baby!
Bisphenol A: a toxic component for health
Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is a toxic component that has been banned from baby bottles in France since 2010, following numerous studies demonstrating the consequences of repeated ingestion. However, it is still found in :
- inside soda and beer cans,
- in cans metal
- and inplasticbottles ...
Bisphenol A spreads more easily through food when subjected to temperatures in excess of 30 degrees. So, when you give your baby a bottle of formula or breastmilk defrosted, you obviously take care to warm itup to make it taste even better. So it's important to make sure that the bottle you use is totally BPA-free.
Phthalates: invisible and less and less present in baby food
Phthalates are used in the manufacture of plastic materials such as cellophane and cling film. They are dreaded endocrine disruptors, which also affect fertility in both men and women. They can also affect the cardiovascular system.
Fortunately, phthalates and their resurgence in foodstuffs are subject tostrict analysis and standards which food manufacturers have to comply with. So it's now very rare to find phthalates in food, invisible to the naked eye.
However, some foods may be contaminated with phthalates. Tap water, although treated in wastewater treatment plants, can carry pollutants and heavy metals. Hence the importance of filtering water before giving it to your child!
The reason for this pollution? The cast-ironpipes, often old, which carry the water to your tap.
To improve the quality of your water and give it to your child with complete peace of mind, remember to protect yourself:
- with ascrew-on filter directly on your mixer tap
- or with a filtration fountain in stainless steel.
Beware of plastic filter jugs, which carry BPA!
Polypropylene: a harmless component of your anti-colic feeding bottle?
In a study carried out at Dublin University in 2020, it was found that for every bottle of milk prepared and heated, up to 10 million plastic microparticles were released per liter of milk!
These are worrying figures when you consider how fragile babies' immune systems are. You don't need to be premature for that!
The study nevertheless points out that, at this stage of our scientific knowledge, it is not possible to say whether or not there is a risk to our children's health. And that the possibility of this plastic content being entirely excreted by babies cannot be ruled out.
In order to limit the spread of polypropene in babies' milk preparations, however, it is recommended that no longer sterilize baby bottles, since this sterilization phase accentuates the spread of plastic micro-particles.
Pitfalls to avoid when choosing an anti-colic feeding bottle
To avoid endangering your baby's health, and even though fewer and fewer baby bottles containing harmful substances are on the market, it's best to be familiar with all the applicable recommendations:
Beware of second-hand anti-colic bottles!
As the law abolishing the manufacture of baby bottles containing BPA was only passed in 2010, it's best not to turn too much to the second-hand market and risk acquiring a baby bottle that predates that year.
Similarly, it's not a good idea to pick up the old bottles with which you yourself were bottle-fed for nostalgia's sake, even though it seems to make baby's grandparents very happy...
Beware of plastic baby bottles
Generally speaking, according to the study we summarized above, plastic feeding bottles are the most likely to release plastic micro-particles into baby's food.
So what can you do?
When we know that the majority of anti-colic bottles on the market are made of plastic, and that glass bottles can be too heavy for your little one to hold, and that they are also more likely to break easily?
Anti-colic bottle: the medical-grade silicone bottle solution!
If you're a regular visitor to the Elhée website, you'll already know the solution!
Using a medical-grade silicone feeding bottle not only stimulates your baby's senses, but also protects you from most plastic microparticles.
Unlike a glass bottle, Elhée's innovative bibRonds :
- are unbreakable and safer for your child
- are easy for your babyto hold during feedings
- are ultra-light
What's more, they're odorless, which could upset baby and hinder yourweaning attempts, for example .
At Elhée, we advocate the choice of a medical-grade silicone bottle, because of its many advantages. But if you find it hard to get used to its silky texture or itsultra-trendy design, you're on your own!
In this case, you can opt for other bottle materials, such as glass bottles, which have the advantage of not generating plastic micro-particles, provided you have a teat made from medical-grade silicone or natural rubber.
If, despite reading this article, you still think that a plastic bottle is best for your child, make sure that the packaging is marked "BPA-free", "phthalate-free".
Things to remember
If you're looking for an anti-colic feeding bottle, check that its composition respects your baby's health. Many chemical compounds such as BPA and phthalates are responsible for health problems among the world's population every year. A medical-grade silicone bottle offers the advantage of not spreading plastic micro-particles into your baby's diet.
