35 years after Elmer Foot Beat's hit song, plastic is no longer fantastic. Ubiquitous and almost impossible to filter, its microparticles, microplastics, are even finding their way into babies' bottles. To protect infants' health, Élhée explains how to avoid them.
SUMMARY :
- The invisible world of microplastics: what are they and where exactly do they come from?
- When science informs our choices: what studies on plastic baby bottles tell us
- What are the health risks for babies?
- Creating a protective cocoon: in practice, how to limit children's exposure?
- Élhee, from sensory innovation to informed parenting
The invisible world of microplastics: what are they and where exactly do they come from?
- Microplastics are suspended in the air , often resulting from the degradation of external elements (tarpaulins, construction materials, etc.) or synthetic fibers.
- In oceans, rivers and tap water , they come from waste and consumer products (cosmetics, food, etc.).
- Moreover, some cosmetics such as scrubs, creams and toothpastes, long contained plastic microbeads before their ban in France, starting in 2018 .
- They are also found in certain foods such as sea salt , seafood , or even bottled mineral water .
- Many clothes are made from synthetic fibers like polyester which release microparticles when worn or washed.
- Bags, packaging, toys, food nets, garden furniture, kitchen utensils, tools… All of these can break down into microplastics that scatter into the environment. Even plastic baby bottles (polypropylene PP) can release them.
Microplastics are present in water, food, and air , likely endangering the health of adults and babies, as well as biodiversity. This is why many researchers are trying to precisely define the extent of their effects.
When science informs our choices: what studies on plastic baby bottles tell us
Led by a team of researchers from Trinity College Dublin and published in the journal Nature Food in 2020, the study " Microplastics in hot water " revealed that polypropylene baby bottles release up to 16 million microplastics per liter of liquid , milk or water.
To reach this conclusion, scientists analyzed 10 types of plastic baby bottles , which in 2022 represented just under 60% of the global market . While all are affected by microplastics, the release of microplastics is greatest during the mixing of the formula.
According to their estimates, a 12-month-old infant could ingest up to 1.6 million microplastic particles per day in this way, solely through their baby bottles.
Although the study did not conclude that there was an immediate health risk, it highlights the lack of perspective on the long-term effects of this early exposure and puts forward various recommendations.
- If you sterilize the baby bottles, rinse them with cold water.
- Do not pour hot water directly into your baby's bottle.
- Do not heat the baby bottle in the microwave .
3 mechanisms of microplastic release in baby bottles
While microplastics are present in plastic baby bottles and in the water used to prepare them, certain times are more conducive to their release.
-
When you shake the milk in the bottle
When you prepare your baby's bottles, shaking them to mix the milk causes mechanical wear on the plastic surface . Microscopic particles then detach and end up in the milk. This phenomenon is more pronounced as the bottles get older and more fragile.
-
When you warm the baby bottle
When subjected to high temperatures during sterilization and/or regularly reheated, plastic degrades, becomes brittle , and more susceptible to releasing microplastics. Above 70°C, this process can be accelerated.
-
When you clean the baby bottle
Repeated use of the dishwasher, in particular, unsuitable cleaning products or hard brushes, leads to micro-cracks in the plastic , which can become starting points for the release of nano and microparticles of plastic.
What are the health risks for babies?
What science knows
- Numerous studies have detected microplastics in various human tissues , including the placenta, suggesting widespread contamination .
- PP plastic baby bottles can release up to 16 million microparticles per liter when preparing infant formula.
- Microplastics have been found in human breast milk according to studies published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM).
- The presence of microplastics has been detected in the meconium (first stools) of newborns , indicating prenatal exposure.
- Babies ingest proportionally more microplastics than adults due to their lower body weight and relatively higher consumption.
What science suggests
- Some studies indicate that ingesting microplastics can cause inflammation of the digestive system .
- Microplastics can contain or absorb chemicals, such as endocrine disruptors , that may interfere with the hormonal system.
- Microplastics could cross the blood-brain barrier , which is particularly permeable in infants.
- Nanoplastics (even smaller than microplastics) could penetrate cells and disrupt their normal functions.
What science doesn't yet know
- What is the body's tolerance threshold for the ingestion of microplastics?
- What are the long-term consequences for human health , and more specifically for infants?
- Are there natural mechanisms for eliminating microplastics in infants?
Faced with so many unanswered questions, for your baby's meals, choose a safe alternative, essential to limit exposure to these invisible contaminants.
Creating a protective cocoon: in practice, how to limit children's exposure?
Because nothing is more important than children's health, and because the baby bottle is the main entry point for microplastics into their bodies, start by banning conventional plastic baby bottles and food containers and opt for safe materials.
When preparing milk, pay attention to how you heat it: avoid using a microwave , as uneven heat can damage the plastic and promote the release of microplastics. Instead, opt for a bottle warmer, which preserves the milk's nutritional qualities and provides a safe and even temperature increase .
Also, if you didn't know, the High Council for Public Health no longer recommends sterilizing baby bottles.
Finally, before buying a new baby bottle, check that it meets certain safety standards (in particular the EN 14350 standard ) and find out, if you can, about the place and conditions of manufacture.
Similarly, a silicone pacifier is always preferable to latex models. And if it's ergonomically shaped , even better.
- 🍼 On that note, are you familiar with the advantages of medical-grade silicone ?
To go further, you can also filter the water used for preparing baby bottles (carbon filter, reverse osmosis water), regularly ventilate your home and the baby's room, opt for clothes and linen made of natural fibers (organic cotton, linen, wool) and why not, limit the use of plastic toys, especially for outdoor use, which are easily damaged.
Alternatives to plastics: a tactile and safe exploration
Fortunately, research and innovation also work in the field of childcare. Therefore, various alternatives exist to make it easier to give up plastic baby bottles.
Glass: healthy, but fragile
Glass baby bottles are a healthy alternative that releases neither microplastics nor chemicals. Easy to clean, they are durable… but not drop-proof. Despite the existence of reinforced or silicone-coated models, the risk of breakage and injury remains a major deterrent for most parents.
Stainless steel: robust, but cold
Stainless steel is strong, durable, and unbreakable; moreover, it doesn't retain odors or tastes. However, it feels cold to the touch , and some infants are uncomfortable with its opacity. It is also more expensive and often less common in baby stores.
Medical-grade silicone: a promising avenue
Meanwhile, medical-grade silicone continues to win over more and more families. Flexible, lightweight, unbreakable, and soft to the touch , it reassures both parents and babies. Resistant to heat and freezing, it is 100% safe, free of BPA (Bisphenol A) and microplastics, and can withstand drops. It's worth noting that medical-grade silicone is the standard for many pacifiers.
Élhee, from sensory innovation to informed parenting
Of course, Élhée teats are made of medical-grade silicone, but not only that. Our entire range – bottles , training cups , sippy cups , and also pacifiers (the Choochoo pacifier is the first pacifier made entirely of medical-grade silicone in one piece ) – is made of medical-grade silicone , for your peace of mind and for the health of your babies .
Non-allergenic and perfectly suited for food contact , without chemicals that could spread and transformed by a peroxide-free platinum catalysis process, for the absence of plastic microparticles, medical silicone is safe for your baby .
In this way, Élhée is committed to all parents looking for products that respect their children's health . But that's not all. Made in France , assembled, packaged, and shipped from the Drôme region, the Bib Ronds arrive in FSC-certified packaging, printed with vegetable-based ink.
Driven by taste and a love of sensory experience, we've chosen to reimagine everyday baby care. Gentler and more poetic, it seamlessly integrates into your life. Élhée: products designed for babies' well-being, meticulously crafted to support your parenting journey with complete confidence.
For the health of babies and for peaceful parenting
At Élhée, we value informed, guilt-free parenting . Because being a parent involves many decisions, we position ourselves as a reliable guide, a trusted brand, and the creators of high-quality products.
Because some topics, such as microplastics, may cause you concern, and because being informed offers the possibility of conscious choices, we also rely on transparency.
Our products are not simply objects, but sensory mediators designed to healthily nourish the precious moments when the bond of attachment is woven.
call-to-action-baby bottles
