Non-Toxic Baby Bottles (2023 Buyer’s Guide)

2.4K

New parents have plenty to be stressed over in 2021. Yes, it’s oh-my-gosh, out-of-this-world exciting to meet your baby. And there’s nothing quite like the deep emotion-heavy feelings of love, accomplishment, and joy that wash over when you officially become a parent and lay eyes on your child for the first time.

But shortly after that—if not before it—the stress and pressure starts to build.

There are a million and one new things you have to think about with a newborn, regardless of how well you’ve prepared in advance.

It’s a labor of love literally like no other.

One of your most important jobs  is making sure your baby stays safe and sound–and that means finding the right, non-toxic baby bottles to feed them with.

Unfortunately, zeroing in on the best non-toxic baby bottles can be a little more challenging than most people expect.

Sure, the market is filled with better options than at any other point in time. But there are still a lot of not so hot baby bottles filling shelves and online stores and sifting through them is a challenge.

Add in the stress of having a newborn and it’s not hard to feel unsure about your decisions.

That’s where this guide comes into play.

We’ll get into the ins and outs of why you might want to avoid “normal” baby bottles, why it is so important to choose non-toxic baby bottles, and what makes a top-quality non-toxic baby bottle.

Then we’ll break down great ready-to-buy choices to make research a little easier for you.

The Ugly Truth About (Most) Baby Bottles

For a long time the overwhelming majority of baby bottles available were made of plastic–particularly from the 1940s and 50s on.

Plastic baby bottles were seen to be a revolutionary new option compared to older, glass baby bottles.

They promised to be lightweight, easier to clean, less expensive, and generally just all around better than anything that the older, traditional glass baby bottles could have brought to the table.

Fast forward a few decades, though, and you get into the 90s and early 2000s when researchers started to look at some of the more harmful chemicals in traditional plastics.

One chemical in specific was found to be more dangerous than many others, and that’s Bisphenol A–usually shortened to BPA.

Unfortunately, researchers also found that almost every plastic baby bottle made (right from day one) contained a relatively high amount of this industrial chemical. On top of that, they discovered a number of other carcinogens, toxins, and potentially dangerous additives that were mixed right in, too.

Capable of doing a number on the biochemistry of adults, the impact that BPA has on babies and young children is even worse.

For starters, BPA has the ability to sort of “hijack” your natural hormone production–especially when it comes to estrogen.

This can affect a baby’s ability to grow and develop naturally and to enjoy normal cellular repair function, while depressing their energy levels, and even crippling their reproductive capabilities later on in life.

None of that’s good news.

Even worse is the fact that BPA can trigger a cascade of other hormonal reactions throughout the body of our babies. It can cause thyroid issues, is a known carcinogen, and generally just has no place in baby bottles.

Sadly, though, there are a lot of companies still making plastic baby bottles that are swimming in BPA.

They’re usually the least expensive options, so parents who are already on a tight budget with a new baby brought into the world tend to reach for these more often than not–especially if they don’t know how dangerous they can be.

Parents Should Strongly Consider Non-Toxic Baby Bottles

Thankfully, though, more and more companies are speaking out about the dangers of BPA, phthalates, and other toxins and carcinogens commonly found in baby bottles.

Not only are companies talking about these dangers and chemicals, but they’re taking steps to eliminate them completely from their products–while marketing them 100% BPA-free and 100% phthalate-free as well. (That’s pronounced ˈTHaˌlāt by the way.)

One of the most important reasons to choose non-toxic baby bottles is because your baby is going to be coming in contact with a bottle multiple times throughout the day.

And that contact is going to be happening with their little hands, their lips, and their mouths, creating something of a superhighway for BPA and other toxins to work their way into the bloodstream.

It doesn’t take a lot of exposure to wreak havoc, either. But I also don’t want to unduly alarm you—yes, plenty of babies use these so-called regular baby bottles and seem to be doing just fine. They’re also not outright outlawed, though regulations in the space are pretty lax. So it comes down to a personal choice. If your safety and health conscious for your baby, this is a great place to start. And why not?

Some researchers suggest that it only takes 23 mcg per pound of body weight to cause trouble, whereas others believe that number is even lower–sometimes as low as 4.5 mcg per pound of body weight.

When you’re talking about babies that often weigh less than 10 pounds (and certainly less than 20) it doesn’t take a lot of exposure to those chemicals to potentially cause problems.

Non-toxic baby bottles, on the other hand, pose little to none of any of these risks.

Instead you’re able to rest a lot easier knowing that your child is drinking from a bottle that isn’t going to cripple their short or long-term wellness.

Yes, costs are going to run a bit higher. But for many parents it’s well worth the extra expense.

What to Avoid In Baby Bottles

By choosing to toss regular baby bottles, you’re choosing to avoid some of the biggest risk factors that they very often include. Here are some of the biggest issues you’ll be steering clear of with this decision.

BPA

Perhaps most importantly, you won’t have to worry about any BPA ending up in the bloodstream of your baby when you go the non-toxic route.

As mentioned, BPA can throw the wellbeing and happiness of your baby through a loop–and it may not take too long to get things off track, either.

When you’re feeding your baby a handful of times a day–for 10, 15, maybe 20 minutes a session–that direct, extended contact is going to lead to BPA leaching.

Compound that over a couple of months and it’s a recipe for disaster.

By going the non-toxic bottle route, that’s avoided all together.

Phthalates

Non-toxic baby bottles also mean you’re going to be able to avoid getting your child mixed up with phthalates, too.

These chemical additives are found in almost every kind of plastic there is and have been linked to some pretty serious health issues in children.

Research suggests these problem can include:

• ADHD
• Asthma
• Autism Spectrum Issues
• Behavioral Problems
• Male Fertility Problems
• Neurodevelopmental Issues
• Obesity
• Type II Diabetes

The thing parents should remember is that most “regular” baby bottles are going to have BPA and/or phthalates in them.

What to Look for in Non-Toxic Baby Bottles

As far as what to look for in non-toxic baby bottles, you’ll want to focus your attention on:

1. Materials Matter

The material of the baby bottle you’re picking is the most important factor of all.

Like we mentioned earlier, the overwhelming majority of “regular” plastic baby bottles are going to include potentially toxic chemicals like BPA and phthalates.

Not all plastic baby bottles are filled with those, though.

100 percent BPA-free and 100 percent phthalate-free bottles do exist, and those you are going to want to be on the lookout for.

Just be sure to avoid any clear plastics that have a recycle symbol #7 on them, or those that have the letters “PC” stamped on the bottom.

Instead choose plastic bottles that are opaque or tinted as well as those that have recycle symbol #2 or #5.

You could also choose silicone, glass, or stainless steel baby bottles if you want to avoid the toxic issue altogether.

2. Bottle Shape is Important

Baby bottle shape is another big piece of the puzzle that you’ll want to get right.

You want something that offers just the right amount of capacity (small bottles are good for 4 ounces, larger bottles are between 8 and 12 ounces) without becoming cumbersome.

The age of your baby, the amount that they take during each feeding, and a handful of other factors will play a role in how big of a bottle you should use. This is something you’ll be able to dial in with a little more experience.

Generally, with a couple of 4 ounce baby bottles, you’ll be good to go.

Bottle shapes (standard, wide neck, and those designed to help babies with extra gassiness for colic) run the gamut. Find something that your baby likes and stick to it.

3. Don’t Forget About the Nipples

Nipple choice is hugely important, too.

Bottle nipples are most often made from latex and silicone, but they come in a bunch of different sizes and shapes. Orthodontic, angled, and vented shapes are pretty common–but you need to think about flow rates as well.

4. Is the Bottle Dishwasher Safe?

You don’t want to (or won’t be able to) spend too much time doing dishes on top of taking care of your newborn.

Get bottles that are dishwasher safe.

5. Is the Bottle Comfortable for Your Baby to Hold?

Choose baby bottles that your baby is going to be able to comfortably hold as they get older.

Ergonomics are something you’ll want to pay at least a little bit of attention to.

6. Does the Bottle Come with Extra Caps and Covers?

The more accessories your new baby bottles come with, the better. Shoot for baby bottles that have extra nipples, caps, and covers as they usually go missing first.

Nine of the Best Non-Toxic Baby Bottles

The non-toxic baby bottles highlighted above are well worth considering if you’re looking to avoid as many toxins as babily possible. Congratulations and good luck!