4. Silicone Baby Bottles Are Okay
My bottle-feeding friends love silicone baby bottles because they are lightweight, durable, and flexible. In terms of safety, silicone bottles are better than plastic, but probably not as safe as glass or stainless steel.
Research on silicone’s safety is relatively limited, but do know that silicone may leech at very low and very high temperatures. You might consider skipping silicone bottles for hot liquids and avoid putting them in the freezer.
Bottom line: Silicone baby bottles are a safer alternative to plastic bottles, but may leech at extreme temperatures.
5. Don’t Forget the Nipples
When possible, we prefer natural rubber nipples from a credible company like Natursutten. Food-grade silicone is also a durable and hygienic material for baby bottle nipples. Definitely skip synthetic latex nipples (like these by Gerber), which can contain a number of concerning additives.
Bottom line: Use bottle nipples made of natural rubber or medical-grade silicone.
6. Gimme-Approved Best Non Toxic Baby Bottles
It’s easy to become overwhelmed when researching the best non toxic baby bottles. Even the most inert material in the world–glass!–can be contaminated with lead when it is painted upon. And as more tests emerge, brands that you would think make super safe bottles are turning out to be the very ones you should avoid.
We hope this post has helped make baby bottle shopping easier. But if you still feel confused, don’t worry. We’ve done the research for you!
When we considered all factors and testing available, we came up with the following seven brands that we feel are the best non toxic baby bottles out there. (These are listed in alphabetical order, not order of preference!)
- Comotomo silicone bottles
- Evenflo glass bottles
- Haakaa glass bottles
- LifeFactory glass bottles
- Natursutten glass bottles
- Pura stainless steel bottles
Bottom Line: The Best Non Toxic Baby Bottles
If I were buying baby bottles now, I would try LifeFactory (glass), Pura (stainless steel), and/or Comotomo (silicone).
Because my babies rarely drank from bottles, I can’t recommend a favorite in terms of performance. So I need you guys to comment below on your favorites glass, stainless steel, and silicone baby bottles and nipples.
26 comments
Sonia
Question! You don’t explain why stainless steel is a close second to glass and I am curious to know where stainless steel lags. I am mostly curious because I would be so afraid of the glass breaking and also since it is so heavy the baby, I assume, wouldn’t be able to begin to hold it as early as they would be able to because it is so heavy.
Thanks!Anne
Maia, I’m in the same daycare situation—we have to use plastic—and am also needed by to store that milk in the freezer. What do you recommend?
Maia James
what a great idea!
Crystal
A previous discussion on this topic referenced Mason Bottles. You use a regular mason jar and buy the silicone nipples. They are fantastic. Can go in the freezer. Most other glass bottles use plastic nipples.
Amy
I love the Evenflo classic glass bottles….well I should say my 6 month old loves them…lol. We have them in both 4oz and 8 oz size and they work great. Very affordable! and their slim profile makes it easier to stack in the cabinet. I also love the life factory ones with the silicone sleeves for daycare.
Kristin
I really wanted to do glass bottles with baby #2, but daycare said it was against DHS policy to have glass bottles, so we went with the silicone Comotomo. They work great for breastfed babies. My son didn’t get a bottle until he was 4 months old, and it took him a week at daycare before he would take one. We borrowed several different kinds from friends, and Comotomo was the only one he would take. He pretty much never gets a bottle at home, but if he did, I would use the glass Mason bottle (basically a mason jar with a nipple on top).
For the nipples, just keep in mind that a breastfed baby does not necessarily need a faster flow nipple as he gets older. Mom’s nipples don’t change, so no need to change the bottle nipple!