All bottle-feeding moms want the best non-toxic baby bottles for their babies, whether the bottles are is filled with breastmilk or formula or even water. Here’s how to make sure you’re using truly non-toxic baby bottles.
1. Avoid Plastic Baby Bottles (including “BPA-free” ones!)
Plastic bottles are tempting—they are inexpensive, readily available, lightweight, and hard to break. But plastic leeches chemicals, some of which are known endocrine disruptors (hello, BPA!).
Don’t be fooled by “BPA-free” labels. BPA-free plastics that contain BPA substitutes like BPS are possibly just as bad, if not worse. Bottom line: If you want non-toxic baby bottles, you’ll never be buying any kind of plastic.
2. Choose Glass or Stainless Steel Baby Bottles
The safest baby bottle material is probably glass. Glass bottles won’t leech anything into milk or formula. Whenever possible, choose glass for breast milk storage, too.
Food-grade stainless steel is a close second to glass. Stainless steel bottles are lighter and less breakable than glass. We love Pura Kiki infant bottles because they are totally plastic-free, come in two sizes (5 oz and 11 oz), are available insulated and non-insulated, and can be converted into bottles for toddlers, kids, and adults.
3. Silicone Baby Bottles Are Okay
Silicone baby bottles are better than plastic, but probably not as safe as glass or stainless steel; research on the safety of silicone is relatively limited. We do know that silicone may leech at very low and high temperatures, so you might consider skipping silicone bottles for hot liquids and avoid putting them in the freezer. I like the Comotomo Natural Feel silicone bottle. (Note: (These silicone bags are better than storing breast milk in plastic.)
4. Don’t Forget the Nipples
Food-grade silicone is probably the safest, most durable and hygienic material for baby bottle nipples. A close second is natural rubber nipples from a credible company like Hevea or Natursutten. Definitely skip synthetic latex nipples (like these by Gerber), which can contain a number of concerning additives.
Because my babies rarely drank from bottles, I can’t recommend a favorite in terms of efficacy. That’s why I need you guys to comment below on your favorites glass, stainless steel, and silicone baby bottles and nipples–please do so below!
Stay sane,
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Mel says
I use plastic at daycare but try to use glass at home. The avent specifically. I like to make them hot/warm tea with milk so for that reason I don’t like stainless.
For my next kid I will be more strict about no plastic as I know a little better. But I still use a plastic sippy cup for my oldest and her Warm (chamomile) tea with milk in the morning and I do need to figure out a switch she will tolerate. For now I make the tea in a cup and pour half a cup of cold milk in the sippy then add the hot liquid.
For my next one coming soon I’ll stock up on glass. What’s the cheapest bottle that’s glass?
Suzanne Weaver-Goss says
Hi Mel,
Good for you getting away from plastic. As you know we offer the Pura Bottle which is stainless steel. https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/pura-kiki-stainless-steel-infant-bottle-5oz/ The prices of glass bottles fluctuate so I am not sure what the cheapest one is. Perhaps sometime in the near future we will offer glass bottles.
Joy says
I hope all will consider lead when choosing ANY bottle, sippy cup or feeding tool for their children. Tamara Rubin has done quite a bit of independent lead testing and Pura Kiki has tested positive many times: https://tamararubin.com/category/pura-kiki/
As have quite a few glass bottles: https://tamararubin.com/?s=baby+bottle
Always good to cross reference as many resources as one can find. Unfortunately, just because something is glass or stainless doesn’t mean it is lead or cadmium free which makes a product made from silicone or even plastic (assuming they are lead free) sometimes a better choice if they are your only options, In my opinion.
Maia James says
You can see our response to Tamara’s concerns in this post: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/sippy-cups/