Born Free BPA Free Bottle Review

After the recent media attention BPA received I decided that I should consider changing the type of bottle that I was using with my daughter. Though there still seems to be some question as to the potential harm to humans, I felt that it would be prudent to dump the old BPA laden bottles in favor of the supposed healthier ones.

Finding BPA free bottles was easy with Amazon using the simple search string “bpa free bottles”. Born Free caught my attention right away. It seems rather laughable, but I somehow associate the word “Free” with “Organic” or just generally good for babies—like “No Preservatives” or “No Additives”. Also, on the outside the bottles appeared quite similar to the Avent bottles I was already using. You see, I was fearful that my daughter would have an issue switching bottles.

Making the decision to go BPA free was easy, but the price was difficult. Not only were they Free, but they were expensive too. $2o plus shipping! I guess there’s a price to pay for quality BPA free bottles. The cost doesn’t end there; you can only purchase them with stage 1 nipples, so if your child is 12 months old like mine, then you will probably need to pick up some stage 3 nipples which go for anywhere between $6.95 to $19.95 for two. This route is unnecessary as a small crosscut appears to work just fine (see below).

Overall,

I am pleased with the construction quality of the bottles. They are durable, but safe (until the next study). At 12 months old, my daughter is well past her colic stage (Thank God), but if she was still having issues, then I imagine this bottle would help. It has a rather unique venting system that prevents leaks, but allows air to enter. What this also means is more parts—not counting the nipple cover the bottle consists of 5 parts that all need washing. My wife wants me to add that if you do not use the inner valve then the bottle will leak.

Hmm…I just noticed that when my daughter is drinking her milk the valve acts as an aerator, creating an immense amount of bubbly drinkie. Perhaps it is not so good for a gassy girl.

BPA—Bisphenol A

Me Worry? Should I be worried about the recent attention bispenol A has received in the media? Only if I am the chemist who is manufacturing it. Or, if I am selling products that contain it. I am not overly concerned, but I am a bit irritated.

First off, if you do not know what BPA is, there is a good chance that you do not have young children. In that case, it is a common plastic additive typically found in baby bottles like Avent and canned food liners. Apparently, it is the not-so-secret ingredient that gives us the clear, hard break resistant plastic known as polycarbonate. Studies, that I have not read, report that BPA can leech from polycarbonate bottles into whatever liquid it contains. This appears especially true after the bottle heats up in, say, a dishwasher or bottle sterilizer. Since BPA acts as hormone blocker and has estrogen-like properties it can cause cancer and early onset of puberty (at least in lab rats and probably only in California).

WHAT!! Wait a BPA second. I already do not want my daughter to date anyone before she turns 30. Now I have to worry about her starting puberty when she is six. Think of the possibilities…her 1 in 4 chance of getting an STD at the age of 14 has moved to the age of 8 or 9. I am reasonably certain that my parenting skills will prevent this from happening, but come on. And what about my son? When will he have to start wearing a manzier? I can only imagine the torment that he will receive.

My trombone playing colleague suggests that I worry too much, implying that perhaps my worry will lead to some future health problem. I disagree. Yes, I am concerned, but I am not losing sleep over this. When something such as BPA comes my way it acts much like a hotel wakeup call.
I could choose to answer the call and go back to sleep, thinking about how my parents once held seemingly innocuous mercury in their hands, or I can get up and change. I choose change.

My daughter has been drinking milk out of her BPA laden bottles for over a year, so I did not rush right out looking for a healthier plastic. I took time to examine the options that Amazon presented to me. For whatever reason, I stuck with plastic. I guess because I am not real worried. Some parents will choose not to change. That’s fine. I’d just rather not take the risk.

In the end, I purchased two different brands of BPA free bottles. One was a bit more expensive than the other, but both are apparently safe. Born Free is costlier and has a close resemblance to Avent. Sassy has its own unique look, but is considerably cheaper. Or, if you are not afraid of broken glass there are these chic bottles from Momo Baby.