Feeding Baby Better (And Avoiding Toxic Bottles)
BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUE
Much of what is at stake with feeding baby goes back to the discussion on toxic plastics. Quite a fervor was caused when the group Environment California released a recent report entitled, “Toxic Baby Bottles” which showed that bisphenol-A (BPA) was leaching from baby bottles. And not just some baby bottles, but the 5 leading brands. Under regular use, such as dishwashing and heating, the bottles leached BPA at levels thought to be harmful to babies and young children. BPA mimics the hormone estrogen and may interfere with ovulation and reproduction as well as brain-cell development.
TOXIC BABY BOTTLES
Babies who use plastic bottles or sippy cups from polycarbonate (which include most bottles and sippy cups!) are being exposed. “Babies who used the bottles we tested could be exposed to a bisphenol-A dose 40 times higher than that conservative definition of safety,” says Consumer Reports who advises parents to dispose of all polycarbonate baby bottles. San Francisco, following a European Union ban, has prohibited the sale, distribution, and manufacture of baby products containing any level of BPA.
BREASTFEEDING IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE
Bottles aren’t the only risk factor. Another watchdog group, Environmental Working Group, found ALL liquid formulas that it tested to contain BPA.
Breastfeeding is an environmental issue. Formula is hard on the environment and harder on a baby than breastfeeding. The 550 million cans of formula sold for U.S. babies would circle the earth one and half times, says a recent article by Mothering editor Peggy O’Mara. And the energy consumed in making, transporting, and marketing formula (often between countries and back) is staggering. Breastfeeding, besides being great for the baby, is also great for the economy. Mothering sites a study that puts the cost savings to the U.S. of breastfeeding to exceed $1.3 billion a year.
SOLID FOODS
When you begin solids, remember organic is essential for a baby. “Children's developing immune, central-nervous, and hormonal systems are especially vulnerable to damage from toxic chemicals,” says Consumer Reports. As well, baby food is often made up of condensed fruits and vegetables potentially concentrating pesticide residue. Pesticides have also been shown to cross the placenta. “It pays to buy organic food for baby as often as possible,” recommends Consumer Reports.
THE GOAL
- Breastfeed as long as possible (at least one year; The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years).
- Teach your child to use a small adult cup.
- If and when you have to use bottles, use glass.
- If you have to use formula, consider making your own. (Yes! There was life before formula. Here are some websites with recipes: www.westonaprice.org, www.mercola.com, www.kidsorganics.com. REMEMBER: Soymilk and rice milk aren’t fit for babies under one year old and straight cow’s milk isn’t enough alone and can be hard to digest for babies. Make sure to discuss any breastfeeding issues or formula questions with a trusted and nutrition savvy doctor and/or lactation consultant.)
- When you start solids (at around 6 months) make your own baby food from locally-harvested, organic foods. And remember to eat organic while pregnant and breastfeeding to reduce baby’s exposure from mom.
REAL WORLD OPTIONS
- Good choices for bottles and sippy cups are: Born Free, MAM, and Adiri, breast pumps and supplies by Medela and Mother’s Milkmate, and sippy cups by Safe Sippy, Think Baby, Born Free, Klean Kanteen, Thermos, and SIGG.
- Avoid products that don’t specify they are BPA free. Visit: thesoftlanding.com for the safest baby feeding products from bottles to bibs or http://zrecs.blogspot.com for the complete bottle/sippy cup study.
- The plastics labeled #2, #4, and #5 are thought to be safer.
- Avoid melamine, that super-durable plastic substance used in many kidsware items. It can leach formaldehyde when heated or with certain acidic foods.
- Store and heat all food and liquid in glass or metal (heating increases the amount of BPA leached into the food or formula).
- Avoid formula if possible. If you cannot breastfeed or provide breastmilk or make your own formula, then use powdered formulas. Read the labels. Insist on organic. (Be careful of soy based formulas, they have been banned in Israel and other places due to problems linked to exposing young children to soy.) And remember formula companies spend millions keeping their billion-dollar industry in a virtual monopoly. Your toddler, or any baby over one year, does not need formula.
- When buying prepared baby food, buy organic. Or, even better, make your own!
- Look for the small, organic baby food companies. Chicago has the Midwest’s first and only organic baby food company: Maddy’s Organic Meals (www.maddysorganicmeals.com).
- With food you can save money and eat healthier by buying locally grown food and cooking and eating at home.
