Tips for Making Preventative Changes
HealthyChild.org has done an excellent job of arming us with the knowledge we need to begin making some foundational changes. Here are a few tips from their website to help you get started:
- Avoid baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic. Choose non-toxic baby feeding gear made of glass, polyethylene, polypropylene (recycling symbol #’s 1, 2 or 5), polyamide or polyethersulfone (PES). There are many safer bottle and sippy cup options available. You can find a very helpful BPA Free Bottle and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet at Safemama.
- Look for the recycling code (#1-7) on plastic bottles. If unlabelled, call the manufacturer to ask about the plastic used. Try to avoid #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 polycarbonate.
- Avoid heating breast milk and infant formula on the stove or in the microwave in plastic; dangerous chemicals are more likely to leach when you heat in plastic containers.
- Avoid plastic bottles that have decorations printed on the inside. These run into formula when it’s been heated. Also, avoid disposable nursers, as the plastic bags may leak or burst.
- Choose fresh, frozen and dried foods over those that are canned. (Metal cans are lined with plastic.)
- Make plastic your last choice: buy and store food in glass, ceramic or metal containers, as most plastic types have been reported to leak chemicals into food.
- Avoid dental sealants, which may contain BPA, for children’s baby teeth.
- Do not heat plastics, especially if they contain fatty foods. Heating fatty food in plastics can cause greater leaching.
- Microwave in glass or ceramic only. Do not use plastic wraps, plastic cutlery and dinnerware (such as plastic plate holders).
- If using plastic storage containers, make sure hot food items have cooled before placing them in the container.
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