Baby Bottles: Glass vs. Plastic

Decades ago the only baby bottles available to parents were made of glass. But glass was heavy and, more importantly, breakable. So when plastic bottles came along that were lighter and shatter-proof, the glass bottle became almost obsolete.

However, recent reports that a type of plastic found in baby bottles might cause potentially harmful changes in developing babies has left parents wondering if perhaps old-fashioned glass wasn't such a bad thing after all.

Which is safer, glass or plastic? Here is some background on baby bottles plus some tips on how to choose -- and use -- bottles safely and effectively.

Baby Bottle Worries

The problem with glass bottles is pretty obvious -- drop one on the floor in the middle of a late-night feeding, and you'll have a roomful of shattered glass to clean up. Glass is also heavy and cumbersome. On the upside, glass bottles are sturdy, and they don't contain any chemicals that could potentially get into the baby's formula.

Plastic baby bottles are lightweight, strong, and unbreakable. However, concerns have arisen about the polycarbonate type of plastic bottles because they contain a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). Bisphenol A is also used in everything from compact discs to the lining of cans, as well as other consumer products. A 2007 report by the organization Environment California showed that when heated, five popular brands of BPA-containing plastic baby bottles leached high levels of bisphenol A.

In studies of lab rats, low levels of BPA were linked to changes in the brain and reproductive system that researchers say may contribute to an increased risk of prostate and breast cancers, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and early puberty.

Before you panic, know that government health officials don't believe that the amount of BPA in baby bottles and other consumer products is dangerous. After reviewing research on the plastic, the FDA stated that based on its ongoing review it believes the amounts of bisphenol A that find their way into food and drinks are too low to cause any real health effects in humans. However, the agency is continuing to look into the question of BPA safety, and for now, the issue remains unresolved.

Choosing a Baby Bottle

There are essentially three types of baby bottles: plastic, plastic with disposable liners, and glass.

Although the jury is still out on bisphenol A, if you want to avoid any bottles that contain it, look for the #7 recycling symbol or "PC" on the bottom. That's usually a sign that the bottle contains BPA. However, not all plastics labeled with #7 recycling code contain BPA. Some bottle brands, such as Born Free, explicitly say that their products are not made of Bisphenol A.

Many retailers, including Wal-Mart, plan to stop stocking bottles containing BPA, which will make it easier to weed them out. Stores such as Whole Foods have already pulled them from shelves. There has even been a move to enact legislation banning the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles and other food containers.