Baby milk bottles around the world are commonly made from a type of plastic called polypropylene. It is considered to be one of the safest forms of plastics used to manufacture containers for food and beverages.
However, there are dangers that lurk behind using plastic. When this material comes into contact with high temperature, there are chemical reactions that cause the release of toxins. Needless to say, these toxins can seep into our food and we end up ingesting it.
Unfortunately, the same thing happens with plastic milk bottles for our babies! 🙁
Bottle-Fed Babies Could be Swallowing Millions of Microplastics a Day!
Studies have been done and results show that millions of microplastics are released when polypropylene come into contact with high temperature. When we sterilise our baby bottles with hot water, and prepare formula in the bottles, it is inadvertently happening.
Prof John Boland, at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, said:
“We were absolutely gobsmacked at the number of microplastics produced by the baby bottles. A study last year by the World Health Organization estimated adults would consume between 300 and 600 microplastics a day – our average values were on the order of a million or millions.”
Source: The Guardian
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for more studies on the effects of microplastics on our health.
Though it hasn’t been classified as hazardous, personally, I’m of the opinion that it can’t be good for us. We live in a world that’s increasingly relying on using plastics for most things. For a baby to be exposed to them since infancy right into adulthood…I simply can’t imagine the accumulated amount of toxins and microplastics in their body systems!
Other Possible Effects of Plastics
Here’s something at a glance for us to know the different types of plastics in our everyday use, and the possible effects they have on our little ones.
| Name | Resin ID | Found in | What to know |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 1 |
Plastic water and drink bottles, condiment containers |
Generally safe, but at high temperatures may leak a metal called antimony. |
| High-density polyethylene (HDPE) | 2 |
Jugs and bottles, plastic bags |
Releases low levels of chemicals that raise estrogen levels. |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | 3 |
Sandwich meat containers, sturdy bags for bedding, toys |
Can contain toxins such as DEHP, which the EPA says is likely to cause cancer in humans in high concentrations. May also contain dioxins, vinyl chloride, and other toxins that can cause birth defects, learning difficulties in children, hormonal dysregulation, and cancer. |
| Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) | 4 |
Dry cleaner and bread bags, shrink wraps |
Generally considered safe. |
| Polypropylene (PP) | 5 |
Potato chip bags, diapers, yogurt containers |
Generally considered safe. |
| Polystyrene (PS) | 6 |
Styrofoam cups, egg cartons, packing peanuts, cigarettes |
Styrene, a chemical believed to cause cancer, can leach out of polystyrene containers, though the amount of styrene in packaged foods is very low. |
| Other miscellaneous plastics | 7 |
Oven baking bags, other plastic containers |
This is a catch-all category for plastic that doesn’t fall into the other categories. It contains BPA and is generally not considered safe. |
Source: Healthline
Changing to Safer Alternatives
For baby’s milk bottle, one alternative is to switch to using glass bottle. Usually, these will come with a silicon holder to wrap around the glass to protect breakage.
For containers that we use which are made of plastic, it’s easier to make a switch to glass, enamel or stainless steel options.
As for toddler plates and utensils, there are good sized stainless steel alternatives that we can use.
Being Plastic-Free Is Not Easy…
It seems quite impossible to be totally free of using plastic in our day and age. However, it helps to eliminate as much as possible, where it can make the most difference. The first place to start is with our kitchenware, to avoid ingesting microplastics and toxins.
If packing food home, it’s a good idea to use our own glass or stainless steal containers and avoid plastic packaging.
This is not only beneficial to our health but also better for our environment. At the moment plastic pollution around the world is quite overwhelming. Reducing our usage even if in a small way can make a big accumulated difference.
Let’s Keep Our Family Safe And Healthy
We have busy and hectic lifestyles, so we resort to any products that help to give us convenience. However, let’s take a step back and prioritise what’s important.
Our baby’s health and safe is definitely the top thing on our list. Yet, if we neglect the small things that could end up accumulating and generating long-lasting effects in the future, this will defeat our purpose.
So if we can make simple changes by switching alternatives for our little one’s benefit, it’s well worth the effort. It gives us peace of mind too. Protect our whole family and make a lasting change to safeguard all in the family.
For more ideas and tips on keeping our little ones healthy, do read our stories here on Mamahood. A related story regarding preparing a milk bottle for baby with reboiled water might be something you want to find out more about.