Microwaving Botttles to Do or Not to Do

Yes, using the microwave,dishwasher, or boiling water causes the leeching of BPA from baby bottles. From my research, Born Free and Medela are the two bottles that are free of BPA. In addition, I believe the playtex drop in bag liners are either bpa-free or not applicable. Since they are disposable after each use, you would never need to use boiling/sterilizing methods on them.

I wanted to share the following article I keep in my files.

MINNEAPOLIS - February 27 - A chemical known to be toxic to the nervous and reproductive system, and a developmental toxin, leaches from popular clear, plastic baby bottles, according to Toxic Baby Bottles: Scientific Study Finds Leaching Chemicals in Clear Plastic Baby Bottles, a new report released today. The chemical, called bisphenol A, is a disruptor of hormone function and has been found by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the urine of 95 percent of Americans tested.
The report is based on independent laboratory testing of the most popular baby bottles on the market com-missioned by the Environment California Research and Policy Center. It can be found at: www.EnvironmentCalifornia.org.
“We all want to raise our children in ways that are safe, healthy and that maximize their potential,” said David Wallinga, MD, Director of the Food and Health Program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). “Sadly, that’s made harder by the fact that manufacturers aren’t required to give parents even the most basic safety information on toxic chemicals in baby bottles and other household products.” IATP works in coalition with the Environment California Research and Policy Center for safer plastic and other consumer products.
Five of the most popular brands of baby bottles on the market were tested to determine whether bisphenol A leached from the bottles into liquids contained inside them. All five leached bisphenol A at levels that have been found to cause harm in numerous laboratory animal studies.
Figure 1. Baby bottle brand tested and the range of bisphenol A detected (parts per billion)
Avent 8-10 ppb
Dr. Brown’s 6-7 ppb
Evenflo 8-9 ppb
Gerber 6-7 ppb
Playtex 5-6 ppb

Bisphenol A is most commonly used to make clear polycarbonate plastic for consumer products, such as baby bottles. Through use, this plastic breaks down and leaches bisphenol A into liquids and food to which it comes into contact.
Scientists have linked very low doses of bisphenol A exposure to cancers, impaired immune function, early onset of puberty, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity, among other problems. Alarmingly, the median level of bisphenol A found by the CDC in humans is higher than the level found in animals to cause adverse health effects.
“Parents can’t make informed health choices about baby products when they’re left in the dark by manufacturers.” said Wallinga, a physician. “We need a drastic overhaul in how we regulate consumer products to require manufacturers to demonstrate their products are safe, made safely, and made from safe ingredients, before they’re allowed on the market.”
Absent action by state or federal authorities to protect consumers from bisphenol A, or to ensure that consumers are notified of bisphenol A in baby and other products, IATP recommends that parents and other childcare providers:
•Choose glass or safer-plastic baby bottles; see IATP’s Smart Plastics Guide for more information (www.iatp.org)
•Never heat food or beverages in plastic containers or bottles, which can speed up the process of toxic chemicals leaching out of the plastic;
•In washing plastic products, avoid harsh dishwashing soap and hot water, both of which speed up leaching.

With all the hype about Bisphenol-A (BPA) in bottles, I would avoid using the Avent microwave sterilizer. (Note that I actually used the exact same product 1.5 years ago with my son... but I didn't know about that whole thing now). If I were doing it all over again I would stick to hand washing with soap and water. Bottles don't need to be "sterile" anyway. This is a throwback to the 1950's when water quality was unreliable. According to the Avent website you should not put the bottles in the dishwasher or otherwise expose them to extreme heat. I think the microwave probably counts here - I wouldn't do it.

PS - Since we're expecting baby #2 in June, I started looking for reasonably priced BPA-free bottles to replace our avent ones. I found that Gerber actually makes them (though, foolishly, they don't advertise that they're BPA-free). It's their "Gentle Flow" bottles - and they only cost about $2.50 each, versus nearly $10 each for the BornFree ones. Plus, I read you can use the Avent nipples and rings with them.

Like you, I was terrified when I heard this news and am now in the process of replacing all of our Avent bottles. If you can't replace them then don't microwave them. Hot water and soap and a good washing is a perfectly fine alternative. I was looking back over information about this on mamasource and there was a gal who was talking about the recycling symbol on the bottom of plastic containers. Now I'm not as technical with the information as she was but the # in the triangle stands for the type of plastic it's made from. Apparently the #7 is the worst for leaking chemicals into the products they're stored in. I almost fell over when I realized my son's organic Gerber foods that come in the plastic 2 packs are in the #7 plastic. I am NEVER buying them again! I took back everything I had and exchanged them for food in glass containers. Target stores have a great selection of the Earth's Best foods and Jewel charges more but has good sales on the brand from time to time. It just makes me sick to think about it. I wish I would have known all this before I invested so much money into Avent.

I just did a little digging and this website is VERY helpful. I'm impressed with the amount of specific and technical info: http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=77083

It is when you heat the bottles above a certain temperature and I do believe the microwaving exceeds those temperatures. Also should not put them in the dishwasher. The only guaranteed way to safely use bottles with that kind of plastic is to hand wash them. There are plenty of threads on here talking about it if you go back in the recent past.

I avoided the microwave for warming up formula. If oyu want to be safe avoid it all together. i used my nursing bottles in the bag for sterilization. However they were made for that.

Good luck

We have the Avent bottles, and we never actually put the bottles in the microwave. To heat up our formula that we get from the fridge, we microwave water in a Pyrex measuring cup for about one minute, take it out of the microwave, and then place the bottle with the formula in the water to heat it to about room temperature. To clean the bottles, I use soap and water and allow them to dry on a drying rack.

The news is referring to BPA, a chemical agent found in all clear plastic bottles-except the new Born Free. The chemical is not just released in the microwave(which you should never place your bottle), but also on the stove top. I was using Dr. Brown's for my twins, and after doing lots of research decided that if there was even a slight risk I wasn't going to take it. Born Free is a little more expensive, but worth it for the piece of mind. These bottles are dishwasher safe (top rack only). Microwaving your bottle loses some of the valuable nutrients and vitamins in breast milk/formula because of the high temps.

I always always always microwaved my kids' bottles. The thing to watch is hot spots. All you have to do though is shake it up a bit so the formula gets mixed, and then test on your wrist like normal.

Don't microwave period. As long as you don't put the clear plastic bottles in the microwave or dishwasher they are safe to use.