A few months ago, a good friend, fellow mom, and super responsible eco homesteader sent out an email to all the mothers in her community about a new study on BPA-free plastic. Essentially, the study has found that even plastic products claiming to be BPA-free contain traces of BPA high enough to be harmful to test subjects and, more importantly, our babies. BPA, or bisphenol A, is a plastic additive that is an endocrine disrupter mimicking the structure and function of the hormone estradiol, and exposure to it has been linked with serious health issues including cancer, accelerated puberty, inhibited neurological development, and behavioral and prostate gland issues when fetuses, infants, and children are exposed to it. Practically everyone uses plastic bottles, sippy cups, and toys, and unfortunately not even all of these products on the market advertise themselves as BPA-free. Exposure to this chemical in the early developmental years is especially harmful, making it even more important to eliminate your plastic use, especially when it comes to baby and children’s products. The following are three great ways to ditch plastic.
#1 Switch to Stainless Steel or Glass Bottles and Sippy Cups
Bottles and sippy cups are probably the number one way babies and children become exposed to BPA (and other harmful additives like phthalates and PVC) because they are literally drinking out of them and subsequently drinking traces of these chemicals that have leached into their juice, milk, or water. Fortunately there are a few great companies making stainless steel and glass alternatives. My personal favorite, which the friend I mentioned turned us on to, are Pura Kiki Stainless Steel bottles and cups. The bottles are 100% BPA, PVC, petroleum, and phthalate free, and use silicone sippers and nipples instead of plastic. Bottles become sippy cups just by substituting the nipple for a sipper. Some other great brands that are now producing kids’ products include Klean Kanteen and Lifefactory.
#2 Switch to Wood and Cloth Toys
When I began researching harmful additives in baby toys, I found a list from the Healthy Toys Project of the top ten most dangerous toys, including the “killer zerbra“. I was shocked to find two of my daughter’s favorite toys on the list–one of them at the top. Since babies put everything in their mouths, I’ve come to feel that no plastic is safe in our daughter’s toys. Of course it can feel impossible to avoid it 100% (we still have MANY plastic toys and will get rid of some as she grows out of them), but choosing solid wood toys–made with wood that is safely sourced and non-toxic–with safe, non-lead paint is a safer option. Some of my favorite wood toy brands include Haba, Hape, Boikido, and PlanToys. Under the Nile makes some very cute organic cotton toys including friendly little vegetables with faces. While I’m 100% a supporter of reducing, reusing, and recycling, when I’ve discovered that one of my daughter’s toys contains harmful toxins like lead, PVC, BPA, phthalates, or any number of toxic dyes or any of the other 66 Chemicals of High Concern to Children, I’ve thrown them out. The way I see it, if the toy isn’t safe enough for my child, it’s not safe enough for someone else’s. If you want to help provide toys for impoverished children, donate ecologically responsible, safe toys during toy drives or simply purchase some and donate them to a thrift store.
#3 Don’t Eat off of Plastic
Plastics leach their harmful chemicals continuously, especially when heated (like when you dump still-hot soup or mac and cheese into a tupperware). One of my favorite brands selling safe, non-plastic baby food storage, tableware, and cutlery is Green Sprouts by iPlay. Their collection includes bowls, spoons, plates, cups, and even toys and hygiene products made of silicone, bamboo, stainless steel, and corn starch. I have yet to find a high chair tray that is not made of plastic, but luckily most convertible high chairs these days have a removable tray and can be pushed up to the dinner table so your little one can eat with the family instead of eating off the tray. Once again, we haven’t found it possible to get rid of all the plastic eating-ware in our home, but we’re slowly replacing it at a rate we can afford.
Above all else, the most important thing is that you do your own research and stay up to date on emerging information. YOU know what’s best for you and your family, but having the latest information helps you make an informed decision, whichever way you go. Our babies are little sponges soaking up everything in their environment. Yes, wood toys, silicone eating ware, and stainless-steel baby bottles are more expensive–but so are the harmful diseases these toxins can cause. Because I am someone with an estrogen-fed, chronic condition (endometriosis) that will supposedly be passed down to my daughter, the cost of replacing the plastic in our home is worth it. I’ll do whatever I can to help her avoid developing endometriosis and the resultant infertility and chronic pain it can cause. As always my goal is to support all moms regardless of whether or not we agree. My hope is that this information will help someone else as much as it helped our family.
(Reblogged from Zero to Mom)
Thanks so much for sharing this info. We have more educational material about the substitute chemicals that are being used now that BPA-free labeling is widely demanded. Manufacturers of plastics are doing an end run around emergent consumer awareness and turning other lesser known (and often more dangerous) substitutes for BPA… such as BPS. The “S” here stands literally for “substitute!”