Avent/Plastic: Avent bottles and accessories are our choice. When we purchased them, everyone suggested them even though they drip. Being first time parents, we went with the suggestion of friends and respected books on this. Our favorite product advice book (Baby Bargains) has recently retracted their suggestion of purchasing these. See alternatives listed below.
Benefits of Avent products:
- Interchangeable parts – bottles can become cups later with sippy attachments
- IQ steam sterilizer – one of the best things we ever bought
- Easy to travel with, lightweight
There have been many articles on BPA, or polycarbonate plastics in the manufacture of baby bottles and children’s food containers. Avent uses BPA in the manufacture of their products. Ultimately it is up to each parent to decide whether this is an issue – many adult water bottles are made of this same type of plastic. Here is a link to Avent’s opinion: http://www.avent.com/uk/en/learn_more_faq_bottle_feeding.php and a link to a good summary of the issue at the Chicago Tribune: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2007/08/why-i-tossed-pl.html
Alternatives The easiest alternative, is to purchase Evenflo glass bottles and silicone nipples. Several sizes available, 4 oz and 8 oz – they come with rubber nipples but the silicone will last longer. We did attempt a switch to these, but so late in our bottle game that little girl was just not having it.
Suggestion Before you commit to one kind or another, try a couple of both and see what your baby prefers – and assess you feelings on plastics.
