Scratched baby bottles (feeling extremely guilty)

[Ano]

Hello,

I've written before about upgrading into glass bottles when DS was seven months for fear of microplastics. I still haven't overcome my guilt for using plastic bottles, and yesterday I happened to check on the old bottles again. It turns out that the inside of the one we used the most is full of scratches (see image below). We don't have any dishwasher in our tiny rented flat, so we washed them by hand. It turns out that DH washed them with the rough side of the dish sponge, and I was silly enough not to notice the scratches when preparing the milk. We bought one glass bottle before he was born, but I don't even remember why we increasingly used the plastic ones.

Now I've also changed his toys from polyester to cotton or wool and make sure to always buy bio products, but I still feel sick to my stomach thinking that I might have unwittingly given him predisposition to certain illnesses, infertility problems, or what have you (I hope not, but can't shake off the worry). I've been diagnosed with PND, and used to have different irrational fears about DS, but this time the risks feel more real, particularly if I google about plastics.

DS will be 9 months old tomorrow, and he's never been ill so far (crossing fingers), except for a slightly raised temperature after his vaccines. The pediatrician said he's healthy, but I'm worried for a long-term effect. I feel like I've committed a very grave mistake.

AIBU? Can anyone ease my mind about this?
Thank you in advance.

Honestly OP, and I saw your post about plastic bottles , I think that a chat with your GP would be a great idea.
You are in danger of passing on your fears to your children.

I get this kind of anxiety/thought spiral too. It's horrible, can last for ages, and can feel very, very real in the moment.

OP, I know getting help is nowhere near as easy as all these "get help" posters make out. But in the meantime be super kind to yourself, you're doing way better than you think.

@Ano oh love, I'm sorry you're worried about this, I had PND that manifested with OCD and intrusive/worrying thoughts with one of my sons, it's perfectly common, but not something you can leave untreated.

Please don't feel guilt, don't go searching for things to get worked up over etc, get as much help and support as you can.

It's very scary navigating how you're feeling right now and I'm sure you're overwhelmed. Please be kind to yourself and try and recognise what is logical and what is not.

I raised my kid on plastic bottles and honestly haven’t given it a second thought. I was also raised on them in the ‘80s and seem to have turned out ok. I know there are different ways of being a good parent and it’s best not to judge each other, but I can’t see that living your life at this level of parenting anxiety can be good for you or your family.

Crikey, I though the stress over scratches would be because of bacteria harbouring there..
Microplastics didn't occur to me at all.

DS never had a bottle, moved to a ''Sippy cup'' that was soon completely battle scarred on the ''Sippy'' bit by his teeth {I still have it even though he is an adult now!}
Don't worry @Ano .

@Ano Also...Stay away from the internet.
I fed my dog a tiny fragment of paté before realising that it had caramelised shallots in it.

Shallots are toxic to dogs according to Google.

As are grapes, chocolate, raisins, or anything else someone might feed a dog in passing as a treat..

Google has the worst scare stories.

Try to stay off google :)

As a sufferer of post natal anxiety, I'm begging you to go back to GP, speak to the HV and go private if you can to avoid the ridiculous wait time. I promise your baby will be fine, people ingested a lot worse in the past and were fine. The professionals say your baby is healthy because you're a brilliant mum. I hope this hasn't come across as patronising, but I'd hate to think this takes over your life. Please get help before it does.

Some wisdom to tether you x x

Total overreaction. Baby will be fine.

with the greatest of respect OP, you really need help. Please go back to your doctor, this level of worrying is not normal (and I say that as a sufferer of anxiety myself). First thing is stop googling, and when you feel like you want to, ask yourself “will this make me feel better?”. The answer is honestly no, but I’ve been there and the compulsion is hard to break. You will find all sorts of weird stuff online that is not scientific fact. The best way you can help your baby is by helping yourself, he needs his mummy to be well

I remember feeling like the worst mum in the world when DS was a baby and I read that rubber ducks contain toxic chemicals. I too switched to wooden/natural toys after that. As parents we try so hard to shield our babies from anything that could harm them. My son is now nearly a teenager and I’m sure he has and will ingest many more questionable things in his lifetime!

Looking back, I was clearly very anxious, and that’s not unusual with a new mum. It does get easier, they get bigger and more robust, you find them eating slugs or cat food and realise that you can’t control everything.

By all means cut down on plastic use and minimise the chance of him consuming anything potentially harmful, but remember that people have been using plastic for decades with minimal health consequences. God knows what us 80’s kids were exposed to! Your baby may have had a minuscule amount, but realistically micro plastics are sadly in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. The majority of us are not affected by this. He will be fine. Try to get some perspective.

You sound like a lovely and caring mum, he’s lucky to have you. Take care of yourself and try not to worry.

Please get some further help, you're clearly not well OP

This is bonkers. You are going to push all your irrational fears and anxiety onto the child. You need to speak to a professional.
A plastic bottle won't harm your baby.. at least your hubby cleaned it!

You sound like a lovely caring mum OP. Honestly, your DS will be fine. My two DS’ are 21 & nearly 20, I still haven’t stopped worrying, goes with the territory.

Not meaning to belittle you OP, but these threads do make me smile a bit. Because, like you, when my children were young, especially the first born, I would worry about all sorts of things and make sure I did everything perfectly - organic shampoo, organic veg, baby safe everything.
Now as teenagers, I look at all the things they do, the rubbish they eat when they’re with their friends, the vapes I’ve found hidden, the alcohol they drink at parties, the crap make up they buy from China to use and wonder why I bothered.
Honestly, they’ll be fine. It’s normal to worry as a Mum, especially when they’re babies, worrying is part of being a mum, but you’ve done nothing wrong and they’ll be fine. You’re doing a good job. Keep telling yourself that.

my kids, both had milk from plastic bottles that we’re probably scratched, it honestly would not have occurred to me to worry about this. And I’m an anxious parent ! They are three and five now and extremely healthy. I have zero concerns

I think the consensus on your other thread was that you have nothing to worry about. Nothing has changed since then.

Thank you, ladies! You've been very helpful. I was worried because some articles said scratched plastic bottles could leach chemicals into the milk.

DH and my dad are not worried. They think it's a good idea to be closer to nature, but they don't overthink like me. I'll have sessions with a psychologist starting next week, so I hope I'll be less worried with time.

When I had PND I found writing down my thoughts on paper really helpful plus using EFT ( emotional freedom technique aka tapping). There’s a free app available ..try www.thetapping solution.com

My kid used to crawl off and lick peoples shoes, and eat things she found on the ground. She's about to be 13 and she's totally fine if very loud and annoying.
Your baby will be fine. I think you do need to speak to your GP or HV though about your anxiety

Oh OP, you need to goto your GP and be honest about the things you are worrying about. It is not a normal level of worry. Having a baby is stressful and you do worry more, and have so many more things to worry about!

But the things you have listed, plus the extent of your anxiety is not normal or healthy. It is going to take away the enjoyment of having a child. Stop Googling! Hopefully the counselling sessions are going to be a good place to start

At six months my sone was rolling about on the floor eating all sorts of bits. God knows what he has consumed. Don't worry OP a few bottle scratches are nothing ❤

Go to the doctor and get some treatment for your mental illness. Life will be a lot nicer.

It’s like I have written this post myself , I worry so much about this also , I sterilised my bottles in the microwave steriliser , you are not meant to microwave plastic so why are these available !!!! I also sterilised them on the stove !! How thick am I

@Ano and @Mummy2two12 came across this as I know exactly how you feel. My kids drank bottled water only thread here for a couple of years and the worry / guilt is all consuming. Sending big hugs your way, it’s difficult to understand when you haven’t experienced it! Hope that you have found a way through it.