Avent Via CUPs, scam or not?

[chipmonkey]

Got some Avent Via Cups, when I needed some extra bottles for EBM when asked to stay late in work. Now, why do they have to be discarded after 5 uses?
Is this just a marketing scam, or will they disintegrate?

Is this for you to express into? I used to just express into a bottle and pour it into Lansinoh bags - much less bulky as only needed one bottle (just kept it all in the coolbag in the fridge with covers on between expressions - no need to wash/sterilise between times).

Theoretically to express into and for storage. Wouldn't have bothered with them at all but needed something in a hurry and they were all the pharmacy had. Usually express and store with normal bottles so am using the via cups for baby food at the moment. But if you can re-use 5 times, why not 500 times?

Avent are stealing your money!

I got a pack of 20 of these free (special offer from Avent when they first brought them out). I'm using them to store baby food. I'm not counting how many times I've used them. It says the lids can be used as many times as you like. I look at the pots each time before I put food in to see if they look like they're falling apart. Can't see any difference though. Really can't see why they would. I mean they're obviously not as strong as something thats meant to be used forever, but that just means they might eventually break, doesn't it?

Been using the same 10 pots for about 3 months now and still going strong - will let you know if they suddenly give out! Methinks AVENT having a bit of a laugh and playing on our insecurities....

hmmm... I always wondered this... same as Lindam steam steriliser bags.

Only thing I could think of is perhaps heating deteriorates the plastic or something. But safety wise they'd have to have a huge error margin.

I'd use them until they fall to bits personally!

Been wondering the same as there is no where on the cup to record how often they have been used and with my memory at the mo I have just emailed AVENT for them to give me their answer....Suzi...agree about the huge safety margin thing....will probably use them til they start to look aged .....whatever that may be......

Why can you not just use a small tuperware tub for milk, obviously you might be left over with loads at the end.

yes it col dbe that the plastic starts to break down if microwaved etc and leaks stuff into whatever is in them

Was that to my post or chipmonkey?

anyones

I wasnt sure if normal plastic would leak or the polystrine of the avent cups.

oh well... they do say to be careful with ANY plastic in the microwave tbh... but was talking about the avent ones.
can't think of any other reason they'd say only use 5 times

although, you wouldn't necessarily be microwaving each time would you?

QAnyone been able to buy lids for these darn things? Have two packets lying idle as I can't find lids

think kiddicare.com sell them in packs of ten...bit cheeky of avent not to include them in the pack I think.

If the plastic breaks down after microwaving then surely they're NEVER safe to store anything for a baby, though?
Will probably use them till I lose them all! Which, knowing me, might not take very long! Have to say I've noticed a trend towards things being "semi-disposable" lately. Not very environmentally-friendly IMO

but the plastic may only start breaking down after being heated a number of times

i wondered abt that too...hve been using the pack i got from kiddicare for about 5 months now..still seem fine to me!

just had woman from avent on phone and she says they say only a few times because "they arent made from the strongest material" and thus mayb only survive for a few uses, hence recycle/dispose. she said they may get put thru a lot...sterilse, freeze, heated up etc . she did stress quite adamantly that they are still completely safe after a few uses but that you need to keep an eye on them as they may split witj time...so i think i will use mine until i think they r ready to give out and hopefully i won'yt have to buy too many!! she said the lids will last much longer as they are a stronger material and r for permanent use. HTH

FYI - microwaving in plastic containers cause them to disintegrate faster if the food in it has fats. I can only imagine it is breaking down into the food. I just avoid microwaving in plastics even for myself.

Buttonmoon, they'll probably be found on a landfill in 500 years!

morning chipmpnkey

I don't microwave mine yet cos they only contain breastmilk, so I heat them using a jug of water instead...will bear it in mind though when I use them for food in a few months time.

I bought Avent cups and was all excited when I had 4oz of expressed milk to freeze for the first time, but when I opened the box of cups I realised you have to buy the lids separately! Why? I was really pissed off. Bought Lansinoh bags instead which worked out better as they take up less freezer space.

Sorry, alux, went to bed shortly after that! About time too!
Ironmaiden, I think the idea is that you buy the "kit" with lids and then you keep the lids and replace the cups as needed. Bit complicated IMO!