bbc news story on harmful baby bottles...

[misscathcart]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7384856.stm

on bbc 1 now also..

I am completey confused - are we not to use microwave sterilisers now? Don't put boiling water in your bottle - ok, can do that. I have googled and cannot find a list of 'safe' bottles to use (unless i go on some eco-website and buy expensive new bottles) - are there not any available in the supermarkets/boots today??

Also confused, have just made up 3 bottles with boiling water... Anyone know if Tommee Tippee bottles contain BPA? Where can you buy BPA free bottles?

but it says its a common chemical found in plastic so that would mean its probably in toddler cups,plates bowls,spoons etc. Lots of toys are made of plastic too and you cant stop babies chewing on them.

ok, i was going to start this thread....

i cant believe that so many people featured had not a clue, there has been so much publicity on this issue previously but until now no scientific backing (and atm it is still a bit wishy washy).

The man on the news said it is to do with flexible versus hard plastic one doesnt contain the chemical. Missed which way round thanks to dd.

With all these concerns i think that a new set of guidelines should be produced as to exactly how to prepare bottles as combined with the advice not to pre mix formula many people must be confused.

Did anyone else notice the bf/iq story slotted in just before this one on news 24? 'Im sure that research was very old and had been featured ages ago, or do i just have deja vu?

Cazwa, lots of brands are apparently but bbc is advertising ASDA atm as they will have a special rangew as they are part of Walmart which is taking all bpa bottles of the shelves.

he said that glass bottles were safe, and squeezy plastic bottles were safe, but hard plastic probably contains bpa - and then he said that it leaches into your milk when the bottle is hot and theres milk/formula touching it... well excuse me but even if i make up formula cold, i still heat it to give to my baby?? then he said that you shouldn't use a microwave but that steam sterlisers are ok - but my m-wave sterliser uses STEAM!!! aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

apparently asda will be brinign out bpa - free bottles but there are already bpa free bottles out there - they just didn't say WHICH ONES!!!! sorry for caps - am frustrated!

Flexible plastic shouldn't have it, according to guy on tv. Also any plastic with the 7 on it definitely has it. Any scratched or damaged bottles should be tossed.

Think this means avent, dr browns etc are more likely to have it but couldn't see 7 on avent bottle. Nuby or tommee tippee colored ones less likely. Very confusing indeed.

The story has been generated by NCT, who as an organisation are not pro-bottle feeding anyway. If their intention was to scare and confuse the bottle feeders amongst us then they've probably succeeded, whilst also increasing their profile on national TV this morning.

www.bebeco.co.uk/bornfree-baby-feeding-bottle--bisphenol-a-free-plastic-556-p.asp

Might help with few places where you can get
There were a few threads on this a while back . But if you google Bishpenol A ( Uk ) you get more info.
Also if you go onto your brands web site they might give this info out.
Tommy Tipee sippy cups yes have them in.

Um I wouldn't rush out to buy flexible plastics. I know someone who is working on flexible plastics (esp the type used to deliver drips etc in hospital) because there are believed to be the same sorts of problems (and they're interested in the dose preemie babies are getting).

Think the hormonal effects are a problem with plastic tbh- and just the amount used now.

georgiegal, this has been rumbling in Canada and US for a while so it isn't just NCT anti-formula propaganda. Canada, for example, are on the verge of banning the sale of bpa bottles but it has to be said the research it is based upon is sporadic and flawed, hence the NCT appealing for more research to establish the risks. atm it seems any risks are low and this is being hyped by media and manufactureres of non bpa bottles.

georgiegal, this is an article about US concern from October last year.

my dr.browns bottles have no 7 on them or any recycle sign.... this bbc news story, every time they run it, they are telling us conflicting info.... now they are saying don't keep your bottles more than six months.

I think plastics in general are going to feature more over the next few years. probably because they're used so widely now and are beginning to show effects. Certainly the research the person I know is doing is not NCT funded, nor anything to do with the NCT.

Buy glass.

are these ok?

milk storage bags

So which bottles ar you meant to use? and what are the guidelines - something else for us to worry about!!!!

This realy pi55es me off The media in this country is hell bent on sensationalising health scare story after health scare story. Why can't these stories be featured when they have proper information relating to the 'scare'. You've got the BBC changing their advice avery 15 minutes at the moment causing parents everywhere to panic and become severely confused.

It would seem that there is no actual concrete proof that there is any risk at the moment (just like all the health scare stories).

I'm sat here looking at my sons Tommee Tippee bottles wondering what you class as scratched? There are scratches all over the bottle (minute ones) are they a concern? Can I no longer heat them in the microwave? What about steam sterilising? That's temperatures of nearly boiling. I really don't want to replace the 8 bottles we already own only to spend a fortune on replacements and find that this was yet another scare story based on misinterpreted research.

If this is a non-story then our media is behaving irresponsibly.

I'm not saying that NCT have invented this story. I know it is founded in fact and that concerns have been raised in the US and Canada. I simply think that the way it has been reported is alarmist and not at all helpful to mothers. I agree that more research is needed to establish the risks but let's not scare people until we know what these risks are. At the moment, healthcare professionals in the UK are telling us there's absolutely no risk at all. It's been mentioned that this chemical is to be found everywhere in plastics, including sippy cups, tableware and toys so I do wonder why bottles are the focus of NCT's campaign.

Does anyone know whether Tesco's own brand bottles are ok - I can't see a number 7 on them... I might email them

Yet another stick to beat myself with for not managing to bloody breastfeed

I think bottles are the focus of the NCT's campaign because they are the only ones likely to have boiling water in them which appears to encourage release of this chemical. However, more research is needed - I think the experiments which led Canada to ban it were based on rats being fed Bisphenol A while pregnant (and in huge quantities) which caused these changes.

Can anyone clarify whether the chemical will leach out every time the bottle is used or whether it will only happen once or twice. Logically, if there is a chemical there which is released by heat, there will be a large dose first time of heating and then smaller and smaller doses so new bottles are not the answer. Does this sound right?

oh dear

they are going to be in tupperware too

I am the tupperware queen atm

actually it will be in everything

plastic is a bit ubiquitous where under 5s are concerned.

glass bottles wouldn't last long round here btw.

NCT has no campaign about this, and the story was not started or generated or extended by NCT.

NCT was invited to comment on the story by news organisations, and responded, because NCT is in touch with parents of young babies.