A few years ago you would have thought glass baby bottles were going to disappear from the market. They usually held only a tiny little spot on the shelves, and were surrounded by dozens of styles of plastic baby bottles. Today they have made a big resurgence, and have increased in popularity, once again.
Why have glass baby bottles had a sudden increase in popularity? In recent years there have been a few studies done showing chemicals found in plastic bottles have a slim chance of causing problems in humans. The studies were all based upon rats, who have trouble disposing of the chemicals. This has led to a few prominent groups calling for ban of using plastic containing BPA in producing items for our infants.
This outcry has led many parents to feel concerned about using plastic bottles, so they have elected to go with glass baby bottles. At this time, the research does not show any significant chance of risk to our babies, but choosing glass bottles is still a popular choice.
What other reasons might you choose to go with glass bottles? For one, they are easier to clean. The can take more aggressive brushing and hotter water without damaging the bottle. The plastic bottles are easier to stain, with glass being virtually impossible to stain with juices or other drinks.
The negative side of glass baby bottles is twofold. One negative is the weight of the bottle. They are harder for your baby to handle. The second item is the potential for the bottle to shatter when dropped. Every baby manages to learn how to throw their bottles at some point, and the odds are very high one of those glass bottles will break. If the bottle is empty, you have glass to cleanup. If the bottle is full, you have glass swimming in a pool of formula to cleanup.
Glass bottles, being able to withstand higher heats, may be able to have a little higher level of sterilization. Most plastic bottles can withstand steam and boiling water, so this factor should not be a big concern.
One thing you can be sure of with glass bottles, you are unlikely to every strip out the threads. If you like to twist the caps on very tightly you may strip the threads on a plastic bottle. On a glass bottle you will probably have a higher chance of stripping the threads in the plastic cap, than on the bottle.
Which way should you go? Go with the style which makes you feel comfortable and confident. Both types of bottles are watched closely by regulatory groups and are considered highly safe for our babies. You may choose to go with glass baby bottles to reduce the slight risk from BPA and the durability, or you may choose to use the plastic bottles which are lighter and usually a little less expensive. Both will do one thing perfectly, give your baby’s body nutrition.