Plastic baby bottles have been one of the most commonly used forms for a couple decades now. They are shatter proof, light weight, easy to clean, and economical. Now there are people starting to talk about the need to ban the use of plastic bottles, do you know why?

In many plastic bottles the plastic contains an element called BPA. BPA has been shown to be harmful to rats in certain dosages. As usually happens, someone jumps up and starts screaming about the risk to humans. Here are a few things they forgot to mention:

1. BPA levels in humans and infants using plastic baby bottles is thousands of times less than dosages tested in rats.

2. BPA passes through and is eliminated by humans, where rats cannot process the chemical, and it builds up. (Also true of chocolate, are you going to quit eating chocolate?)

3. Many plastic bottles can now be purchased made from BPA free plastic.

4. The risk elements in BPA are also present in some of the healthiest foods we consume.

These same people fail to mention the many benefits of the plastic bottles, which includes:

1. Babies cannot shatter a plastic bottle and get cut from the shards.
2. Plastic bottles can be sterilized easily in a microwave oven.
3. Plastic bottles are convenient to carry in diaper bags, and can take the abuse of being shoved into tight corners.
4. Plastic baby bottles are much lighter and easier for our babies to hold and handle.

As a parent, what should you be doing? Your choice of choosing between plastic or glass baby bottles should not be affected by the latest alarm. There is no solid evidence of any risk at this point. If you do have concerns, choose bottles which are labeled BPA Free. They are normally sitting on the shelf right beside the other bottles. Expect to see BPA free baby bottles become the standard, even if it is only to stop the worrisome outcry.

Can you more safely sterilize glass bottles? This has been one argument used by many parents. This is another fallacy. If you check the packages on almost every plastic baby bottles they give you instructions for sterilizing the bottles in boiling water, or using a microwave steam sterilizer. The bottles come out of sterilization just as germ free as a glass bottle. The bottles are washed in identical ways, following identical instructions from the manufacturers.

Is this saying you should not consider glass bottles? No, you can choose the bottles which you like the most. Do not restrict your choices until you see solid facts on either side of the argument. Currently the evidence points to plastic and glass bottles being of equal safety. You may prefer glass, feeling it does not taint the flavor, seals tighter, or many other reasons, but plastic baby bottles are still, and will continue to be, a favorite choice of most parents.