Baby Development - Lawmakers Look at Baby Bottle Safety

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

As if caring for a new baby wasn’t worrisome enough, all the news about potentially harmful chemicals lurking in baby products only adds to the woe.  Between the toy recalls, chemicals in baby products, and the media perpetuating the vaccine safety debate; keeping your new baby safe may seem overwhelming.  To add to the mix, Massachusetts lawmakers are now questioning the safety of baby bottles. 

Lawmakers and advocates will be releasing the findings of a new study this week, detailing the potential health risks of baby bottles.  The study apparently finds that the use of BPA, a synthetic chemical used in the manufacturing of some baby bottles, can cause health risks including obesity, diabetes, and cancer.  Lawmakers are pushing for a bill to be passed that would require the elimination of BPA in baby bottles made in Massachusetts. 

This of course, has sent parents into an uproar.  Keeping your baby safe and healthy is enough of a task without having to worry about harmful chemicals.  ABC news covered parental reactions to the news regarding baby bottle safety.   It is not just parents who are concerned; dozens of environmental organizations in both the United States and Canada are calling for action to end the use of BPA, or bisphenol A, in beverage and food containers including baby bottles.  It turns out, when bottles are used and heated over extended periods of time; high levels of BPA leach out and expose infants to toxic amounts.  BPA is used in over 95% of baby bottles currently on the market.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the chemical for use in commercial goods and is revisiting BPA safety.  The FDA maintains that while harmful effects from BPA have occurred in animal studies, it was only when the animals were exposed to levels far higher than what may occur from baby bottles.  The Centers for Disease Control, however, found BPA in the urine of 95% of the people it tested.   Even though human studies have yet to be conducted, it is important for parents to err to the side of caution and replace baby bottles often.

While all the news may seem overwhelming, there is a positive side to keep in mind.  With all the media attention on what infants are putting in their mouths, increased awareness has occurred.  Parents and lawmakers alike are demanding improved standards for the manufacturing of infant and baby care products and toys.  Although potentially harmful chemicals may have been in our own toys and baby bottles, we can hopefully soon rest assured they won’t be present for our own children.