The safety and health of your baby are paramount, and you will stop at nothing to ensure that you give the best to your baby. Every new parent must have read about the safest products that can be used for the baby, as the internet is flooded with advice about products and their advantages.
When looking for baby bottles, you will come across a few suggestions, such as glass, stainless steel, and plastic bottles. Although glass and stainless-steel bottles are preferred by those who do not want the risks linked with plastics, glass bottles can break easily and stainless steel or metallic bottles may contain residue owing to improper cleaning. There are other factors that undermine the use of metal and glass bottles for your baby.
Plastic bottles are the best bet in many cases owing to various factors such as safety and durability. Many parents do not trust plastic bottles owing to the reports of how these can cause illness in the long run, and affect your baby’s growth and development.
When using plastic, we recommend using EA-free baby bottles for your baby, as these are subject to stringent tests and various quality checks so that your baby gains all the nutrition it needs, without the hazards that using the wrong plastics pose.
EA-free plastic is tested for various factors, the most important being that they do not leach any chemical categorized as inducing estrogen activity when the container is exposed to heat and pressure. Studies have shown that the release of estrogen chemicals can easily be rectified with the use of the right plastics.
Here are a few advantages of using EA-free baby bottles.
1. Protection from diseases caused by estrogen-activity (EA) chemicals
The most prominent factor when choosing a plastic bottle is to check if it is EA-free. This ensures that your baby is protected from diseases that are usually linked with the use of plastics- cancer, growth inhibition, and hormonal problems.
Nowadays, it is not only necessary to ensure that the products we buy have been certified as BPA-free. This is because BPA-free plastics even though it is free from many chemicals it does leach estrogen-activity chemicals into other substances under pressure or heat. These chemicals could prove hazardous for your baby, both immediately and in the long run.
Therefore, the greatest advantage of using EA-free products is that your baby has no exposure to these harmful chemicals that could affect its growth and well-being.
2. Safety from breakage
EA-free baby bottles are made from superior quality plastics that are safe for your baby to use. They do not break easily even if they are dropped.
Everything your baby holds is prone to falling, whether the baby drops it owing to its grip, when it is boring or because it has lost its purpose according to the baby. This is where plastic bottles win over glass ones. The clear plastics that are EA-free are lighter in weight than glass bottles and will not shatter if dropped to the floor. Therefore, you can be less worried about your baby being hurt by shattered glass. Even though glass bottles come with silicone or cloth covers to prevent breakage, they are more susceptible to cracks when dropped than plastic bottles are.
In addition to this, these plastics, which are usually labeled between 3 and 7, do not chip easily. So, when your curious little one decides to use the bottle to create its next musical composition by drumming it against surfaces, you can enjoy the beats and not worry about having to buy a replacement for feeding time.
This feature of EA-free bottles makes them easier to clean and less prone to germs, as there is no chance for germ build-up in cracks or broken surfaces.
3. Durability
Although metal containers are more durable than plastic or glass, they can have dents easily, giving them a rugged look. Clear, EA-free plastics, on the other hand, last a long time. If cleaned and maintained well, you will only have to change the teat of the bottle according to the growth of your baby. Reusable plastics usually come with recyclable tags, ‘3’ and ‘7’ and can be used with warm liquids.
If the right EA-free plastics are used, the baby bottles are good for a duration of more than six months, and will not leach any harmful chemicals into your baby’s food.
4. Easy to clean
EA-free baby bottles are most preferred for their ease of maintenance. They are easy to clean and sterilize. They also do not leach any chemicals even if they are subjected to high temperatures.
First, the bottles can be sterilized using hot water or the microwave. This is a simple process, and the bottle is bacteria and germ-free following this sterilization process. There are certain precautions to be taken during sterilization so that you do not hurt yourself, and the bottle is not exposed to more heat than necessary.
Next, the bottles can be cleaned easily after each use using a bottle brush and detergent. These bottles do not scratch easily. They do not chip easily either. They also do not retain the odor of the substances they contain. Since they are clear, you can check for residue, unlike metal bottles.
5. Easy to measure
Plastic bottles come with clear markings and are transparent, making it easy to measure the right quantities of liquids that are required for your baby’s feeding time. This especially comes in handy when your baby is feeding alone, without constant, active supervision. It could also be useful when you are not sure about the quantity of food that your baby should consume and are given instructions by the child’s paediatrician or nutritionist. With the right amount of food in the bottle, you need not worry that your baby is consuming more than is necessary or being overfed.
These bottles come in varying sizes so that you can choose the right bottle for your baby based on its age and feeding patterns. Most bottles in the market these days come with a nutrition guide from a certified medical practitioner or nutritionist, including the quantities that are required at each stage of the baby’s development. The packaging also comes with tags specifying which age group the bottle is fit for.
6. Lightweight
The latest plastics that are EA-free are lighter when compared to glass and metal. The bottles that are made of these plastics are more lightweight than the other bottles available in the market, making them easier to carry than others. Again, when your infant is at an age to hold its bottle on its own while feeding, plastic bottles would be the best bet.
Lightweight bottles are especially preferred when the babies start holding their bottles to feed. If the bottle becomes too heavy, babies have a tendency to use them less and keep them away or drop them. This can be avoided by using bottles that are easy to hold and carry during feeding time.
7. Less expensive
Bottles made of EA-free plastic are more easily available and are less expensive than glass or metal ones. In addition to being cheaper to buy in the first instance, they are also more durable and can be used for a longer period of time, requiring only regular cleaning and change of teats, making them more cost-effective in the long run as well. Taking all the factors into consideration- durability, maintenance, and possibility of damage, these bottles work out to be cheaper than the others that are available.
8. Colorful and fun
The most versatile of materials, plastic can be molded and shaped into various shapes without much effort. EA-free bottles come with a choice of colors, patterns, and interactive designs that make feeding time joy for infants and parents alike. Quirky colors will incite your baby’s curiosity, making it hold on to it for a while.
You can also pick up bottles that come with cartoon characters, fun everyday cartoons or designs, and solid colors to help you with the organization of your feeding time plans.