Plastic-Free Bottle Alternatives – Updated 2019

Be part of the solution, not part of the pollution.

I wrote this blog in 2016.  My boys are both finally done with bottles, but this is still one of my most read blogs according to google so I thought I would update this with some new thoughts from my experience.   If I had it to do over again, I would have started and stuck with the Pura Bottles.   FULL DISCLOSURE – The boys did rep for them, and Oli was on their catalog cover.  But the reason they found us, is because I kept tagging them on Instagram.  I truly love their brand.  In fact, we still use their bottles that we first purchased years ago.  They are still in perfect condition, we just changed the tops to sippy cups and now sports bottle tops.

Glass baby bottles were amazing when we lived in a home with carpet and the boys were small.  As soon as they got a bit bigger and we upgraded flooring.  It was a disaster, I cannot tell you how many shards of glass I’ve had to dig out of toddler toes.   I updated the links below, added the new pricing, and changed some photos.  But I still feel super strong about limiting plastics around our children.

 

Original Post:

In 2008, the possible health risks of Bisphenol A (BPA) ( a common chemical in plastic)  made headlines. Parents were alarmed, pediatricians flooded with questions, and stores quickly sold-out of BPA-free bottles and sippy cups.  More than 90% of humans have BPA in our bodies right now. We get most of it by eating foods that have been in containers made with BPA. It’s also possible to pick up BPA through air, dust, and water.

“What does BPA do to us? We still don’t really know, since we don’t have definitive studies of its effects in people yet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration used to say that BPA was safe. But in 2010 the agency altered its position. The FDA maintains that studies using standardized toxicity tests have shown BPA to be safe at the current low levels of human exposure. But based on other evidence — largely from animal studies — the FDA expressed “some concern” about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate glands in fetuses, infants, and young children.”  From WebMD.

After this discovery, the US government banned BPA from baby items in 2012.  I was excited to hear this.  But as of today, there is no agency overseeing this ban.  California is the only state where it is criminal to put BPA in products intended for children under age 4.    I’m not lucky enough to live in California, so while I was pregnant with Oli I started researching plastic alternatives.   Oli will be 2 in April and Milo is 6 months now, I feel pretty qualified to review glass bottles and other BPA-free alternatives.

Glass and stainless steel bottles clean easily and don’t melt when sterilized.    We are not graceful people at all and have only broken a few.   Silicone sleeves are also sold to protect the bottles from breaking if you drop them.  If you invest in a good set of glass or stainless steel bottles, they will last through multiple babies.   It’s nice to reuse the bottles rather than tossing them into a landfill after a few months.

 

1.  Dr. Brown’s Options Wide Neck Glass Bottles $18.99  for a 3 pack  Dr. Browns Bottles were the first glass bottles we tried.  The bottles can be used with the vent system or without.    They recently redid the design and I’m enjoying the wider neck.  The bottles themselves are easy to clean and sterilize but they still contain plastic parts, but BPA free plastic parts.    The medical grade silicone nipples are well made and BPA free as well.   We have only broken one of these bottles at the grocery store, Oli threw it on the concrete when he finished.   We have not had a leak issue with Dr. Browns.

2.  Natursutten Glass Baby Bottles  34.00 for two. Both of my boys would only take Natursutten pacifiers, so I thought the bottles were worth a try.   The bottles are well made.  The nipples are made from all natural rubber in Italy.  Both boys do seem to prefer these bottles.  But Milo must be extra hungry some days because his nipple does collapse often.    We’ve also shattered one of these on the tile, and with the price tag – it stung a bit.    This bottle also contains the plastic ring around the nipple and a plastic vent, both are noted BPA free.   Leak free here as well.

3.  Evenflo Feeding Classic Glass Twist Bottles $15.99 for a 6pack  At first these seemed to be a  good budget option, but after a month or so the plastic rings started cracking.  We have not figured out how to replace them.  Evenflo sells additional nipples but no way to replace the bad rings.  It’s annoying because one of the reasons we went with glass is because they last so long and we didn’t want to fill a landfill.  So I’d skip this option.    As soon as the rings break, your bottles will leak all over your child.

4.  Pura Kiki Stainless Steel Infant Bottle  32 for two  This option is technically not glass and the most expensive option, but it is my favorite.   These bottles contain NO plastic parts and convert to toddler sippers and eventually children’s water bottles.   You will use this bottle for years and years.   We have had no leak problems and enjoy knowing that no harmful chemicals will leach into our cute babies.  

5.  Mason Bottle  19.99 for one bottle or 9.99 for 2 nipples  This is another plastic-free option.  It’s more economical if you already own Mason Bottles.  You simply add the nipple to the existing Mason jar and rim.   If you have to purchase the Mason bottles, it’s about the same price as the above.  The Mason bottles are tough.  Oli has bounced them off tile floors multiple times and we haven’t had one break.    We haven’t had a leak problem, other than an improperly installed nipple (my bad).

 

Have you tried glass bottles?  Which are your favorites?  

 

Please note:  I did receive some of these bottles free from the manufacturer and some from my baby shower – but all opinions are my own.