Okay, I admit it. Plastics are officially freaking me out now.
In many ways I am the laid-back mom, the one who’s like, eh, Thalia sticking her fingers in her mouth after riding on the subway will only make her immune system stronger. Besides – hey, maybe there’s something healthy on that pole there! Maybe a leftover bit of wheatgrass splattered by an early morning commuter-slash-vegan? A mother can only hope.
I don’t give my kids baths daily, I don’t freak about letting Thalia eat a few of my Cheetos, and I only blinked three times before speaking when my mother-in-law informed me she took Thalia to McDonald’s. But only because there are like 18 better places to get your transfats in our neighborhood.
But all this stuff about plastics? It has me worried.
When I first heard nervous twittering from environmental types (thanks, J. Lisa!) I blew it off. I didn’t want to know. Better not to know. Know what? What are you even talking about? I have no idea. How ’bout them Yankees?
But then another friend emailed me a pdf from the California study on plastics in baby bottles and I forced myself to sit down, act like a parent, get over my shit and read the damn thing. You can too: It’s here. It’s easy to get through, in nice clean type, and doesn’t feel at all like homework. Except for maybe a graph or two.
Here’s the one paragraph summary as I understand it, without getting all science-y on you: Chemicals linked to heinously heinous diseases and conditions are getting into our bodies through certain plastics, and especially the ones with a little 7 in the recycling triangle stamped on the bottom. Heating these plastics, or repeated washing of them, makes it worse because the plastic starts breaking down.
So what plastics are often heated and washed repeatedly, then go into our kids’ mouths?
No.
Yes.Hello.
(I would mention pacifiers but since we rarely wash ours, I can breathe easier. Phew.)
Five brands of baby bottles were tested to see which were “leaching” toxins, and the highest offenders are Avent and Evenflo, with my fancy schmancy Dr. Brown’s falling in the middle along with Gerber, and then Playtex – not as bad.
Now considering Thalia spent the better part of 2 years with a Dr. Brown’s bottle between her lips and Sage is about to do the same, I wasn’t too happy about this. I didn’t race right out for blood tests just yet, but I wasn’t happy.
So first step: I stopped washing bottles and plastic sippy cups in the dishwasher driving Nate bonkers. He’s still in the fingers in the ear LALALALALA phase of this whole thing. Then I stopped microwaving anything in plastic containers. Then I bought some Sigg bottles which maybe I’ll even use one of these days. Good intentions, good intentions.
But then, today.
Today!
Today I go and read the Baby Bargains Book Blog (thanks to Greg at Daddy Types) – and any of you who have ever read that book knows the authors are awesome and conscientious and credible consumer advocates. Well it turns out that the JPMA, that so-called safety group that tells you which cribs could decapitate a limb or what not, is essentially not all as “We love you mommies! We want to protect your kids!” as they say they are. In fact, they’re kind of the opposite. Another freaking lobbyist who’s out there opposing the proposed ban of those chemicals in baby bottles because eh…could hurt sales.
Who do we trust any more? Who’s out there looking out for us? I mean Jesus Christ on a Stoned Wheat Thin (regular sodium), I always assumed the government more or less had our best interests at heart. I really did. But between this and the toy recalls I’m on the verge of turning into one of those conspiracy theorists who think the White House actually has a plan to make us all sick intentionally to help the folks at pharmaceutical companies with their profit margins.
So what do we do about it? How do we get moms like me (you know, the ones–like me–who are like, Eh…plastics. Whatever. Everything is bad for you these days if you read enough, right?) to take their heads out of the very comfy, cozy sand and read the research and stop buying these products? How do we keep our kids relatively safe–not cuckoo bird safe, but just regular old safe.
And no jokes about keeping your kids in plastic bubbles. Because that’s probably now bad for them too.
We are a force to be reckoned with, parents who blog! Can we put our Wondertwin rings together and activate?
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Kind, wonderful, informed readers: I appreciate all the URLs you’re leaving but sadly my template doesn’t. If you could kindly hotlink the url if it’s longer than like 4 letters, that would be great – or if you don’t know how, email me and I’ll post it for you.
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Update 12/23/08 It seems the FDA has finally come around ohhhh… a mere 15 months later. Read: FDA to Reconsider Plastic Bottle Risk in the NY Times
109 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one
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Hey Liz – I hear you about the plastics… there are some websites selling glass bottles now as well “Born Free” is a company that has bottles that don’t leach that yucky stuff
Good advice Cool Mommy! And I know Dr Browns is now making a glass bottle. But shouldn’t things that can hurt kids be off the market altogether? Or come with warning labels? Or free antibiotics? Something?
My first thought I was reading this: There should be a blog! A blog that tells me what things are good and what are bad. Cuz bloggers look out for us people! Obviously our government can’t be trusted to do that, right?
cool mommy -if you could hot link that…otherwise mty template goes wonky with long urls. thank you!
When we left the hospital, we got a huge pack of glass-bottle nursettes. Why don’t more companies just produce them? Or tack on toxicity-antidotes to their products?
Ummm…hi, been using the Evenflo plastic…What was I thinking? Going out to buy glass bottles this afternoon. Thanks!
We didn’t use bottles (trust me, if I could have found one that my finicky, boobie-only baby would have taken–7s or not–we would have) but I’ve had my head in the sand long enough about this plastics concern and all of the other sick stuff that’s going on out there in the name of money-making. I’m ready to do something too, to take some action. But what? I’m here, checking in on comments, to find out what we can collectively do to make a difference.
I’ve always been against plastic food containers. I never had a good argument for why. Thanks for backing up my “gut” with facts. Can’t wait to do my “in your face” dance to my husband.
Dr Brown bottles and non-bathed children – it makes my head hurt because we are alot alike and now you’ve got me all up and bothered about the damn bottles. Truthfully it’s time to get rid of them but I’ve been lazy about it because it is such a ritual at bedtime – which is the only time “bobbles” are used anymore. So do you think the Dr. Brown’s that I have been nuking for 2 years are leaching yet? Ughhh….
You made me feel better about sippy cups because I never put them in the dishwasher.
I hear you on being proud to be a laid-back and non-crunchy granola mom, I’m one as well. But I’m so tired of companies selling toxic crap because they think we don’t care. In my case, the toxic toys that are a result of lax supply chain management have forced me to boycott toys made in china. I blogged about it and wish more people blogged and acted on these issues.We have a voice and we should use it. We also have $ and should spend it wisely.
I’ve been freaked out about plastics since I read about pthalates in a Newsweek article a couple months ago. The other day I went completely berserk when Husband used cling wrap to cover something he was warming up for the kids in the microwave. He left it in too long (not his fault, we have a new microwave. Who knew it only takes seconds rather than minutes to rewarm food??) and melted all over the food. I threw it away and he thought I was being ridiculous. You really have to think and long and hard about whether all this “progress” we’ve made, is really progress at all. We destroying the ozone, killing off the coral reefs, polluting our drinking water, and saturating ourselves and our children with chemicals. My kids were both breastfed, but they did bottles occasionally. I used Playtex disposables (pthalates make plastics pliable) so though I didn’t wash or heat milk in them, I’m sure I’ve doomed my children anyway. Oy. I need to go watch the Sound of Music or something.
This topic at the same time puts me into a fit of rage and makes me laugh. It’s hard to draw the line on what to get nervous or worry about these days. It’s funny to me, because the blogosphere is going cuckoo about it, but when I’ve talked to any of my friends about it (who don’t read blogs or blog themselves) they don’t seem worried about it at all. I wonder if we, then are early adopters, or if we feed the beast, you know? But I still may boil those sippy cups tonight.
OF COURSE I use Advent. Bwah. Idiot I am. The thing that is most frusterating is you are going along parenting thinking you are doing a stand-up job… feeding organics, buying wooden toys then wham! The thing your kid uses the most is bad for them. I never use anything with a 3 in the recycling triangle (PVC) but apparently that just isn’t good enough.
Being the prone to paranoia type, I tossed almost every plastic container in the house, esp. the dishes n things that my kids eat off of/drink from. I’m SO PISSED OFF about these toy recalls. A reporter for an Asian newspaper interviewed me and asked if people thought if the toy recall (or people reacting to it/freaking out) was “racist” because they were all manuf. in China. I told no, it doesn’t have anything with racism, it has to do with toy manufacturers’ bottom lines, the greedy fucks. They don’t care about us. They don’t care about kids. They care about profits. When I read today that a mom bagged up her toys and delivered straight to Mattel, I thought, “She’s on to something.” I think everyone should send their recalled toys to Mattel COD.
We could start buying stuff that’s supposed to be better and tellin’ the world. (Yes, blog, I’m just backin’ ya’ll up here).I bought the evenflo glass bottles but then realized I’d ordered the wrong size. If Dr. Brown’s is making a glass bottle, I’d rather have that anyway. Reviews on the glass bottles < HREF="http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000056W4W/comopi-20" REL="nofollow">are here<>< HREF="http://treehugger.com" REL="nofollow">treehugger.com<> usually has a huge amount of information, they also have started a ‘personal shopper’ where you can make requests for things like “hey, I’d love to be able to feed my kiddo and not feel like I’m poisoning him at the same time.If someone starts a blog for finding nontoxic, yet not uber crunchy stuff for our kids and families I’d love to be in on it.
I totally agree Liz. I’ve actually been thinking about contacting Health Canada about warnings on this stuff. Too me, as well, bumper pads should come with warnings as well, as Health Canada recommends not using…. < HREF="http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/legislation/pol/bumper-bordure_e.html" REL="nofollow">click here<>
Stefania, that’s FABULOUS. Can you send them C.O.D.?
I sooo respect your honesty and telling us about the pacifier (ours may go all day – or maybe a few) before getting a proper wash. DO NOT tell my mom.Wondertwin Powers – ACTIVATE! We can only do enough to change together.
I ditched the plastic plates b/c my kids are big enough/old enough to use glass ones. I still have the Gerber plastic bowls for snacks and such that they schlep around the living room and rest of the house. I’m having a hard time getting rid of those for lack of breakability. Also, I am having a hard time getting rid of the plastic sippy cups because they are leak proof. I have some Foogoos and Funtainers (by Thermos) and some Sigg’s but if they are left open and get knocked over, they leak. Any suggestions on the sippy cup front? Has anyone tried the Foogoo Sippies? I know it’s their health, but I still have a hard time spending $15 on a sippy cup…
Liz, how sad that I have been a fan of your blog for over a year and I have yet to leave a comment…so here goes: I crave your posts and you should know that. It was great seeing you and the girls and if you are wondering who this is, it’s Amanda.By the way, from someone who was raised on Three’s Company, Hot Dogs, and plastics, I say you are doing a stellar job as a mom.(And you should know that.)
Where’s Ralph Nader and his team of Raiders when you need them?Regardless of how you feel about him running for president, you’ve got to respect what the man’s done (almost single-handedly) for consumer rights over the years. And if you don’t know what he’s done, now is a great time to learn and become inspired!On a more personal note, all this stuff is a little overwhelming to me, considering we’re expecting our first toward the end of the month. I have to remind myself that we can only control so much. After that, we can be very thankful that we’re rather hardy creatures.
Hi Blueschild!Well after a year, it’s about time you said hi and pointed me back to your brilliant writing now in blog form. It was fun seeing you have sex in my bed last week. Ha.
Funny you should write this now — I just bought a Sigg bottle for Jack’s lunch at kindergarten.And I am so happy about it.Because by the end of the school year, he will have used it at lunchtime approximately 150 times.
Now I’m even more irritated that I threw out those Playtex bottles.I’ll start looking for that evil number 7. Thanks for the heads up.
Actually, a group of us moms did get together and decided we need to speak up about this (and other related topics): http://momsspeakup.com/Thank Izzy for coming up with the idea.At my house, we’ve ditched the Avent bottles for safe bottles, and thrown out the plastic plates.
Oh, frig. I don’t put bottles in the dishwasher, but I guess the mandated “boil for 5 minutes before using” isn’t so smart either? AHHHH. I can just guess how long glass bottles will last in my house with a porcelain sink. I’m going straight to thge kitchen to inspect all the baby plates, cups and forks. Man. My sister bought all the kids stainless steel water bottles so they aren’t drinking water that has plastic leeching into it– a benefit: those things double as a weapon when hurled by a frustrated toddler.
After reading this, and bringing it up to my husband, we just got into an argument because he is one of those head-in-the-sand types. How do we get people to take notice? I wish I knew. I can’t even get my husband to listen.
ok. i now feel completely chagrined because it’s my *husband* who’s been insisting on never microwaving the bottles or using the dishwasher, which, frankly, I’ve found hugely annoying. I guess I’m one of the head in the sand types. But you’ve convinced me (and I feel so relieved that Frank has been so insistent..)
Christina, thank you for that link! I didn’t know about it. And Mrs. Chicky – I don’t know either. Nate is definitely of the “don’t ask/don’t ask” school of toxic shit awareness.
Joy, the truth is I’d be annoyed if it came from Nate first. Funny how that works. But truthfully you’re lucky he cares. Not that you don’t. It’s just annoying to care. More work. At least that how I’ve looked at it until recently.
Yeah, this stuff pisses me off. I switched from Avent to Playtex Nursers for my newborn, but she’s still getting mostly booby. But when I put my stash of Avent bottles and nipples up on Freecycle, I got a ton of responses…so not everyone’s on board this train yet.And yes, I did torture myself about putting a potential toxin on Freecycle…
The scariest book in the world is one by Theo Colborn called < HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000HIV0B8/comopi-20" REL="nofollow">Our Stolen Future<>.It talks about the leaching ofchemicals from the various synthetics that make our lives easier, and the accumulation and magnification of these chemicals through the food chain into the fatty tissue of humans. Many of these chemicals “mimic” hormones, and disrupt some of our most fundamental biological functions. I read the book years ago and cried for days, but wouldn’t you know it, nearly a decade and two babies later, I’m feeding my children from the same plastics because (jeez louise) I just can’t fit one more friggin errand into my day.I’ve long believed that economics is the only driver in the world. If we stopped buying crap, we would stop getting crap. But that is a total sanctimonious position that only a pompous middle-class educated woman like myself (ie. one who can afford to buy Sigg bottles for her children) can take. *Sigh* There is no win. We’re living in a country where upward mobility is a rapidly disappearing concept and the only thing keeping the masses from revolution is WalMart.I applaud the mamas on this board for trying (and especially for voting with their dollars). I only wish I had even one ounce of that faith in change left.
OK, here’s a question (because I have no answers, I’m just sitting over here saying “Fanfuckingtastic. Yet another thing for me to worry about.” But in a good way.) – I have sippy cups that have no number in a triangle on the bottom. I also have some kid plates and bowls from IKEA that have two clock things on the bottom, except one is pointing at five and the other at seven. What the hell is that?? I guess my next purchase is metal water bottles. Those will ding up the wood floors nicely when the Bug turns them into projectile missiles – it’s her favourite parlour trick.
OK, my head is going to explode. Between this and the toy recalls, I’m ready to start buying baby supplies exclusively from the Amish.
My husband has been driving me crazy for years because he insists on dumping everything that we stored in plastic containers into a glass one to heat it up. His defense was that he “doesnt trust plastic” and my defense was “another F-in dish to wash!”(((sigh)))
Major Bedhead – Most plastic sippy cups are safe. Also, I forgot to add that we switched to the Gerber Gentleflow bottles. They’re safe, not that expensive, and you can use Avent nipples with them. You can find them at Walgreens.
This stuff pisses me the hell off. I am a few more articles away from starting a commune. It is ridiculous, between the cancer causing chemicals in baby wash, these leaching chemicals in their bottles, and the effing lead paint recalls, I am feeling very overwhelmed. Also, if the recycling triangle has no number on it, but a PC underneath, what does that mean?
Not to mention the silicone vs. latex nipple issues. We bought glass bottles for our newborn twins and they came with latex nipples that we had to replace with silicone. Another thing to watch out for is the lead in the lunch box issue. We just bought a lead-free, safe plastic lunch kit for our daughter who just started kindergarten this year called the Laptop Lunch Bento Box and we send her water to school in a SIGG bottle. I highly recommend the site reusablebags.com. They sell great stuff. I’m a fan of the reusable shopping bags too. Even the Meijer by us gave us a discount for using them!
Kyla – PC means polycarbonate, which are the plastics of concern. Same as a 7, if I’m not mistaken.
OMG, I’m freaked out now too. I would have frowned upon glass bottles as a shattering hazard when nice, safe plastic was available . . . but I guess that’s changed now.
Okay, I was going to be all…like…am I the only clumsy dork of mom, here…on the plastic-good and glass-bad side of the fence…and then Lady M said it, too.Funny, I don’t feel better.How about if I tell you that I used to be very good, like sterilizing every gosh-darned thing in the house that dared to come anywhere near my first born’s lips.Until – blaming it on sleep deprivation – I forgot about the nipples boiling on the stove and boy, did you know that melted plastic does NOT smell good, either!?!?Don’t even get me started on microwaving – UGH!
I’ve never even thought about the sippy cups before — ugh!This is absolutely ridiculous.Off to purge the kitchen of more hazards not kept under the kitchen sink (labeled with Mr. Yuck stickers) behind a locked door. . .
Dr. Brown’s (Handi-Craft is the company behind them) will be < HREF="http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/08/this-just-in-dr-browns-to-begin.html" REL="nofollow">making glass bottles<>, which I know you mentioned already Liz, but they won’t be available for another 3-4 months.In the meantime, I have to decide what to do with my stash of Dr. Browns from child #1. I don’t have the heart to throw them out because gawd! they were a fortune! But I can’t in good conscience pass them onto someone else because of this. Also, I’m hoping the glass version comes out before January, because that’s when I’m expecting #2 to make his/her appearance. After the gas/bloating issues my first had, I don’t know that I want to go with another bottle that doesn’t have that incredible venting system (which is made of plastic, but not the kind that has this chemical in it, as mentioned in the link above).
Everybody go visit Jo – she’s got recommendations on what to use and where to get it. I don’t know how to hotlink within the comment, so visit me and I’ll link to her. If someone can tell me how to hotlink in a comment, I’ll fix this one up with the direct link.
Andrea, clicking around links, someone (argh, forget who!) mentioned that you can use the Dr Brown’s venting doodads in another set of bottles if you trim the bottoms. Maybe evenflo? I’ll look around for it. Tootsie: email me the link: mom101[at]mac.com
Via Tootsie:The famous < HREF="http://leerypolyp.blogs.com/" REL="nofollow">Jo<>, and her many good links.
Jesus. Maybe now I shouldn’t feel so bad that Myles won’t take a bottle.
This has been freaking me the heck out for a while now, too. Not the least because one of the most suspect plastic chemicals, the estrogen-mimic Bisphenol-A, is common not only in baby bottles and sippy cups but also in <>dental sealants<>. Which I have (they were foisted upon me by a dentist when I was 15, to prevent cavities. Which I thought was kind of dumb even at that time since I had never had a cavity).So, I know I might already have fairly high levels of this stuff in my system, which means my son must have been exposed in utero . . (This does, however, make me feel better about the fact that my son refused to drink expressed milk reliably from bottles when he was a baby, causing me to give up on the Avents after a few months. A lot more sleepless nights for me, and a lot of awkward moments trying to nurse a baby in the stockroom at work on my meal breaks, but, at least he didn’t get as much toxin exposure, right?)I have heard that #5 plastic is the safest kind, in case anyone is wondering.
Bossy suggests rubber. Like, condoms. Avoid this conundrum at its inception. Or is that ‘conception’?
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