warming baby formula?

Question

I just received an email about some kind of chemical leaching into formula from plastic baby bottles when they're microwaved. I use Dr. Brown's bottles, and they were one of the bottles with the highest level of chemical leaching into the bottle. I'm currently using ready to feed formula as it's the only kind my baby can keep down. She won't take it cold, so how should I warm it besides in the microwave? From what I've read, warming it in any way in the plastic bottle causes leaching. Should I be concerned or is it one of those 'soap box' issues?

Answer 1

heat water then put the bottle in it. I use a large cup that takes enough water to cover the bottle. I happen to use the plastic drop in bottles and putting the plastic dropins into the water insures they heat a heck of alot quicker with no leaching. Leaching is for lazy people who use microwaves. Hot water adds another step or two but pays off well in baby health dividends.

Answer 2

I don't know about chemical leaching, but you should not be warming your baby's bottle in the microwave anyway -- it is too easy for "hot spots" to develop that could burn your baby's mouth. The drops that you test on your arm could be fine, but microwaves heat unevenly, and your baby could get a mouthful of too-hot formula. We used to warm our bottles (and even thaw frozen breastmilk) by running hot tap water into a large cup and putting the bottle in it for a few minutes; this doesn't make it "warm," but takes the chill off enough that our babies were fine with it. If your baby is pickier about the temperature, use the microwave to heat some formula in a shallow glass bowl and then stir it up really well to distribute the heat before you pour it into the bottle.

Answer 3

I'm not sure about the leaching, but our pedi told us never to heat formula in the microwave. It distorts the composition or something. We bought a bottle warmer for $20 and it is so worth it. It heats so much faster than the hot water in a cup method- we can heat an 8 oz bottle of refrigerated formula in about 3 minutes. Plus, you can set the bottle in there and change a diaper or something while you are waiting. We also will set it on the lowest heat and I will let bottle heat up while I am feeding DD baby food.

Answer 4

Put an inch of water in a small pot and stand the bottle in the water. Put the pot on the stove and turn on the fire. Check frequently. Whatever you do, DO NOT GO TO BED, cause the bottle could start on fire once the water boils out of the pan... ha ha... yeah, a little bit of personal experience there. I don't know if this helps with the leaching chemicals problem, but I think microwaves are evil. They change the molecular structure of food so I try not to use them (but hey, who doesn't love microwave popcorn?). Maybe you ought to buy glass bottles.

Answer 5

You should definately be concerned. Plastics all leach chemicals - they just do more so when they're heated or frozen. It would be safer to heat the bottle in a pot of hot water - the microwave process attacks the plastics more.
Think about plastic food wrap - it can be totally melted and stuck to your food and your food could still be cold.

Answer 6

You shouldn't be microwaving the bottles anyway because you can get hot spots that way. You really should be warming the in a cup of water. And if you are really concerned then start to slowly make her bottles less warm until she will take them cold.
Every kid is different my sisters kids would take their bottles cold but mine were nursed longer, so when they went on formula they liked their bottles warm.

Answer 7

Its a very real issue. 60 minutes did a show on it. Put it in a glass container and warm in in a bottle warmer, or in a pan of water on the stove. Even normal fomula should not be microwaved. Microwaving destroys the nutrients in anything, not just formula, and anything microwaved in plastic becomes dangerous. Microwaves should be avoided as much as possible.

Answer 8

You could always heat it in a glass bowl and then pour it into the bottle. I do have to say both my kids drank from microwaved bottles and are 6 and 8, and fine, and doing excellent in school!!

Answer 9

Polycarbonate Baby Bottles Accepted as Safe for Use Worldwide
News ArchiveFebruary 28, 2007

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), which represents the leading manufacturers of baby bottles in the United States, stands by the scientific research indicating that plastic baby bottles are safe.

Sound and respected scientific research has consistently shown there is no danger to consumers when products are used as intended. Trace levels of Bisphenol A from consumer products are well below any level that could cause harm to adults or to our children. Other scientific studies have shown that BPA has NO effect on the reproductive system, NO effect on the developmental system and NO carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects. Recent reports indicating otherwise are both sensational and biased, and they have not received any validation from the scientific community.

Found in a wide variety of products, lightweight and shatter-resistant polycarbonate plastic has been the material of choice in baby bottles for 25 years. The potential for exposure to bisphenol A from bottles has been extensively examined and the results reviewed by government bodies worldwide that have responsibility for assessing the safety of consumer products. The scientists who conducted these safety studies on BPA come from across the globe, and include scientists from: the U.S. National Academy of Science, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences.

The data released at the California State Capitol was misleading and needlessly frightening to consumers. There is significant data available on the safety of BPA. From baby bottles and food packaging, to bicycle helmets and eyeglass lenses, as well as incubators and components of many life-saving medical devices, polycarbonate plastic makes everyday lives better and safer.

JPMA encourages parents to contact the bottle manufacturer if they have a question or concern. Most of the manufacturers have toll-free numbers and many have information posted on their Web sites.

For more information on BPA in juvenile products, visit:

http://www.CoalitionForConsumerChoice.org/
http://www.bisphenol-A.org
http://www.stats.org
http://www.acsh.org

Answer 10

I also received an email like that once, I checked it out on snopes.com and it was totally bogus. I also use Dr. Browns and have been warming them in the microwave since my daughter was born. She's now 15mths. old. It's totally fine. As far as hot spots like everyone is saying, you should ALWAYS shake it up before giving to child, that eliminates the hot spots.