Baby bottle buying guide

Concerns about the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which is found in baby bottles made of polycarbonate (a hard, translucent plastic that can be clear or colored), have prompted several some manufacturers to switch to other types of plastics and certain retailers like Toys "R" Us, Walmart, and others to stop selling BPA baby bottles. Consumers Union, which has been studying this issue for years, believes that BPA should not be used in any food contact materials. When it's heated, washed in the dishwasher, or exposed to acids such as those found in juice, polycarbonate tends to break down and leach BPA into food and drinks, according to Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D., a BPA researcher at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Polycarbonate containers can get worse with age; older polycarbonate items tend to leach more than newer ones, vom Saal said. Based on the latest research, the National Institutes of Health concluded that there was some concern about the effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and reproductive system of fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures.

The FDA has announced that it is moving ahead with additional research exploring the potential low-dose effects of BPA that have been noted in several animal studies. For now, polycarbonate baby bottles are still on the market in this country, although some retailers, states and countries have banned them or are in the process of banning them.

If you're concerned about BPA, use bottles that are not marked as No. 7 plastic, a group that includes polycarbonate, the material made with BPA. Many stores and websites now sell plastic baby bottles labeled "without BPA," or "Bisphenol-A Free." They're made of alternative plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethersulfone, or Tritan, a polyester-based material. Bottles not made from polycarbonate may be a little more expensive, but it depends on the brand. Glass, including bottles sold with protective silicone sleeves, is also an option. Silicone sleeves for glass bottles are also sold separately. But glass is still breakable, presenting a safety hazard for adults, children, and pets. And it's heavier for you and your baby to hold than plastic, which gives plastic bottles made without BPA the edge in terms of ease of use.

When Consumer Reports used an outside lab that specializes in plastic analysis to test for BPA in several brands of plastic baby bottles that were labeled "without BPA" or "Bisphenol-A Free" several years ago, we found that the BPA levels were negligible. The five bottles we tested are a better choice than polycarbonate. If you don't want to use glass but still want to limit your baby's exposure to BPA, consider BornFree, 9-fluid-ounce or 5-fluid-ounce twin packs; Evenflo Classic without BPA CustomFlow, 8-ounce, tinted; Medela Breast Milk Feeding and Storage Set, 5-ounce; Nuby Non-Drip, multicolored, by Luv n' Care, 10-ounce or 7-ounce, and MAM BPA-free Anti-Colic Bottle, by Sassy, 9-ounce.

There are pluses and minuses with every nipple and baby bottle. Be prepared to try out bottles and nipples to find a combo your baby likes and that is easy for you to use. To save money while you're experimenting, start with a lower-priced bottle made without BPA, such as Evenflo, and see if your baby likes it. If so, you've got a winner. Some babies accept any bottle. If feeding doesn't go smoothly, try another type of bottle made without BPA.

There are two basic sizes of this classic shape with straight or slightly curved sides: 4 or 5 ounces for infants and 8 or 9 ounces for older babies, in glass or plastic, including non-polycarbonate plastic. Some brands come in 7 or 11 ounces to.

These bottles are bent at the neck, making them easier for you to hold in a comfortable position.

Many baby bottle brands make a wide-neck bottle, which is slightly shorter and broader compared to a standard bottle and used with a corresponding wide nipple.

In these bottles, a disposable plastic pouch, or liner, fits inside a rigid outer holder, called a nurser. The top edge of the liner fits over the nurser's rim. You pour in formula or breast milk and hold the liner in place by fastening the lid (a nipple and bottle ring). The liner collapses as your baby drinks, reducing the tendency for air bubbles to form. Some brands that make nurser systems claim their liners are BPA-free. The liner prevents breast milk or formula from making contact with the nurser though, so BPA transfer to your baby might not be an issue.

Natural-flow bottles, such as those made by Dr. Brown's, have a patented two-piece internal straw-like vent system that's inserted into the center of the bottle. Dr. Brown's says it's designed to eliminate the vacuum that can form when a baby sucks, so there are no air bubbles, reducing the possibility of colic and gas. Dr. Brown's makes polycarbonate, polyethylene, and glass baby bottles with its straw-like vent system.

These eye-catching bottles, such as the Adiri Natural Nurser, are a class unto themselves, characterized by their unique design.

Nipples come in several shapes: the traditional "natural" bell, or dome, shape, a slightly bulbous "orthodontic" design, or a flattened shape. As we mentioned, there are also wide nipples, with a wider base, especially for those babies who switch between bottle and breast. Most nipples are smooth. At least one model has a nipple that's slightly textured instead of smooth around the perimeter of the nipple, to feel more like mom. It's intended to promote latch-on and a slower flow, thus reducing nipple confusion for babies who are breast- and bottle-fed.

Nipples generally come in three standard flow variations with different-sized holes appropriate for the baby's age: newborn or slow flow (for newborn to 3 months), medium flow (for newborn to 12 months), and fast flow (for babies older than 3 months). A nipple should offer some resistance, but not so much that your baby has to struggle to get milk. Generally, younger babies prefer a slower flow; older babies, a faster one (although that's not always the case).

At least one brand, Dr. Brown's makes a slightly faster, level-four nipple for babies who are about 6 months and older, and a "preemie flow" nipple for feeding babies born prematurely. Dr. Brown's and other brands, such as Gerber, also offer a Y-cut (a tri-cut or cross-cut) nipple for cereal or thick juices, but the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend giving a baby "food" through a bottle because it can lead to excessive weight gain. And it's good for a baby to get used to the eating process--taking bites, resting between bites, and setting an eating pace.