What did you do with your BPA bottles?

[beevo12]

Lots of BRU stores are letting you exchange your old bottles for new BPA free bottles! Yesterday I exchanged all of mine for a store credit. Just want to let you guys know that it doesn't have to come out of your pocket to buy the new BPA free bottles!

They are taking, Playtex, Dr. Brown's, Avent, Evenflo as far as I know. Call your store, I'm sure they have more details.

[jh124]

I didn't freak out about BPA, that's what I did. But lots of people here have exchanged them, recycled them, or just thrown them away.

[beevo12]

I didn't freak out about BPA, that's what I did.


How wonderful, thanks for the sarcasm.:rolleyes:

[polkadot]

beevo- what did you bring back to the store? i just called and they said they would take them back and exchange for new bottles I was so excited i didnt ask what i needed to bring back...Did you give back the bottle and the nipple and collar too or just the bottle itself? I am wondering what I need to pack up. TIA

ETA: Not freaking out...just wanting to not have somthing harmful in a bottle I am giving my kid everyday KWIM? thanks for the headsup :D

[beevo12]

beevo- what did you bring back to the store? i just called and they said they would take them back and exchange for new bottles I was so excited i didnt ask what i needed to bring back...Did you give back the bottle and the nipple and collar too or just the bottle itself? I am wondering what I need to pack up. TIA

I brought back all I had, I was missing two collars and they didn't say anything about it, and I think I was missing a few caps too. They said I HAD to get BPA free bottles with the card but they didn't have a lot of them in stock so I said I'd come back. I don't need new bottles or any bottles for that matter since my DD won't take one, so I have that card burning a hole in my pocket. I did buy some BPA free sippies though! I got $67 in store credit.

ETA- I didn't freak out about it either but if there is something better out there for them and they are not charging you for it, wouldn't you get it?? Common sense right? :D

[Suzlywoozly]

beevo- what did you bring back to the store? i just called and they said they would take them back and exchange for new bottles I was so excited i didnt ask what i needed to bring back...Did you give back the bottle and the nipple and collar too or just the bottle itself? I am wondering what I need to pack up. TIA

ETA: Not freaking out...just wanting to not have somthing harmful in a bottle I am giving my kid everyday KWIM? thanks for the headsup :D

BRU requires that you bring back all the parts with the bottle... nipple, collar, cap, vents and reservoirs (if you have Dr. Brown bottles).

RE:Freaking out... My main concern with the BPA thing is that most of our Dr. Brown's bottles were starting to get these little star like cracks in them. It worries me that the BPA is leaching out of them at that point. I did email Dr. Brown's about this and they had somebody call me the next day. They sent me out new bottles to replace the old bottles and I need to send the cracked bottles back to them so they can examine them and determine if the bottles need to be recalled. FWIW the bottles were never put in the microwave, had hot liquid in them and were ocassionally put in the dishwasher on the top rack. The rep at Dr. Brown's said that putting them in the dishwasher should not cause them to crack.

[Loud_curly]

I'm still not sure what to think about the whole BPA thing. BPA is one of the more widely-studied chemicals out there, and I'm just as concerned about substituting an unknown danger that may come with a different type of plastic. Here's the FDA's take on it: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html

And here's one of the recent studies: http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/BPADraftBriefVF_04_14_08.pdf
Remember, the studies were conducted on rodents, not humans.

That's not to say that BPA is completely safe, but then again, what is today? Seems like everything is a risk.

[polkadot]

thanks SOOOOOOOOO much...off to pack it all up!!

[miaclear]

I only had 3 Dr Brown's bottles and two others I can't even name. DS nursed till 14 months and rarely took a bottle (maybe 20 times total on those days when I wasn't around). They are all packed up right now and I don't even want to hassle getting them out to get store credit on 3 bottles. When we have #2 I'll probably toss them unless I can think of a better use, I hate to just throw them. And banking on #2 having the same feeding habits of #1 I'll probably invest in some glass bottles like these for the few times we use 'em:
http://silikids.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=S&Product_Code=Siliskin_8oz&Category_Code=Baby_Products

FWIW I'm trying to phase out plastics in to the best of my ability.

[SiValleySteph]

Well, my first son's Avent bottles I tossed when he was done using them. I didn't feel right passing them to another child once I knew about the BPA issue.

For my second son, I bought glass. I think that's the safest, IMO. :)

I'm not sure why BRU would be taking the bottles back when we've all known for at least the last few years about the BPA thing. It hasn't been a secret. ???

[wendalah]

I don't know if I'm going to bother exchanging my BPA bottles. They are pretty old at this point (at least 3 months old I think) and I kind of feel like I'm exchanging a used toothbrush, KWIM?

I do think the offer from BRU is great, though.

[boilermaker]

I used BPA free by luck (playtek drop-ins) for 90% of DDs bottles so I only have 4 advent ones that came with my manual pump. I just packed them away with the pump. If there are new ones for the pump whenever I decide to have DC2, I'll pitch them and get the new ones. Otherwise, I'm not overly concerned.

[karlatta]

Mine are all over two years old (I used the same bottles for DS and DD), so I just chucked them. No way would I be able to find all of the pieces anyway.

[mommydearest]

I sold mine on eBay a couple months ago when they started taking them back in Canada.

Darn...I'd rather have just gotten new BPA free bottles for the next kiddo. I didn't get that much for them on eBay, so store credit would have been much better.

[Mickey&B]

I used BPA free by luck (playtek drop-ins) for 90% of DDs bottles so I only have 4 advent ones that came with my manual pump. I just packed them away with the pump. If there are new ones for the pump whenever I decide to have DC2, I'll pitch them and get the new ones. Otherwise, I'm not overly concerned.


I thought they did contain BPA, I ask because these are what I have and although I haven't given DS a bottle yet I have been debating on what to do. I bought a few Medela bottles just in case but haven't decided which ones I wanted to use. How do I find out what products are BPA free?

[Suzlywoozly]

How do I find out what products are BPA free?

http://thesoftlanding.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/which-nuby-bottles-and-sippy-cups-are-really-bpa-free/

[MichelleRenee]

A friend of mine asked her ped his opinion on switching to BPA free bottles and he told her that her baby would be in more danger driving to the store to buy the new bottles than by sticking with the bottles she had.

I, personally, hate such comparisons (comparing chemicals to car accidents?) BUT just as I do what I can to make car rides safer I will probably buy BPA-free for baby #2. I wanted to buy new bottles anyways because I really didn't care for our old ones. I'll probably just toss those. I am not sure if they can be recycled. I guess that is for our trash sorter to figure out. Our closest BRU is pretty far away and I don't see myself going there any time soon.

[mommydearest]

My ped said she personally threw hers away, along with the Nalgene bottles her older kids use. Her opinion was that it was better to be safe, especially with something that you are constantly heating.

This is not a crunchy doc by any means...it is a normal suburban practice where I've never seen another sling or cloth diaper...

[bunnybeth]

I was thinking about getting new bottles when the next time around comes, but maybe I'll do it now with that BRU offer and the fact that I was about to pack up the old ones. Good deal!

Although I wasn't very concerned with the bottles, I am trying to reduce our use of canned foods, after reading this: http://safebabynest.com/2008/04/17/bpa-canned-goods/

It seems food sitting around in a BPA-lined can for months would have more of an impact than milk in a bottle for a few hours/days.

[Hula1974]

I was thinking about getting new bottles when the next time around comes, but maybe I'll do it now with that BRU offer and the fact that I was about to pack up the old ones. Good deal!

Me too. Is there a link with the BRU exchange info?

[PookiePrincess]

I'd call your nearest BRU. I did this morning and they said yes, they will take the BPA bottles for store credit. I'm so excited because I have 10 Dr. Brown's bottles and a ton of Avent bottles, too that were barely even used. I plan on getting more Born Free bottles for daycare in the fall.

[jennylou]

I'm still not sure what to think about the whole BPA thing. BPA is one of the more widely-studied chemicals out there, and I'm just as concerned about substituting an unknown danger that may come with a different type of plastic. Here's the FDA's take on it: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html

And here's one of the recent studies: http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/BPADraftBriefVF_04_14_08.pdf
Remember, the studies were conducted on rodents, not humans.

That's not to say that BPA is completely safe, but then again, what is today? Seems like everything is a risk.

I wouldn't, personally, take a study done by our government and particularly by the FDA as proof of anything.

Canada has banned the use of BPA in any of their baby products. A huge, national chain (BRU) is taking returns and issuing store credit on BPA bottles - that to me speaks volumes. They're doing it voluntarily. And losing a butt load of money, no doubt.

[jh124]

How wonderful, thanks for the sarcasm.:rolleyes:

You asked the question and I gave you my honest answer. As SiValleySteph notes, this isn't a new issue. It's been around for years. And Loud_Curly listed some good information. So given that I bought my bottles before the recent media/consumer group hysteria and I choose to have some faith in FDA, I didn't freak out. Sorry you thought I was so flip, just because I don't share your point of view.


I wouldn't, personally, take a study done by our government and particularly by the FDA as proof of anything.

Canada has banned the use of BPA in any of their baby products. A huge, national chain (BRU) is taking returns and issuing store credit on BPA bottles - that to me speaks volumes. They're doing it voluntarily. And losing a butt load of money, no doubt.

But I also don't take media hysteria and stuff I read on the internet as proof of anything. I try to look at both sides and decide what is best for me and my family. And I don't mind disagreeing with people because my view doesn't coincide with theirs. Except for people who use walkers. They are just stupid. (ETA: See? That sentence there? That was me being sarcastic.)

[Suzlywoozly]

I wouldn't, personally, take a study done by our government and particularly by the FDA as proof of anything.

Canada has banned the use of BPA in any of their baby products. A huge, national chain (BRU) is taking returns and issuing store credit on BPA bottles - that to me speaks volumes. They're doing it voluntarily. And losing a butt load of money, no doubt.

Not to mention that BRU's website states that they are phasing out ALL BPA bottles in their stores by the end of the year.

[yby1]

Darn. I just set all our BPA bottles on fire and doused the flames with bleach...then cleaned the area with ammonia. NOW I find out about this. :)

Seriously, that's cool. It's too late for me to exchange anything because DS' bottles are ancient. ;)

[Loud_curly]

Remember, much of this debate is driven by $$$. BRU is exchanging bottles in good faith, b/c they're hoping that you'll buy other items while you're in exchanging new bottles. (Much like drugstores sell milk for cheap - it's a loss leader.) Phasing out BPA bottles is a response to the public demand, which is led by media reports.

And not to further fuel the debate, but here's another article summarizing the BPA issue: http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5179/

And one not related to BPA, but interesting reading about Greenpeace anyway: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120882720657033391.html

Sorry to keep interjecting here, but I think it's really important that folks understand both side of the issue. Not that it's going to change anything in the long haul, but just so folks have a deeper understanding than just "the TV news report said BPA was bad."

[Standrea]

Does BRU take back the Avent hand pump too? Don't the parts of those have BPA?

I bought new (glass) bottles for DD#2, but my old avent stuff is just sitting around. I'd sure love to exchange those.

[mcgwigan]

Different BRUs are doing different things. I called my BRU last Friday and they have stopped doing the bottle exchange program at that store because there have been no recalls.

standrea I have heard of someone able to take their Avent pump in on the exchange program also.

[Angie]

I exchanged them for store credit that I was able to use towards BPA free bottles and sippy cups. Since I had already bought BPA free bottles, I mostly bought more nipples and sippy cups.

[wendalah]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember, much of this debate is driven by $$$. BRU is exchanging bottles in good faith, b/c they're hoping that you'll buy other items while you're in exchanging new bottles. (Much like drugstores sell milk for cheap - it's a loss leader.) Phasing out BPA bottles is a response to the public demand, which is led by media reports.

Agreed. I'm not losing my mind over BPA right now, but I did think that it wouldn't hurt to replace the bottles seeing as the ones we have are a few months old.

BTW, I'm kind of tickled that corporate America has more sway on public opinion now than governmental studies. La Leche League should figure out some way to harness this if they really want to push breastfeeding as a public health issue.

[TracyDP]

I didn't freak out about BPA, that's what I did. But lots of people here have exchanged them, recycled them, or just thrown them away.

Pretty much my feelings on the subject. People tend to get hysterical about things that finally make it into the national news, even though the topic and danger (if there really is one) has been around for years. I've done a lot of reading on the subject, some independent and some links posted in these forums and I decided to just keep on using my Avent bottles until DD is done with them (I'd been using them for 6m already when all this hit the news). I have never heated a bottle in the microwave and I don't put them in the dishwasher. I wash them in lukewarm soapy water and DD takes room temp formula, always has. I just keep a 32oz bottle of water on the counter for making bottles. If I have another baby, I'll get a new round of bottles. The sippies I'm using for DD now are BPA free. I'm moving away from canned foods which I believe have a much higher concentration of BPA from sitting around in the can for months/years than formula that is in DD's bottle a maximum of 1 hr before eating or dumping.

Fact is we all do what we think is best for our children. If you are worried enough about it to get new bottles, then by all means...get them. I think it's great the BRU is doing this exchange since a lot of Mom's that are concerned can't really afford to go out and replace all their bottles.

[beevo12]

You asked the question and I gave you my honest answer. As SiValleySteph notes, this isn't a new issue. It's been around for years. And Loud_Curly listed some good information. So given that I bought my bottles before the recent media/consumer group hysteria and I choose to have some faith in FDA, I didn't freak out. Sorry you thought I was so flip, just because I don't share your point of view.

How do you know what my point of view is? I personally never gave an opinion before you decided to be a royal bitch about it. You know what your were doing, don't play dumb. I was simply letting people know about the bottle return because even if you are not freaking out about the BPA thing, YOU CAN GET BRAND NEW BOTTLES! Derrrrrrrrrrr.........

[beevo12]

Darn. I just set all our BPA bottles on fire and doused the flames with bleach...then cleaned the area with ammonia. NOW I find out about this. :)

Seriously, that's cool. It's too late for me to exchange anything because DS' bottles are ancient. ;)


They'll take them in ANY condition, even missing parts!! You could get some store credit and get what you really need!:D

[daphne]

They'll take them in ANY condition, even missing parts!! You could get some store credit and get what you really need!:D

My BRU won't take them if they are missing *any* parts. The entire bottle (nipple, cap, ring, etc) has to be returned.

[beevo12]

My BRU won't take them if they are missing *any* parts. The entire bottle (nipple, cap, ring, etc) has to be returned.


awww man! I had a few missing rings and caps and they didn't even flinch. Maybe some workers are a little lazier than others. :)

[mlfallis]

When the recall started up here (Canada) a couple months ago, after about a week it started to include items other than bottles and sippy cups. I know breast pumps were also included, not sure if it is for you guys but you may want to look into it.

[Camdynlyn]

I took Mia's bottles back a couple of weeks ago. I don't think people are freaking out by any means about it, though. Mia is long off bottles (almost a year off) but they are sitting around and I'd rather go to BPA free or glass for the next child so I took them in. Why not??

I also took 2 friends' things for them and even an Advent Manual Breast Pump. She got back $100. I got back $50 and my other friend got back about $45.

They took old old old sippies, too. They didn't check to see if all the pieces were there and I had all the item numbers ready for them so it was really a breeze and took no time at all. They didn't complain one bit and gave me a store credit.

[betsyboop]

Maybe some workers are a little lazier than others.

I think this is definitely true. When I went in a couple weeks ago, the guy who waited on me could not have cared less. He let me return stuff that was missing parts, did not even contain BPA, and/or was not bought at BRU. A friend of mine went to the same store and they only let her return stuff without any missing parts. It's just luck of the draw.

[polkadot]

I exchanged my Dr. Browns bottles at my local BRU yesterday. My store is doing a bottle for bottle exchange, they are not giving store credit. I was able to exchage all of my 8oz bottles for BPA free but the store did not have the 4oz bottles in stock, so i was not able to exchange them for me. No biggie I will just keep them in my car and one day when I am in there check it out and see if they do. I am in there a lot :o I really liked these bottles and used them for #1 and planned to used them for #2, but I would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to a chemical possibly leaking into formula. So if they are doing the exchange why not, I now have brand new bottles for #2! Thanks for the heads up Beevo!:p

[DelSol]

I wish I would have saw this sooner, I was just at BRU today. I'm going to call them anyway and see what they are doing, I have a lot of Dr. Browns bottles.



Thanks for sharing the info Beevo!

[Hula1974]

I've seen a lot of links about BPA FREE products.
Is there a site that tells you what may contain BPA so I don't try to return something that is actually safe?

[SiValleySteph]

The one thing I really don't understand is that BRU is still selling BPA bottles. I was just there yesterday and they have the BPA Dr. Brown's bottles, as well as the BPA-free and the glass. I, myself, purchased a bottle with BPA yesterday (First Years Breastflow, in the hopes my bottle refusing baby would just please take something!). So since it didn't work for us, can I go exchange it for something else? :confused:

[cynder]

From an online press release (http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/thursday/news/ny-bzplas125723738jun12,0,6367179.story):

Toys R Us said "in light of growing consumer concerns on this topic, the company has been working with manufacturers to phase out all baby bottles and other baby feeding products containing BPA. ... This process is ongoing and is expected to be completed before the end of 2008."

[SiValleySteph]

I read that, too, I just think it's strange that they would be taking back BPA bottles already while still selling them, KWIM?

Well, at least I should be able to get my $4.99 back. :)

[Grenouille]

I read that, too, I just think it's strange that they would be taking back BPA bottles already while still selling them, KWIM?

Well, at least I should be able to get my $4.99 back. :)

Well its not like BRU stores are accepting returns because they care about anyone's babies. They are accepting returns because they know it will bring in customers who will spend money in their stores. The fact that they are still selling BPA bottles just solidifies that even more.

[mommydearest]

I read that they are stopping all BPA bottle sales this fall.

[Suzlywoozly]

I've seen a lot of links about BPA FREE products.
Is there a site that tells you what may contain BPA so I don't try to return something that is actually safe?

Here is a blog where they rate the amount of BPA in products and says which ones are safe. Most of the time you can look on the manufacturer's website to see if the item contains BPA.

http://thesoftlanding.wordpress.com/

[Hula1974]

Thanks!

[Tenny]

Here is another website...

http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2008/02/z-report-on-bpa-in-infant-care-products.html

[motownmamma]

OK, I'm as mainstream and anti-alarmist as they come. But I'll be interested in this only if my BRU is doing a bottle for bottle exchange. It looks like the Born Free bottles are twice the cost of a plain 'ol Avent bottle, right? I don't want to have to invest any of my own money in an exchange, so a store credit won't do it for me. Questions about Born Free bottles:

1. Do they have nipples with varying flow rates similar to Avent? (1 - 4)
2. If you used Avent before, how did your DC do with the switch from Avent to Born Free?

[mcgwigan]

motownmamma I think that someone in this thread said that the avent nipples fit the born free bottles (someone correct me if I'm worng please!)

[Suzlywoozly]

I am so annoyed... I went to exchange my Dr. Brown bottles last week and was told that as of 7/1, BRU is no longer doing exchanges on them. I went to two other BRU's in my area and was told the same thing.

[IzzyJune2006]

I was able to get full credit for my playtex ventaire bottles this weekend at BRU. I had to use the credit then and there to obtain replacements. Luckily they has some born free glass bottles in stock. I got 5 of those.

The customer service staff were chatting and saying something to the effect that this was the last weekend they were doing it. I'm not sure. It does sound like it is different from store to store. She also said something to the other girl like, if anyone calls asking if we are doing this, say no.

So just bring your bottles to the store and see what happens!

[IzzyJune2006]

In case you are interested in the latest news on BPA science. The FDA decision on BPA was not what it should be based on this new evidence.
There's a recent article in JAMA with quite striking findings.

Article (http://appprod20.corp.medtronic.com:2087/cgi/content/abstract/300/11/1303)

Ref:
Association of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration With Medical Disorders and Laboratory Abnormalities in Adults

Iain A. Lang, PhD; Tamara S. Galloway, PhD; Alan Scarlett, PhD; William E. Henley, PhD; Michael Depledge, PhD, DSc; Robert B. Wallace, MD; David Melzer, MB, PhD

JAMA. 2008;300(11):1303-1310. Published online September 16, 2008 (doi:10.1001/jama.300.11.1303).

Also, I noticed that the focus has been mainly on plastic bottles, but the plastic lining of canned food also contains BPA. I wish this was discussed more so that more canned goods could be offered with a safer alternative. I've been trying to buy more in glass jars, but there isn't always an option. I hear that the Trader Joe's canned products don't have BPA.

[mcgwigan]

That link is not working-can you try again? I'd be interested in reading it! TIA!

[TracyDP]

Also, I noticed that the focus has been mainly on plastic bottles, but the plastic lining of canned food also contains BPA. I wish this was discussed more so that more canned goods could be offered with a safer alternative. I've been trying to buy more in glass jars, but there isn't always an option. I hear that the Trader Joe's canned products don't have BPA.

I have been trying to avoid canned goods when I can. I LOVE Trader Joes pear/peach/mango halves in jars. I have been stocking up for winter when local fresh fruit is going to be hard to come by. I cut it up and DD loves eating it, and I can grind it up for adding to cereal, muffins or pancakes. I'll have to check into TJ's canned goods being BPA free, that would be fantastic.