Glass baby bottles are quickly becoming a popular choice again for many parents who use a bottle to feed their baby. Glass was the bottle of choice for many years, until the late 80s and early 90s when polycarbonate bottles became more popular. Polycarbonate, a hard, durable, glass-like plastic, was used to make baby bottles for several reasons, but primarily because the material was virtually unbreakable.

However, in the past couple of years, there have been findings that suggest the chemicals in polycarbonate bottles are unsafe for babies and can actually contaminate the milk or formula they are being given. In this article, I will explore the issue of glass baby bottles and take a look at what you need to know before getting some.

Polycarbonate is a very common plastic used in many food storage and heating applications. It has a clear, glass-like appearance, and is very nearly unbreakable. Dropping a polycarbonate baby bottle on the bathroom sink isn't going to matter very much. Chances are very good that the bottle won't even be scratched, much less cracked or broken.

The issue with polycarbonate is that it contains a chemical called bisphenol-A, or BPA. This chemical is toxic and can leech into food or liquids being stored or heated in polycarbonate vessels. The amount of BPA allowed to leech into your food from the storage containers is regulated by the US government to "safe" levels - although some would argue that any amount of a toxic chemical in your food is unsafe - but the problem is that these levels are determined using a scale based on full grown adults, not babies.

Since babies are so much smaller than adults - 10 to 15 pounds as opposed to 150 to 200 pounds - the amount of BPA they ingest from a polycarbonate bottle is a much greater percentage of their body weight. In addition, babies' bodies are ill-eqipped to handle such a large load of toxins, especially when they are newborns, and will have trouble processing the chemical safely.

The biggest issue that people have with glass baby bottles is that they break more easily than polycarbonate bottles. Although this is a real concern - having any sort of glass shatter on your kitchen floor is both a nuisance and a safety hazard - but it really is much less of an issue then most people think.

Baby bottles made of glass are actually built to be rather durable. The glass is heavy and thick, and the outside of the bottle generally has raised bumps for measuring that also serve to help you keep your grip on the bottle. If that's not enough, you can also find sleeves made of silicon that fit around the bottle to provide you with a firm grip.

Should you happen to drop one, chances are actually very good that it will survive the fall just fine. If you manage to drop it from a very high level or if it lands on concrete, then it may crack or shatter, but this is exceedingly rare.

Once you've decided to buy some glass baby bottles, there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, if your baby is a newborn or younger than 3 months old, a four ounce bottle will probaly be enough for each feeding. However, once they're about 3 to 4 months old, you'll probably need to move up to the eight ounce size. If you want to skip the four ounce size altogether, that will most likely work out fine.

You'll also need at least 6 bottles to make it through the day without having to wash, and having 8 or 10 will make things even easier. These baby bottles are often sold in packs of 6, so I'd recommend buying two for the convenience.

When you buy your bottles, make sure to get everything you need along with them - nipples, nipple covers, cap rings, and sealing discs. You won't be able to use your bottles without these items, so don't forget to make sure they come in the pack. The nipples and cap rings work together for feeding time, and the sealing discs and nipple covers make traveling with full bottles not only possible, but easy and convenient. You'll also want to remember to buy a cold pack and insulated bag to keep the bottles in when you travel so the formula or milk stays fresh.

There's an interesting video below that shows a baby bottle being dropped to demonstrate the strength of glass bottles. This bottle actually has a BPA-free lining to contain the glass and liquid should the bottle break, but it doesn't lend anything to the strength of the bottle.

For information on more home and garden topics,  check out the links to my other Hubs below.

• Finding a good baby stroller
• Guide to heating pads
• Using bamboo blinds in your home
• Buying the right exterior shutters