Does anyone know (preferably with research to back it up) which is "better" for the enviornment-- using Playtex bottles with plastic drop-ins or inserts OR using the water it takes to clean and sterilize traditional bottles. I have a two month old, and it seems like I am constantly washing bottles-- under running water of course. I don't use enough dishes to run the dishwasher before I need clean bottles. I feel like an environmental criminal either way, and couple this with disposable diapers and I spend my days wondering what I am doing to the enviornment with just one baby!
Yes, I tried nursing, but my son was on a feeding tube right after birth and for the following two weeks, then the hospital nurses started using fast-flow nipples (even though I requested they use slow since I wanted to nurse). Also, even though they were using my breast milk in the bottles, he didn't have the patience to nurse when we got him home. Therefore, even if I continued to pump I still had to choose some sort of bottle system.
I don't see a huge advantage over either one since you still have to wash rings, lids and nipples with the Playtex, but I do feel like I am saving some water not having to wash the bottles.
Thank all of you for responding to my question! From all of the responses and what I have read over the past couple of days here is what I have figured out. Playtex liners are BPA free (according to their website), however, it doesn't say that they can be recycled, so I am going to assume they cannot.
I have decided that what will work best for our family are glass bottles. I didn't even realize that was an option until I asked this question. The bottles are cheap $5.50 for three 8 oz bottles at Target. They are easy to use and heat, can be safely put in the dishwasher, don't release any chemicals, will last forever, and if no one wants them when I am finished, they CAN be recycled for sure! Not to mention that I love anything retro, and what is more retro-cool than glass baby bottles? ;-)
Also, I did the math, and at $6 per 100 for the drop-ins, I would spend around $120 over the next year just on drop-ins. At $5.50 per three bottles for glass, I can spend less than $20 up-front, and save the extra $100 over the course of the next year. Also, just FYI, I have discovered that the drop-ins (I bought Target's brand) don't measure properly, so I am having to dirty a measuring cup every time I make a bottle to make sure he is getting the correct amount. Therefore, even though I may not have to wash a bottle, I have to wash a cup.
Bottom line, I will buy enough glass bottles to last for an entire day, and just run the diswasher before bed which I already do, and which apparently uses less water than hand-washing dishes.
Thanks again for your input!
I used the plastic drop ins and they are very expensive. Using the glass bottles is best, just as you have decided.
I agree with the idea of buying more bottles and waiting to put them in the dishwasher. Also, if money is less of a concern than being "green," you can try gdiapers. www.gdiapers.com (I've never used them.)
The liners are recyclable, so that's a definite plus. Also, I use the Playtex drop-ins because they are one of the few bottle feeding options without BPA. (Almost all baby bottles are still made with BPA.) BPA has been banned in other countries for causing cancer, but the FDA hasn't banned it here saying the studies aren't definitive. But I say why risk it? Just use the drop-ins, recycle them, and don't worry!
Well I don't have facts to back it up, but I'm sure this is a debatable question. I use cloth diapers and am asked all the time if I think it's pointless because of the water I have to use to wash them.
I and other cloth diapering moms say that water is a renewable source and the chemicals and plastics needed to make the diapers (and in your case, bottles/inserts) is not renewable as it uses crude oil and most likely the same amount of water it takes to wash one. (of course there are more reason why I am for cloth, but it's pointless to discuss it in this thread)
I would look for bpa free bottles, glass bottles are also eco friendly (no plastic) but if dropped they will break so it could be dangerous and stainless steel bottles are also eco friendly. I don't know if they make stainless steel baby bottles though.
I'll get more information to you if I find more (products, etc.)
Hi! congrats on your new baby and for thinking about the enviroment, also sorry about your hospital experiance, I have worked for three different major healthcare systems in the last 10 years and unfortunatly none have been very educated or helpful w/ breastfeeding issues. I do not have the "answer" to you question, just a couple suggestions. Medela makes a plastic sterelizing bag that you add 1 inch of h2o to and microwave for 90 sec. that will clean the bottles, they come in pack of five and you can usually find them at Target, Medela also makes the best electric pumps if you are using that method or interested in relacating. The diapers are difficult, I wish we had the time to use cloth when my daughter was a newborn...luckily she was PT by the time she was two, but nursed till she was 3. "Bummies" (can find online or at Earthfare) makes an excellent cloth diaper "insert" w/ a slew of cute cover options, of course then you are doing more laundrey and using more h2o and back to the same problem...good luck w/ everything and the new addition! Kind regards!
Good for you for being concerned for our environment! Some just dont realize the footprint we leave on our plant, if they did everyone would at least be recycling! As for the green, washing would be much better. The plastic drop in will only fill up landfill space and not break down, similar to styrofoam. The plastic also releases chemicals into the milk when heated. This also happens if you have a bottle of water and leave it in the car. If it gets hot, dont drink it anymore. Cheryl Crow has linked this theory to her getting breast cancer, just an FYI.... Maker sure your bottles are BPA free for this reason. For the diapers, try the cloth ones, we use spap-ez.com and LOVE them. They certainly help to reduce our waste. Make sure your cleaner is environmently safe and not just safe for us.
Congrats again for being such a wonderful Mommy and wanting to make this a better place for all of us:) Good luck!
I don't have any research, but I know plastic is a huge plague to the environment;it wasn't meant to be used and thrown away as flippantly as we all do. If, rather than running water while cleaning bottles, you make a sink of hot, soapy water (they even make chemically-friendly soaps,so you don't expose the baby to the traditional harsh chemicals in most dishwashing liquids), and you wash the bottles in a sink of water and then rinse them, you will save TONS of water. I don't know if this helps, but I am proud of you for looking out for our children's planet.
Hi C.,
I think it's great that you are thinking about these things. You might want to try putting the bottles in an Avent Express Microwave Steam Sterilizer, rather than running the dishwasher.
Also, gdiapers are a good brand that are like hybrid diapers. The liner can be flushes and then you just toss in the covers as needed.
Best wishes,
B.
I would say not to use the drop-ins. That is plastic that you can't recycle and that will sit in a landfill until the end of time. (Well, close to it at least. Ha Ha) Using water to drink or to clean something isn't the same as wasting water. You could fill up the sink a little to do the washing all at once, then rinse everything at once too, instead of letting the water run while you wash. In my opinion THAT would be wasting water. Good for you for trying to be mindful and aware!! That is awesome!! We don't need to be perfect..... what we need, is to do our best to be aware. That is how things change. Not by changing what we "DO", but by changing how we THINK! Well, there's my 2 cents. (Okay.... maybe that was more like 6. LOL!)
p.s. I was reading the response before mine that says the drop-ins CAN be recycled. I didn't know that, but it may be true. If it is, you would have to wash them first. It isn't better than not using them at all, but it IS better than throwing them away. :-)
I just read an article in reader's digest that said handwashing dishes is worse for the environment than running the dishwasher. If you are going to put bottles in the dishwasher, make sure they are BPA-free because the heat from the dishwasher leaches the chemicals from the plastic, which later end up in the milk (your bottles should be BPA free anyway). As far as not having enough dishes to run the dishwasher, just buy more bottles so you have enough to last until the dishwasher is full enough to run a load. They also make dishwasher baskets that fit in the top rack for nipples and rings etc. That's my 2 cents worth:) Take care!
Hi C.
I would say washing the bottles would be better for the environment. If the cleansers you are using are natural then it doesn't matter if you are washing them. You can reduce your carbon footprint in other ways to offset using excess water. I converted my home over to all non-toxic products. Email me and I can get you the info on how you can do that and save money.
Another thing about the plastic inserts. Did you know that every piece of plastic that has ever been manufactured is still on the earth today?
I help families Go Green.
www.workathomeunited.com/income
www.livetotalwellness.com/P.
PamelaB
Water is better, You can wash them by hand. Plastic unless recycled, does not break down for many (1000)years in the landfills. Water going down your drain gets recycled.
No research involved but I'd prefer NOT to be throwing away the plastic (let alone having my child drinking out of plastic in the first place.) There's more than just what you put in your trash can involved -- all that goes into it's production and putting it on the shelf.
So, my green answer is reusable bottles -- and not the cheap plastic ones -- the good, hard BPA-free ones. I went through anguish throwing away disposable diapers on my first and am definitely doing cloth the next time around. I feel your pain on the One Woman Planet Destroyer thing.
No idea which is better, environmentally speaking, but I can tell you we loved the Playtex nursers. Good luck!
Hi C.,
I use non-toxic consumables so washing by hand or using the dishwasher is not harming the environment. The products I use are cheaper than Wal-mart off-brands and safe enough to have around the house with no child proof caps and I KNOW what I am putting back in the ground is not going to hurt anything. I used the plastic inserts when my girls were small but if I had to do it over again I would wash glass bottles.
God bless and thanks for thinking about the rest of us! :)
M.
