Do you know which is the best bottle for your baby, plastic or glass? Here's what to consider when choosing one, according to Silvia Helena Viesti Nogueira, a pediatrician and member of the Scientific Department of Pediatrics at SMCC (Society of Medicine and Surgery of Campinas).

Plastic bottle vs. glass bottle

The choice of bottle must obey some criteria so that the material does not interfere with the baby's health. Thus, the traditional plastic bottles have already been a concern because they may contain bisphenol, i.e., a substance that may be associated with a greater predisposition to develop diseases such as breast and prostate cancer, early puberty, diabetes, obesity, among others.

According to Dr. Renata D. Waskman's evaluation on the website of the São Paulo Pediatric Society (SPSP), the bisphenol A that used to be used in the composition of plastic bottles was a substance that gives greater resistance to polycarbonate and, by having some similarity in its structure with the hormone estrogen, could be associated with the complications mentioned above.

This substance would have the negative effect when the baby bottle plastic is exposed to heat through heating with hot liquids, microwaving, using strong detergents, and even after freezing.

In 2011, however, bisphenol A was banned in plastic baby bottles in Brazil by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency). In any case, the pediatrician indicates the verification of the seals "Bisphenol free" or "BPAfree" on the packaging. If the terms are not found, one should look at the recycling symbol. If the numbers 3 or 7 are present,means that the product contains bisphenol, so it should be avoided.

Glass bottles, on the other hand, are made of an easy-to-recycle, environmentally friendly material. The disadvantage is the risk of accidents if they are inadvertently handled by small children.

Which one to choose?

Silvia says that she has no preference for any particular bottle material when it comes to advising mothers and fathers, but only reminds them to check the labels and supervise the baby or child if they handle the glass.

"I advise my patients to use the bottle that the baby is best adapted to, especially in relation to the nipples," says the pediatrician. "In other words, the one that the child sucks comfortably without choking frequently or sucking in large amounts of air."

Also read: Breastfeeding: All you need to know about breastfeeding

Source: Silvia Helena Viesti Nogueira, pediatrician, member of the Scientific Department of Pediatrics at SMCC (Society of Medicine and Surgery of Campinas)