The Truth About Glass Baby Bottles: Choosing Lead-Free Bottles and Teats You Can Trust
Why I Chose Glass Baby Bottles (And What You Need to Know)
When it came to choosing baby bottles, I was pretty firm about not wanting plastic. The thought of reheating milk (whether breastmilk or formula) and potentially leaching microplastics into it didn’t sit well with me. So, I decided to go the glass route. But here’s the thing—when I started researching glass bottles, there wasn’t a lot of summarized info to help parents make a solid choice.
After digging deep into the material, I found some surprising things, and I want to share them with you so you can skip the endless hours of research I went through.
Not All Glass Bottles Are Safe
You might be surprised to learn that not every glass bottle is safe! Yes, you read that right. While glass is generally considered a safe and eco-friendly option, many glass baby bottles contain lead- in either the paint or design. But there are safe options! After my research, I found these brands that offer lead-free glass bottles:
NUK
Evenflo
Pigeon
MAM
Philips Avent
Bibs
Tomme Tippee
Before you run off to buy one of these, though, stick with me for a bit longer. There’s more to consider than just the bottle itself.
The Teat: The Key to Successful Feeding
When you’re choosing a bottle for your baby, the teat (or nipple) is arguably the most important part to focus on. Here’s why: If you’re planning to breastfeed and also introduce bottle feeding (whether it’s with breast milk or formula), you’ll want a teat that mimics the natural breast as closely as possible. This helps avoid any nipple confusion and ensures your baby latches on correctly. (You want that, even if you’re just bottle-feeding)
Most lactation consultants will tell you that choosing a teat that feels similar to your breast is essential if you want to successfully combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding. So, what exactly should you be looking for in a teat?
The Triangle Test
To help you pick the right one, here’s a simple test I found: the triangle test. Put both of your index fingers together above the teat tip —if it forms a smooth triangle without any gaps, it’s a good sign. The more gap, the harder it will be for your baby to latch properly.
The best teats I found are:
NUK Perfect Match Teats
Pigeon Soft Touch (Wide Neck)
Evenflo Balance (Wide Neck)
I ended up going with NUK and Pigeon teats & glass bottles to see which one my baby likes best.
Final Thoughts
Glass bottles are a great choice for safety, but the right teat is what’ll make a difference in feeding success. Hopefully, this helps save you from the research rabbit hole I went down. Now, go ahead and make an informed decision! Happy bottle shopping!
