Last August I wrote a post about the concerns of Bisphenol A in plastic baby bottles. It's been a while, and with some additional information at hand, I thought I'd repost

As a quick recap, Bisphenol A is a chemical used to make hard, polycarbonate plastic. The chemical is actually a synthetic estrogen that may cause feminization in boys, onset of early pubery in girls, prostate and breast cancer, and certain types diabetes. When bottles are heated at very high temperatures (80 degrees) or filled with hot liquids, the BPA leaches out. A recent study from the University of Missouri confirmed the earlier reports and looked at major brands of baby bottles sold in the United States and Canada. The consensus, states Mike Schade, one of the co-authors of the study, is to replace plastic bottles that contain BPA with "safer products in order to prevent harm wherever possible."

To play it safe, here are some recommendations:

• Throw away older plastic bottles that are beginning to look cloudy.
• Switch to glass bottles.
• Switch to a bottle without Bisphenol A, such as Born Free (but be aware that they are more expensive ).
• Switch to a bottle with drop-in liners, such as Playtex Drop-Ins.