Room guide
Baby & kids
Ranked by Swap Priority: the swaps with the most direct, frequent contact and the strongest evidence come first.
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Babies, children and plastic: what to change first
Infants are the most exposed group. Bottle preparation and kids' tableware come first.
3 swaps, highest priority first
Plastic and "bamboo" kids' tableware → stainless steel
"Bamboo" kids' tableware is usually melamine plastic. Steel is unbreakable and safe with hot food.
High priority · about 200 g of plastic a year
Polypropylene baby bottles → glass or steel
Preparing formula with hot water in plastic bottles releases particles. Glass bottles avoid it.
High priority · about 300 g of plastic a year
Plastic-based baby wipes → cloth wipes
Many wet wipes are plastic fabric. Cotton cloths and warm water do the same job for pennies.
High priority · about 2.0 kg of plastic a year
More reading
- Glass vs stainless steel baby bottles
Both avoid heating formula in plastic. Glass lets you see what's inside; steel won't break. Teats are the catch.
- Preparing formula with less plastic
Keep following the NHS safety steps, including water at 70°C or hotter. Just do the hot part in glass or steel.
- Why "bamboo" tableware is usually plastic
Most bamboo cups and plates are powdered bamboo bound with melamine resin — a plastic composite.