Q&A:
Are glass bottles unsafe for breast milk?

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Answered by Linda Jonides R.N., C.P.N.P.

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"I have worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner (P.N.P.) for over 30 years," says Linda Jonides. "I continue to thoroughly enjoy forming new relationships with parents and newborns and working with them through infancy, childhood, and adolescence."

Linda Jonides is a pediatric nurse practitioner in a private pediatric practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Diploma in Nursing and Certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a past recipient of the Michigan PNP of the Year Award. She has a B.S. in Nursing from Eastern Michigan University. She has published articles and lectured on childhood obesity, infant colic, role of the P.N.P., growth and development issues, and infectious diseases. She was an author of "Clinical Insights Column," published biannually in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care for nine years. Jonides is past president of NAPNAP. Currently, she is a steering group work member of NAPNAP's HEAT (healthy eating and activity together) project. One outcome of this group's work is the clinical practice guideline, "Identifying and Preventing Overweight in Childhood," that was published as a supplement to the March/April '06 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.

Ms. Jonides has been married to John, a university professor, since 1971.

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Question

I'm due in a few months, and I have read that some plastic bottles can allow estrogen-like compounds to leach into the milk. I am interested in using glass bottles and will be breastfeeding but have read that glass bottles are not recommended for breast milk. Why would this be?

Answer

You were given some incorrect information about glass bottles. There is no problem using glass bottles with breast milk or formula; in fact, the National Breast Milk Bank uses glass bottles. The only disadvantage is the possibility of glass breaking. Brown glass is reportedly the best to use as light does not pass through as readily and cause any breakdown of milk, but clear glass is fine to use as well. You've made a great choice to breastfeed. Good luck!