Sep

2

Cup Training with Tilty: Review & Giveaway

Filed Under Food Safety, Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews | 121 Comments

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    Tilty has a molded inner wall to help make drinking easier

    If you saw my kids cup/dish cabinet you would laugh because it’s a serious illness with me.  But when something I haven’t seen or tried before comes on the market I just can’t resist trying it out.  In the name of science of course.  So when I stumbled on Tilty cups a while ago I was really intrigued.

    Tilty is basically a sippy cup that is designed to make drinking easier for the child. Typical sippy cups require that your baby tilt their head back to drink.  Whereas the Tilty is designed with an extra inner wall to push the liquid forward so that they can drink from the cup without all that head tilting and neck bending.  It may help transition them from sippy cup to grown up style cups easier since they don’t expect to have to do all tat head tilting.

    The new versions of the Tilty have different lids/spouts including one for thicker liquids like yogurt or smoothies and a Travel Lid for storing liquids or snacks on the go.  Tilty is not a spill proof sippy cup and not intended to be one so it’s not meant to be dragged all over the house.  Which is why I like it… it gives kids a cup to use at the table so it encourages them to drink properly now and when they get older.

    My Youngest was able to drink from a Tilty as early as 6 Months

    Tilty’s are made with Polypropylene (#5) plastic and are of course BPA, Phthalate, and PVC free and is safe for the dishwasher.  The cups are also dye-free (except the colored lids).  My only peeve with this cup is the inability to neatly stack them in a cabinet but there are no valves or extra parts to wash – just the cup and the lid so that kind of makes up for it.  Another bonus is that they’re affordable. Have you seen the prices of some sippy cups these days? Sheesh!  Tilty’s come in a 2 Pack for less than $7.  My 6 month old was able to use it and still does with much more ease than many sippy cups so I’ve given it a permanent spot in the cabinet.

    Get It: You can pick up Tilty Cups and Lids from The Glass Baby Bottle!

    Win It!

    The Glass Baby Bottle is giving away a Clear 2-Pack of Tilty Cups AND 2-packs of the new lids to one lucky SafeMama reader!

    To Enter the Giveaway (Required):

    Visit The Glass Baby Bottle and check out their selection of other products… they have a ton of great stuff (eco-friendly safe art supplies, organic crib bedding, blankets, cloth diapers, etc) Leave a comment here letting me know which other item they carry you’d love to check out!

    For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via RSS reader
    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
    • Share this giveaway on Facebook (leave the link)
    • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook
    • Fan/Like  TheGlassBabyBottle on Facebook
    • Follow @glassbabybottle on Twitter
    • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter
    • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  #WIN a Tilty Sippy Cup 2-Pack from @SafeMama #giveaway ends 9/13 http://tinyurl.com/32lzkly

    One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until September 13, 2010 at midnight EST. Good Luck :D

    Congratulations to Cathy commenter #115!  Thanks everyone who entered and thank you The Glass Baby Bottle for the fabulous giveaway!

    Oct

    2

    Review: The Safe Sippy Revisited

    Filed Under Product Reviews | Comments Off

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      The Safe SippyWe reviewed The Safe Sippy a while back and weren’t totally in love.  The good people who make The Safe Sippy have re-engineered the cups valve and cap slightly to improve on what was already a great cup.  Now? The cup is pretty awesome.  The interior and main portion of the cup is stainless steel which is one of the best alternatives on the market.  While plastic is ok, over time can wear and eventually leach chemicals into food and liquids-which is why we usually recommend replacing them.  The valve under the lid is made of non-toxic silicone and has been redesigned slightly to ensure leak prevention while allowing regular flow.  The lid is designed  to be a little wider than the body of the cup to help prevent dents and dings, while the cup is cuddled up into a rubber sleeve to protect the steel and keep it insulated.  It does aide in the grip factor too.

      This cup is well thought out and designed to be the best sippy cup on the market.  Kid Basix, who makes the cup, sent us a cup to try out since they’ve redesigned the lid threads and the valve.  I am happy to report that now, this cup doesn’t leak one bit.  To be totally fair, I gave our sample to a mom who works at the gym daycare I go to (hi!!) to get a totally unbiased opinion.  She handed the cup over to her toddler for the rough and tough tests and they passed with flying colors.  She reports:

      “This cup doesn’t drip so it’s great for the car and at night in bed.  The steel body keeps liquids cold longer and the soft grip cover makes holding it easy for toddlers.“  She thought it was also “easy to clean and take apart and it’s a cool looking cup so her little guy was drawn to it.”

      The only cons if you can call them that were that it’s heavier than traditional plastic cups so it’s better for older toddlers who can handle it, and she thought the handles were a tiny bit weak.  But the handles are completely removable so it’s not a make it or break it feature.

      We are really pleased with the adjustments The Safe Sippy received and think it’s definitely one of the best “safe” sippy cups on the market.  SafeMama Approved!

      Get Your Own: You can find a list of retailers on their website or you can grab one on Amazon.com

      May

      14

      MAM Moving Towards More BPA Free Products

      Filed Under Bisphenol-A | Comments Off

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        MAMWhen I learned of all this BPA (Bisphenol-a) stuff last year I was bummed to find out that my son’s beloved pacifier, a MAM Ulti, had a polycarbonate shield. We have thankfully, rid him of the pacifier habit now that he’s well over 2 years old. But making a child change their pacifier is not a fun task.

        So far we’ve been aware of MAM’s BPA Free bottles, and I’ve seen their BPA FREE labeled boxes at the grocery store over the last month or two. They have 2 types of bottles and a training cup on the market made of polypropylene: the MAM ULTIvent Anti-Colic Bottle, the MAM Drink Easy Bottle and the MAM Transition Trainer. (all pictured above) One of my good friends emailed me a newsletter she received from MAM today. In it MAM announced plans to go further with BPA Free products:

        MAM sets standards for the well-being of babies, small children and parents and therefore – 3 years before this debate – took an innovative step and started making bottles out of Polypropelene (PP), a BPA free plastic. Thus MAM baby bottles provide a good night sleep for parents and babies.

        But MAM has gone even one step further: Although the current debate relates to bottles only, MAM already decided to offer further BPA free products including for example soothers.

        Parents and babies benefit from the perfect combination of safety and design, making early experiences relaxed and fun.

        BPA Free MAM Binkies!  Hooray! While I can’t find evidence of this on their public website, (and I had do do a double take on their spelling of ploypropylene) it’s slightly reassuring that some companies are taking our demands seriously, even if it’s just to maintain sales.

        Jan

        17

        FAQ: Nuby Products, Which Ones Are Safe?

        Filed Under Bisphenol-A, FAQ, Product Safety | 2 Comments

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          NubyI’ve gotten a lot of frenzied emails from parents asking about how to tell which Nuby bottles and sippies are in the BPA Free zone. Nuby (Luv n’ Care subsidiary) has a wide range of products. Some are made with BPA Free plastic and some are not. Unfortunately since labeling this on products isn’t yet a requirement it’s overwhelming to discern which are which. Many times companies such as this aren’t as forthcoming with this information in fear of creating a distrust in the safety of their products.

          Alicia of The Soft Landing, bless her researching little tuchus, has spoken to the company to find out once and for all what products are PVC, BPA and Phthalate Free. Here is what she says in her blog article:

          Nuby, a subsidiary of Luv ‘n Care, is among several companies that offer BPA free bottles, sippys and teethers more by accident than on purpose. Their naming system is utterly confusing, so that many BPA free items sound just like others that do contain BPA. Because they are a foreign company, I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt on their naming system.

          She has also posted photos of Nuby’s BPA Free products including bottles, cups, teethers, spoons, teethers and other feeding items made by Nuby, so you can easily check to see which ones you have or which ones to buy if you are looking for products.

          Dec

          19

          Product Review: Thermos Foogo

          Filed Under Product Reviews | 12 Comments

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            I’ve checked out quite a few sippy cups both plastic and stainless steel. We’ve put the Boon Sippy through the test, the BornFree Drinking Cup, the Sigg water bottle… but nothing has come close to winning my love and affection quite like the Thermos Foogo sippy cup. I love… this sippy. My kid loves this sippy. The world should love this sippy.

            The cup is made of all bpa free materials and has a double wall insulated stainless steel body where the liquids are held. I should mention that this insulation keeps liquids cold or hot longer than any other we’ve tried. It has a valve construction in the top portion which comes apart for easy cleaning. Including the main cup portion there are a total of 4 pieces, which isn’t bad considering cups like the BornFree which has about 7. I do like how the handles are part of the cup and don’t come off… although they do have a handless cup too for those who might prefer that style. It’s not the biggest cup ever so it gets emptied by my toddler through the day but, that’s actually ideal since water doesn’t sit in there for long periods like it might with other larger ones.

            We’ve put it through the ringer since it’s so durable and it’s not scratched, dented or marked or scuffed in any way. And it’s been kicked around the driveway outside, so that’s saying something. It still looks as good as the day we got it.

            Does it leak? No. My kid likes to carry cups around by the handles which means he drinks more water during the day, but it also means drippy cups don’t work well for us. That is not a problem with this cup. You can hold it upside down for quite a bit before any water, if any at all, comes out. No water leaks from the seam of the top or anywhere else if left on its side. I actually found this cup sideways and upside down between two couch cushions and there was nothing even remotely wet.

            The Bottom Line: This sippy gets the Safe Mama stamp of BPA Free Approval. We have one, which was provided by The Soft Landing for testing and review purposes but I am going to buy a couple more as well as the larger straw bottle to keep on hand for on the go refills. Thank you to The Soft Landing for providing the test cup. They are offering a 10% off discount for Safe Mama readers… use the code “SAFEMAMA” at check out until 12/31/07. They have flat rate shipping on orders over $50 too!

            Nov

            22

            BPA Free Bottle and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet

            Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Phthalates Info, Product Safety, PVC Free | 65 Comments

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              This is a list of BPA Free (also PVC and Phthalate Free) bottles, BPA Free sippy cups and food/milk storage items that we’ve made into a quick reference for those looking for a short list to have on hand when shopping for items for yourself or someone elses kids. If a product you are using is NOT on this list, you should investigate that product with the manufacturer to determine whether or not it contains BPA. Please note: If a product is not on this list it means either it contains BPA or we aren’t aware of it’s BPA status. We are more than happy to add BPA Free products to this list as we find them (or you find them), shoot us an email and we’ll add it in. Thanks!

              IMPORTANT: Please do not copy/paste this material on other websites without prior written consent. This page is constantly being updated so republishing it could mean you are distributing inaccurate information.  Copying and/or republishing this list or any written material from this website is also a violation of our Terms and Conditions.

              Updated: March 31, 2010

              BPA Free Bottle Products

              • Adiri Natural Nursers
              • Avent: “Via” Feeding System, Tempo Liners, Avent PES Bottles ***see note
              • BornFree: All bottles and cups BPA free *see note
              • Babisil Silbottles
              • Coddletime Glass Bottles
              • Dr Brown’s: Glass Bottles, Dr. Browns Polypropylene Bottles (all vent system pieces BPA Free – made with polypropylene – and fit all models)
              • EvenFlo: Classic™ Glass Bottles, Classic™ Light Tint Polypropylene bottles, Classic™ Clear Polypropylene Bottles, Purely Comfi™ Bottles
              • First Year’s BreastFlow and Soothie Starter Sets (marked BPA Free)
              • Green to Grow Bottles **see note
              • Gerber: Gerber Clear View, Fashion Tints (“Plastic Pastels”), Gerber GentleFlow
              • Innobaby Nursin’ Silicone Bottles, Natural Nurser, Training Bottles, Spoon Feeders
              • Lansinoh® Bottles (all)
              • Safety Plus PES Bottles
              • Sassy: MAM bottles (UltiVent), Baby Food Nurser Kit
              • Siliskin Glass Bottles
              • ThinkBaby Bottles
              • Momo Glass Bottles
              • Medela: All bottles
              • Milk Bank Bottles and Vacuum Storage Systems
              • Munchkin: Dora the Explorer Classic Bottles, Mighty Grip Glass Bottles
              • Nuby: Standard Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, Standard Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, 3-Stage Wide Neck Easy Grip Feeding System with Non-Drip Nipple, Natural Touch SoftFlex InfaFeeder (silicone) (keep up to date on Nuby products here)
              • NUK: Nuk Orthodontic Bottles
              • Nuture Pure Glass bottles
              • OrganicKidz Stainless Steel Bottles
              • Parent’s Choice Bottles (available at Walmart) – box is marked BPA Free
              • Playtex: Original Nurser, Playtex Drop in liners, Ventaire Advanced Bottles (marked BPA Free)
              • Wee·go Glass Bottles
              • ZoLi Wideneck Bottles

              BPA Free Sippy Cups / Water Bottles

              • Avent: Magic Cups, Magic Cup Sportster, Super Sport Cups
              • BornFree Sippy/drinking cups, Stainless Steel water bottles
              • Camelbak Kids Water Bottles
              • Crocodile Creek Stainless Steel Water Bottles
              • Dr. Brown’s BPA Free Training Cup
              • Playtex: Coolster Tumbler, Insulator, Sipster, Create My Own, Quick Straw, Insulator Sport, Sip and Discover, First Sipster
              • Gerber: Sip & Smile Spill-proof Cup, Easy Grip Insulated Soft Straw Cup, Insulated Cool Cup, Gerber® Fun Grips® Cup, Gerber® Fun Grips® Color Change Cup, Grins & Giggles Spill-proof Cup, Gerber® Sip & Smile™ Cup
              • Evenflo: Fun Sip Insulated Spill-proof Cup, Fun Sip Insulated Straw Cup, Evenflo Zoo Friend Sippy Cups
              • Klean Kanteen: All bottles
              • Kinderville Silicone Cups
              • Thermos Foogo Sippy Cups, FUNtainer Straw Bottles, BPA Free Tritan Sippy
              • Tilty Sippy Cups
              • Kid Basix The Safe Sippy
              • Boon Sippy
              • GrowPure Multi-Stage Feeder and Sippy Cup
              • Green Sprouts Trainer Bottles, Sippy Cups (regular and non-spill)
              • iPlay Aqua Bottle
              • ThinkBaby Training Cup, ThinkSport Stainless Bottle (cute!)
              • Munchkin: Cupsicle, Cupsicle Straw Cup, Big Kid Sippy Cup, Mighty Grip Flip Straw Cup, Mighty Grip Trainer Cup, licensed character Sports Bottles, Re-usable Straw Cups, Re-usable Spill-proof Cups
              • Nuby: No-Spill Sports Sipper, Insulated Soft Silicone Spout Cup, Soft Spout Easy Grip Cup, Gripper Cup with Soft Silicone Spout, 2-Handle Cup, Tinted Mega Sipper, 7oz Tumblers, Magic Cups Insulated Hologram Cup (straw and spout), Insulated Sipper Cups (with and without handles)
              • NUK: Nuk Learner Cup (Silicone & Latex), EZ Cup, Active Cup, Graduates Fun Grips Soft Starter Cup, Graduates Fun Grips Cup, Graduates Sip & Smile Soft Spout Cup, Graduates Sip & Smile Cup, Graduates Sip & Smile Insulated Cup, Graduates Cool Twisties Straw Cup
              • The First Years: Take & Toss, Spill-proof Cup, Insulated Cup, Licensed character sippy cups, Insulated Spill-proof Cup, 2 Handled Cups. Mealmates 10oz Soft Spout Cups
              • Nalgene Tritan 12oz Grip-n-Gulp Bottle
              • ZoLi Straw Sippy Cups

              BPA Free Milk/Liquid/Powder Storage

              • Avent Via 8-oz. Nurser Kit
              • Avent Snack Cup / Formula Dispenser
              • Avent PES Breastmilk Storage sets
              • Mother’s Milkmate Storage bottles
              • Medela Milk Storage bottles and breastpump accessories
              • Playtex One-Step Breast Milk Storage Kit
              • Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bags
              • Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bottles
              • Gerber Breastmilk Storage Bags
              • Dr. Brown’s Breastmilk Storage Bags
              • The First Years Easy Pour Breastmilk Storage bags
              • Bailey Milk Storage Bags (Nurture lll pump tubing BPA Free as well)
              • Bailey Storage Bottles (as well as all parts of their “double collection kit”)
              • Sensible Lines Milk Trays
              • Snappies Containers (they also have food storage as well!)
              • Milk Bank Vacuum Storage Systems
              • MilkMate Storage Systems
              • NUK Store n Go Breaskmilk Storage Bottles, Seal n Go Storage Bags
              • ZoLi on-the-go Travel Formula & Snack Dispenser

              BPA Free Baby Food / Food Storage

              • So Easy Fresh Baby Food Kit
              • Baby Cubes baby food storage system
              • Boon Snack Ball
              • Thermos Foodtainer
              • Innobaby Packin’ Smart Stack n’ Seal, Keepin’ Fresh (others may contain BPA)
              • BornFree Thermal Food Jar
              • Munchkin: Snack Catcher, Baby Food Grinder, Fresh Food Feeder, Powdered Formula Dispensers
              • The Snack Trap
              • BeaBa BabyCook
              • ZoLi on-the-go Travel Formula & Snack Dispenser

              See our new Safer Dishware Cheat Sheet for more options as well as our BPA Free Baby Food & Storage Cheat Sheet!

              BPA Free Breast Pumps

              • Ameda Breast Pumps and Accessories
              • Avent Isis, Avent Isis iQ (Uno, Duo)
              • Medela Breast Pumps
              • NUK Gentle Flow Manual Breast Pump

              *If you are currently using Dr. Browns polycarbonate bottles and would like to switch, the Dr. brown’s venting system (the internal pieces) are BPA Free and are made of polypropylene plastic. Also, they FIT and work with BornFree bottles which could be a little bit of a money saver. We were also told by another SafeMama reader that the Avent nipples also fit with Born Free bottles as well as Gerber Gentle Flows.

              ** SafeMama reader Melissa wrote in to let me know that Dr Browns bottle nipples fit with Green to Grow bottles. As we know once a baby is comfy with something it’s sometimes a pain to change so it’s good to know we don’t have to change everything if we don’t have to. Alicia of The Soft Landing did a more exhaustive report on what nipples fit what bottles. Read about it on her blog here.

              *** Please refer to Phillips Avent’s material Chart for information. Get it here. (PDF)

              IMPORTANT: Please do not copy/paste this material on other websites without prior written consent. Copying and/or republishing this list or any written material from this website is a violation of our Terms and Conditions.

              What is Bisphenol A?
              Bisphenol A is a hormone-mimicking chemical used in polycarbonate plastics (PC or identified as #7 recycling code) and resins commonly used for items such as shatterproof baby bottles. Bisphenol has estrogenic properties which, in animal tests has shown to cause a bevy of health problems such as an increase in prostate and breast cancer, uro-genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including insulin-resistant (Type 2) diabetes and obesity and neurobehavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Research is showing that when plastic containers, mostly those used to hold liquids and foods, are leeching Bisphenol into the foods and liquids they are holding. Heating food and liquids with these plastics is shown to increase the leeching of this contaminate.

              Many companies use this chemical in their packaging including cans, soda cans, and plastic food containers. There is a risk of absorbing this chemical through the use of containing foods and liquids but can also leech into our water systems through landfills.

              Many leading experts and the FDA argue that the use of Bisphenol-a is safe to the human public but independent research HAS proven otherwise.

              Excerpt from Wikipedia:

              “Bisphenol A has been known to leach from the plastic lining of canned foods and, to a lesser degree, polycarbonate plastics that are cleaned with harsh detergents or used to contain acidic or high-temperature liquids.[16] Infants fed with liquid infant formula have among the highest exposures of anyone eating canned foods. Infants fed canned formula with polycarbonate bottles can consume quantities of Bisphenol A up to 13 µg/kg/day.”

              Links and Resources:

              Nov

              15

              Safer sippies and glass bottles

              Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Safety | Comments Off

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                In light of all of the media attention on toxic plastics, it was bound to happen: Inflated prices on baby bottles and sippy cups and it really bothers me. As soon as everything hit the fan, I hopped onto ebay looking for glass bottles for my son and immediately notice people already taking advantage with lines like “SAVE YOUR CHILD.” I didn’t even think to look elsewhere, because I really didn’t think that companies still made glass bottles. I came across a great blog entry from The Cleaner Plate and came across a few links on where you can buy Evenflo glass bottles here, here and here. Had I known about this a couple of weeks ago when trying to decide on an alternative for my son, who was using the popular Dr. Brown’s, I probably would have gone with these as they’re similar in style to the Dr. Brown’s. These are a great cheaper alternative if you’re looking to switch to a glass or BPA free bottle. BPA free bottles are more expensive because the plastic is more expensive, I’m guessing.

                In that same post, I found some great links to safer sippies, most of which are also listed in the Z Report, which is also linked on the sidebar on the right hand side. One that intrigued me, was the Safe Sippy, which is made of stainless steel, and also touts a spout that’s better for speech. After feverishly searching for a site that has them in stock, I found them here at Tree City Diapers. If you’re interested, hurry and order them, because they’re going fast. I ordered a couple and will post a review of them when I get a chance to try them out. Another good site with some safer alternatives to sippies are:

                The Soft Landing – They also sell Green To Grow, Born Free as well as some other great products. Great site with flat shipping on all orders over $50.

                I’m still looking for other sites that are selling safer bottles and sippies and will post as I find them. One of the issues a lot of retailers are facing is backorders. So I will let you know if they’re available or on backorder as well.

                Nov

                14

                The Z Report: A Directory of BPA in Sippy Cups and Baby Bottles

                Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Safety | 1 Comment

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                  A while ago while researching Bisephenol-A in baby products I ran across a blog called Z Recommends and found a plethora of information and research they did on the subject and even a Sippy Cup Challenge, which is a great article on it’s own. They’ve gotten such a huge response from their research and just recently compiled an updated report on the subject entitled The Z Report: A Directory of Bisphenol-A In Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups.

                  I’ve included a link to it as a permanent resource on the sidebar and will continue to keep my eyes peeled on their updates. Thank you Z Recommends for such a great report!

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