Like most first time parents, I wasn’t sure what type of sippy cup my son needed. I had a few things in mind. I wanted glass, not plastic, leak proof, sturdy, portable, and aesthetically appealing. I know the last one is ridiculous but if I’m going to lug a baby product around, it might as well be cute. So I did a little research and here’s what I found.
Glass v. Plastic By now most of us have heard of the dangers of BPA. BPA or bisphenol A is a chemical that has been used to make plastics since the 1960’s. It is often found in plastic food storage containers, plastic beverage bottles such as water bottles, and even in the lining of canned foods. In 2010, the FDA altered its position on BPA expressing some concern about its potential side effects. These included theories that BPA could act as a hormone disruptor, affect brain and behavior in infants and young children, increase the risk of cancer and heart problems as well as other conditions like obesity, diabetes, and ADHD. You may have also noticed a slew of BPA free baby products on the market as the six major companies that make baby bottles and cups have stopped using BPA in their products.
Sounds all well and good, but as parent it still concerns me. I certainly don’t want my child exposed to harmful chemicals which is why I have shied away from plastic products in favor of glass. Glass is easily boiled to sanitize, contains no BPA/BPS, phthalates, PVC or polycarbonates, will not leach chemicals, and is overall, an environmentally better choice.
In terms of glass sippy and transition cups, the two that I have had the most success with are the Lifefactory 9-ounce glass bottle and the Siliskin 6 ounce glass.
Lifefactory You might have seen Lifefactory water bottles at the gym. These stylish bottles are covered in a protective, silicone, sleeve that come in a variety of colors. I purchased two Lifefactory 9-ounce bottles for my son along with the corresponding Sippy Caps. The bottles are easy to clean, you can drop them in boiling water (with the sleeve) to sanitize before the first use, and use a bottle brush with warm soapy water for subsequent cleanings. The bottles (and sleeve) are also dishwasher safe. They fit nicely in a diaper bag or purse and while slightly heavier than plastic sippy cups, are still very portable.
The Lifefactory 9-ounce bottles are also sturdy. Initially I worried about the glass breaking and the resulting mess. As anyone with a toddler knows, objects are likely to get flung to the ground or against walls. But so far these bottles have exceeded my expectations. My son has dropped his bottle on asphalt, concrete, and wood floors without issue. The bottles don’t leak, when properly capped, and the variety of silicone sleeve colors make them pretty to look at; a win-win for our family. I will say the only thing to watch out for is the silicone insert for the sippy caps. You need to squeeze the inserts open before the first use and make sure they are positioned properly in the sippy cap or the bottle won’t work.
Siliskin Glass I purchased the Siliskin Glass as a transition cup for my son. The Siliskin comes in a package of two, 6-ounce glasses covered in an orange, silicone sleeve. As far as I know this is the only color sleeve they have. While this is slightly disappointing, at least orange is gender neutral and not terribly offensive. The glasses are smaller and hold less liquid than the Lifefactory bottles but are perfectly sized for toddler hands. My son can easily drink water or milk out of the glass without issue and loves the fact that it looks like a “grown-up cup.” The glasses are also dishwasher safe.
So far both Lifefactory and Siliskin have been a hit at our home and I can rest assured that my son’s sippy and transitional cups are not leaching harmful chemicals into his drinks.
I recently took my son to the pediatrician for his annual well check-up. I have never loved our doctor but he does have impressive credentials and seems competent enough. But during this particular visit I was reminded of why I generally hate doctors.
Things didn't start well. My son recognized the medical building as soon as we pulled into the parking lot and immediately began to protest loudly. The memory of our last visit clearly left a bad impression on him. But I suppose having a giant Q-tip shoved up his nose to swab for the flu would taint anyone's opinion of the medical profession. Still, it was a pediatric practice so I was certain my kid wasn't the first to cry during a visit. I filled out the necessary paperwork and cringed as I took my seat in the waiting room, wondering what kind of bacteria lurked in the mottled gray carpet.
When we were finally called back to an exam room my son was beside himself. He was in rare form, screaming bloody murder as the nurse tried to weigh him and take his measurements. And by screaming I mean I'm pretty sure every person on the floor could hear him.
After a few moments, Dr. Ivy League came in. Dr. Ivy is tall, gangly, and probably in his mid forties. He has a high forehead and a receding hairline that you would expect from a man so smug. After a perfunctory handshake, he took a seat, flipped open his laptop and began asking a series of questions. Things were progressing normally, or as normally as one could expect with a hysterical toddler clinging to my legs, until I mentioned that I had taken my child to see a specialist.
I won't go into my son's medical history but I had a particular concern that I had voiced at my last well check-up. Dr. Ivy promptly dismissed it and sent me on my merry way. I still had my doubts and wanted a second opinion. Seems logical right? Apparently not for Dr. Ivy. The look of shock and indignation on his face was priceless. This lead to a fifteen minute extremely unflattering diatribe about the specialist that culminated in Dr. Ivy essentially calling me a gullible moron and telling me that my money would be better spent enrolling my child in swim lessons or a gymnastics. FYI... swim lessons and gymnastics had nothing to do with my original concerns. I was willing to let things slide but the man had diarrhea of the mouth and kept trying to drive his point home. Also his mood had soured and he had no patience for my screaming child. My face must have given me away because he immediately followed up with "I'm sorry if I offended you..."
Here's the thing Dr. Ivy. If you have to apologize after your speech it's probably because you said something stupid and very unprofessional. I am a parent and I have the right to seek a second opinion. Yes, you have that precious "D" at the end of your title but that doesn't mean I will take your word as gospel. Mother's have instincts and I hate to tell you but mine were spot on.
Second, it is terribly unprofessional of you to criticize another medical professional; especially when you are not trained in their field. When you call another licensed professional a "huckster" or a "money grubbing fraud who never says no to client" you come across as insecure and a giant throbbing dick. I'm pretty sure you are happy to collect all of your patient's co-pays. And I highly doubt you would ever turn an insured patient away.
Finally, what is it with doctors and their condescending attitude. Dr. Ivy you are not God. You are just a dude who went to school for a really long time. I will not flatter you or hang on your every word. I realize now that you are unaccustomed to this. Clearly questioning your professional opinion really stuck in your craw.
Also, instead of pontificating from your moral high horse you could have actually paid attention to my kid. You missed a perfect opportunity to assuage my child's fears and turn the office visit into a teachable moment. Maybe my kid wouldn't scream bloody murder if you treated him like a human being. Hell, if you had given him a sticker he probably would have shut up. So Dr. Ivy your time with us is done and we will no longer need your services. Rest assured, I will make sure my co-pay goes to someone else.
