Unless you live in a handful of states, finding BPA-free baby products can be a challenge. Although some bottles, cups, and toys are labeled “BPA-free,” many aren’t, and how do you know which ones are safe? Some parents, taking a different approach, look for glass or steel bottles and dishware, but in California, finding BPA-free baby products may soon become easier.

Banning BPA has been visible to the public since 2006, when San Francisco passed an ordinance banning BPA in baby products. A year later, however, the ordinance was overturned. In the present, legislation to ban BPA in baby products, The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act (AB1319), was proposed and is being voted on next week. Should the legislation go into effect, baby bottles and sippy cups made or sold after July 2013 would be required to be BPA-free.

Adults, as well, are concerned about BPA exposure, but children are at a greater risk. Present in items ranging from plastic coating to cash register receipts, BPA mimics estrogen, and its effects have been associated with hormonal and behavioral issues, such as early puberty, hyperactivity, prostate and breast cancers, infertility, and obesity. About the effects of BPA on children, CEO and director of Healthy Child, Healthy World stated:

“Children are uniquely vulnerable to toxic exposures. They are typically exposed to more toxics per pound of body weight. Their immature systems are less capable of excreting the toxics. And, perhaps most importantly, they are still developing, so exposures that may have no impact on an adult can create a domino effect of biological disruption in a child.”

Unless you can trust that all plastic baby products in your area are BPA-free, opt for glass or stainless steel items, including bottles, cups, and dishware, for your child and yourself instead.

As an adult, you can’t watch or read the news without seeing another story about the growing epidemic of obesity, and what is causing it. Although, in recent years, such an issue has primarily applied to adults and teens, obesity may actually start in childhood, according to a story from FoxNews.com. More larger babies are being born, and while many of these chubby babies grow up into average-sized children, not all do. If the baby fat lasts past the first few years, it appears, a child may be at a greater risk for obesity.

While obesity at an early age is the gist of the Fox story, how obesity grows into a problem is addressed from two angles: the literally growing size of infants and eating habits. Both complement each other. For the former, the Fox story notes that, a few decades ago, only 15 percent of all babies were above the 85th percentile in weight. Presently, 30 percent of all babies are at this level. 16 percent of Six-month-olds, similarly, are now above the 96th percentile in weight, although this figure should be five percent, ideally.

Parents, on the other hand, shouldn’t put their six-month-olds on a diet. Instead, how the child holds onto the fat should be tracked. If a child continues to be heavy past two or three years of age, he or she appears to be at a greater risk for obesity.

Aside from overall increasing baby weights, the Fox story lightly addresses nutrition. Overweight adults and teens can adjust their eating habits to shed the extra pounds, and the same can be done for babies. As a parent, be wary of what your child consumes, particularly healthful-seeming foods like juice. As a general rule for everyone, fewer fatty and sugary foods should be part of a diet, and the same applies to babies. The Fox article takes it a step further and suggests that babies should be eating more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables instead of juice and junk food.

When a recall on a particular baby product is announced, parents who own or use said product should stop use of it immediately. This appears to be the case regarding a recent recall of Similac baby formula, according to an article in the Keen Observer. Although the recall was announced two weeks ago, other areas of the world in which Similac is sold are concerned and trying to get the product off the shelves.

According to the Keen Observer piece, the owner of Similac, Abbott Laboratories, voluntarily recalled powdered versions of the formula because insect parts and larvae had apparently been found in a shipment from a plant in Michigan. Five million cans were recalled in total. The following product numbers for recalled formula can be found in the link above.

Nevertheless, Abbott Laboratories isn’t recalling all Similac products, just those in powdered form. All liquid baby formula by the brand does not contain insect parts or larvae.

Although the product has been taken off many store shelves because of this baby formula recall, other parts of the world are feeling the effects. Stores in Saudi Arabia, for example, want to ban all Similac products from shelves, according to a story from Reuters, although Similac formula in Saudi Arabia comes from Ireland, not Michigan. Similarly, mothers in Australia also want the product removed. Their complaint against the formula not only regards the recall but also the use of genetically-modified soy beans.

Similac baby formula, powder or liquid, claims to mimic breast milk with the amount of nutrients it contains. Nevertheless, the use of formula versus breastfeeding is always a debate between mothers and parenting experts, and if this large recall is any indication, breastfeeding is innately better for your baby at the moment. At least you won’t need to be concerned about beetle larvae.

How much can you trust food labels? When a product label states that an item is organic, should you expect anything less than what the label says? The division between organic and conventional foods was heightened recently after the Obama administration banned two additives from organic baby foods and formulas. These two additives, omega-3 fatty acid DHA and omega-6 fatty acid ARA, are present in 90 percent of baby foods and formulas. These synthetic fatty acids are often added to promote brain and eye development, much like breast milk does. Nevertheless, when you add a synthetic substance to food that’s otherwise natural and pesticide-free, can you still call the product “organic”?

Going organic has been a common trend over the past 20 years with food but not only clothing. As adults purchase organic foods and fabrics for themselves, having the same quality items for your children makes sense. But, while many organic items are consistent with production, this doesn’t appear to be the case for baby foods and formulas with an “organic” label.

This isn’t the first time the standards for organic food have been addressed, however. The USDA ruled that adding synthetic fatty acids to otherwise organic foods violates federal standards. In the present, the current administration is revising its guidelines on organic foods to phase out these baby products and to make sure that baby foods and formulas in the future no longer contain these additives.

What can you do in the time being? One option is to settle for conventional baby foods and formulas, while going organic in every other aspect with your child. But, short of going conventional, you can research which brands or types of organic baby food are actually organic and don’t contain these synthetic additives, and, until your child is old enough for solid foods, choose from that small pool of organic baby foods.

If you’re a parent, you might have noticed various labels on baby feeding products claiming to be “BPA free.” What does this mean, and how does it affect your child? BPA is a chemical added to plastic to make it harden. Until recently, it was added to baby bottles, liners, and cups. But, because the chemical can have an effect on brain development in young children, several states in the present have put a ban on it for products geared toward children tree years of age and younger. Already, Connecticut and Minnesota have such bans in place and others are planning similar measures.

Many retailers, even in states without bans, have stopped sales of such products. Nevertheless, how do you identify a product with BPA and can you be sure one doesn’t contain the chemical? Typically, if the packaging doesn’t list “BPA-free,” the cup or bottle should have a recycling symbol on the bottom. Any number 3 or 7 may contain BPA. Even then, for older plastic products, be wary of putting hot liquids inside and scratching the surface. Both instances may loosen the chemical in the plastic.

If you’re looking for a way to avoid such products entirely, breastfeeding is always an option, although some studies have shown that bottle feeding is nearly as effective. Nevertheless, if you need to have a bottle for your child, another option is a stainless steel baby bottle. As seen in the linked article, the bottle is made entirely from steel and no liners are needed inside. As no BPA is involved, the milk can go into the bottle as-is and, inside, interior markings indicate how much milk has been added. Additionally, if the bottle is thrown or dropped, it won’t break or dent.