Baby bottles are an essential for any new parent. Whether it's feeding baby on the go, or giving dad a chance to get involved at mealtime, every mom will find herself shopping for baby bottles at one time or another. If you are primarily breastfeeding, you may not be up on the current knowledge in regards to baby bottles. They've come a long way from the cheap designs that were available for purchase when you were an infant, and with recent chemical scares, parents need to be more educated than ever before on what they are using to feed their child.

Bisphenol A, otherwise known as BPA in the retail world, is a compound that has recently been found to possibly be responsible for adverse health effects in both children and adults. Depending on the dose contained in a product, some physical ailments include lowered bodyweight, testosterone decline, prostate issues and altered emotional behaviors. This health scare caused a large hiccup in the baby product industry, as many bottles were pulled immediately from store shelves to prevent toxic exposure to BPA. Today, parents are encouraged to continue having a heightened awareness when it comes to shopping for baby bottles and other items at risk for BPA exposure, and the Internet is a great place to find safe products for purchase.

Going back to the style before everything started to go wrong, Babylife makes a line of glass bottles that easily pass today's safety standards. They include a rubber sleeve that prevents shattering if dropped, and the entire set is dishwasher safe. FDA approved and fully recyclable, Babylife is a great place to start when you're looking for BPA-free baby bottles.

Thinkbaby is another bottle manufacturer able to take both safety and style into consideration. They use recycled materials for their packaging and also feature a vented system to possibly help reduce colic in infants. Consistently BPA-free, Thinkbaby sells an evolutionary line of products that will grow with your child from newborn bottles to sippy cups.

So what should you be on the lookout for when shopping for baby bottles? Avoid cheap, unfamiliar brands, even if they sport a cute design you love. If a price tag is too good to be true, it most likely is, so keep your little one safe by only paying for recognizable brand names with clear safety labels. If you are unsure if a specific bottle is BPA-free and also void of other harmful toxins, do some online research. Recall lists are readily available on the Internet and can be found on many baby safety sites.