Still have Avent or Dr. Brown's bottles and want to go BPA-Free?????

Looks like companies are really starting to take this seriously!

Some Moms have reported luck returning their BPA bottles from Avent & Dr. Brown to Babies R Us stores and getting store credit, whether used or not. This is YMMV (your mileage/market may vary, in other words, not guaranteed for all stores yet,) but it's worth a shot. Here's a blurb from safemama.com:

~Call your local Babies R Us store and ask what their policy is on BPA product
returns

~Ask to speak to the manager to clarify what policy they are following
and what you need to bring to receive a store credit/return.

~Bring bottles and cups in the store clean and bring receipts if you have them.

~Bring our BPA Free Bottle and Cup Cheat Sheet with you to make sure
you’re buying BPA Free replacements.

I’m going off the assumption that they won’t provide this perk forever so I encourage you to get on it if you want to make a change to BPA Free.

This is great news--I guess they're starting to realize that people are really unhappy with the whole BPA issue, especially since Canada (and California, most recently!) declared it unsafe for use with babies under 18 months.

Also, if you choose to purchase the new BPA-free Dr. Brown's Polypropylene or Glass Bottles instead, you can submit 3 of the UPC symbols to Dr. Brown's and they will send you three more matching BPA free bottles (polypropylene only). So even if you don't have the BPA bottles to return, Dr Brown is going to reward you for buying their BPA-Free by offering buy 3 get 3 free!

To get your free bottles, simply mail your UPC codes (up to 3) to:Handi-Craft Company4433 Fyler AvenueSt. Louis, Missouri 63116

Part of me wishes I'd waited now to make the switch, but I got a good deal on my Born Free (30% off) and the nipples from Avent work with them, which saves me from having to buy all new ones. But for you Mama's (and Daddy's) that haven't made the switch yet, now's the time to do it!

Don't forget, if you're out shopping and are unsure about what is BPA-Free, or just partially BPA-Free (since very few products actually label as such, especially sippy cups), here are a couple of tips:

~Avoid plastics that are labeled 3, 6, or 7 (pretty sure those are the ones, but I'll double check and change if necessary.) You can usually find this on the bottle itself, on the bottom. It's surrounded by a three-arrow triangle, usually. All other plastics are generally considered "safe".

~Send a text message to "zrecs" with the company name (and item name, if you have it, such as "nuby sippy cups" or "avent nurser") to 69866. This is a free service run by zrecs.blogspot.com and will reply with a message on whether that item is BPA-free or not (as best as it can, at least. Sometimes you have to be more specific.)

~If you remember before you leave the house, print out the cheat sheet in the above quote, or use the one from zrecs that folds up into a wallet size card. It can be found here.