BPA sippy cups: how to avoid them



After graduating from a bottle, many toddlers will move on to a sippy cup. A sippy cup is a type of cup that is specially designed for use by toddlers. These cups usually have a special type of lid or drinking lip that makes it easy for toddlers to drink from without making a mess or spilling water or other liquids. They also often have handles to make them easier for young children to handle. However, sippy cups are often made of thick plastics, and one issue that parents need to consider is whether the sippy cups they have purchased for their children are BPA sippy cups.



BPA sippy cups are sippy cups that have been manufactured from a type of plastic that contains the chemical BPA. BPA stands for Bisphenol A, and is a potentially toxic chemical that can be found in many sippy cups, baby bottles, and plates and cutlery aimed at children. Exposure to this chemical from an early age may have later effects on your children. Potential side effects due to exposure to BPA may include neurological function effects, issues to do with obesity, issues in relation to the function of the thyroid, and increased rates of cancer and reproductive disorders. The potential side effects of BPA were first raised in the 1930s, and much research has been conducted into the possible effects of this chemical since then.

When buying a sippy cup for your child, it is essential that you check the material that it is made from. Not all types of sippy cup will contain Bisphenol A. However, those that are inexpensive, or that have been manufactured overseas may contain traces of this chemical. This may be in part due to lower quality assurance requirements or different requirements around manufacturing. Always check the label of anything that you are buying for child, and if possible take the time to research it first. This is particularly essential if it is something that they are going to ingest. Asking a shop assistant or your doctor or child health specialist may also be a good option for concerned parents. These experts may be able to steer you towards brands or models that are safer for your child than other models on the market. They may also be able to give you cleaning and maintenance advice for your sippy cup.

Older models of sippy cups are also more likely to contain Bisphenol A. This may be because they were manufactured during a time when manufacturing laws and requirements were not as strict, or when the potential side effects had not been thoroughly studied. In addition, the leeching of Bisphenol A is often something that occurs as a product ages, so older products may be more prone to leaking these chemicals than newer products. Always be careful when accepting hand me down cutlery, crockery, or sippy cups from your child. This is something to keep in mind when buying items second hand, or when donating them to charity or to the children of other parents, too.