Glass baby bottles have made a comeback. Although plastic solved the safety issue of shattering bottles and cups generations ago, parents are returning to glass in reaction to reports that toxins are leached through the most typical kinds of plastic used today. Some retailers are reporting a ten-fold rise in glass bottle purchases, making anxious parents even more worried while they wait for back-orders to be fulfilled.

Of concern is chemical bisphenol A, which has been reported to reside in a baby bottle, some toys, canned food lining, anti-cavity sealants and electronics. One side says  bisphenol A  can be leached when heated and has been shown, even at low levels of exposure, to cause estrogen-like changes in lab animals. The other says, not so, assessing that the scientific proof that minimal exposure to the chemical validates the concern. The spokesman for the American Chemistry Council questions the alternative use of glass bottles, saying, "I think parents are arguably being misled into buying products that may not be as safe."

While one parent in this article says that switching to glass bottles is one small thing he can do to contribute to the health and well-being of his daughter, he also admits she'll eventually be inundated with exposure to plastics. 

I have to admit, I have no idea what to make of all this

Do I want my child to be exposed to a toxin that might cause bodily changes that lead to cancer? Of course not. Do I think that glass bottles and cups are lovely and much more sturdy than their tippy, dishwasher-scratched counterparts? Of course.  In protecting my child against toxin leaching would I have been putting him at risk every time he hurled a bottle or sippy cup from a stroller? And is there a daycare in the United States that would allow my kid to show up on the playground or in a class with ten other kids toting glass? Oy.

 I am all about the happy medium. I would be happy to make an effort to use glassware at meals. At home. Where we have a rug. Over carpeting.
And I would be willing to take into consideration the nine tips outlined by the Environmental Working Group to minimize kids' exposure to concerning chemicals. The only thing is, just reading this list -- which ranges from avoiding food wrapped in plastic to not letting your child put plastic toys in their mouth toonly choosing PVC-free wooden toys -- stresses me out as much as the idea of switching from plastic to glass.

What I'd love is for some concerned and realistic parent who stands smack in the middle with so many of us to outline some ideas that we can all live with that won't have us stressed out or returning every single baby shower gift we got back to the store. Any takers?