Bottles going REALLY soft when filled with boiling water

[Lara310809]

I use the Avent anti-colic bottles (https://s7.kmart.com/is/image/Sears/024W011121730001?hei=500&wid=500&op_sharpen=1), but I have two types; the perfectly clear plastic ones, and the kind of murky ones, that use the blue and white ring in the neck of the bottle. It's the murky ones that I'm asking about here, but obviously please reply if you use another brand but have the same thing happen, because I'm interested to hear your opinion.

I noticed this afternoon that when I fill the bottle with boiling water, the plastic of the bottle goes really soft, and I can squash the bottle at the base (where it's normally almost impossible to depress). I was wondering if this was normal. When the bottle's cold you can squash it, but nowhere near as much as when it's got boiling water inside. TBH I am reluctant to go near them when the milk's still boiling, in case it melts and spills all over my hands Not so worried about it happening when I'm feeding Chloe, because it will only be luke warm at that point, but still.

My husband said perhaps I should wait a few minutes after the kettle has boiled, because maybe the water's too hot for the bottle, but the bottle is designed to be used with boiling water to get the formula sterile, surely? And besides, I've used them in the past and never noticed them going so soft when making formula. I also noticed that when you touch the bottom of the bottle, it seems a lot hotter to the touch than it used to be. Perhap the plastic is weakening?

I just wondered if anyone else had the Avent bottles, in particular the slightly murky plastic ones, and if they notice it happen with them. We've only been using the bottles for 5 weeks, and we have 7 so it's not like we use one bottle over and over again - surely they can't be breaking already I would complain to Avent, but I live abroad, and I don't know how it works.

 

[Lara310809]

Bump... any ideas?

 

[Windmills]

Hm, I use the Tommee Tippee CTN Anti Colic ones, but it says on the box to allow water to cool for 30 minutes before pouring it into the bottle. I was in a rush to get out the other day though and did put freshly boiled water into the bottles, and the same thing happened

 

[bubbles123]

Your hubby is right - you're not supposed to put boiling water in them. So quite possibly the plastic is melting at bit. You're supposed to let the kettle cool for 30 mins before you put the water in the bottle. Water needs to be 70+ to kill any bugs in formula, while boiling water is 100 so leaving it to cool for 30 mins lets the water cool to about 70ish. If you're worried though you could get a food/liquid thermometer to double check how long you can leave your kettle before it falls below 70. Most plastic would probably start to melt a bit at 100+ - I once melted a regular plastic plate in the microwave (duh!) - microwave sterilisers are made out of special reinforced plastic to avoid this. Also, if the water is too hot then some of the nutrients in the formula powder maybe destroyed.

 

[blahblahblah]

The difference between the two types of bottle is that the murky ones are BPA free, and the clear, solid ones contain BPA. BPA has been in the news lately as it's a 'gender bending' chemical, so all the manufacturers have changed the plastic they use so it doesn't contain it. BPA was the ingredient that hardened the plastic, hence the new ones being softer.

The guidelines for making up formula state that you should allow the boiled kettle to cool for up to 30 minutes before using it. You can do it sooner or straight away if you want, but I think they are covering themselves in case someone gets burnt.

The plastic won't melt whichever type of bottle you use - you can actually sterilise them by boiling them in a pan of water if you need to! However, if you find it difficult handling them, I'd just let the water cool a bit more before putting them together.

 

[bubbles123]

I have both types of avent bottles - the clear ones and the murky yellow coloured ones and on the box it said they were all BPA free. If you bought your bottles recently the chances are that they are all BPA free. You can boil them to sterilise, but only for 5 mins of so before damage may be done. It's like you can only leave teats, dummies etc in sterilising solution for 5 mins or so too to avoid damage as well. Sounds like the solution might be as the OP said - just leave kettle for 5 mins or however long you feel comfy before adding the water. It'll still be fine for making the formula and you can avoid the bottles becoming soft.

 

[SJR]

Lara, I have both types of Avent bottles and haven't experienced the problem you mentioned. I agree with what others have said - definitely let the water cool for 30 minutes before putting it in the bottles.

 

[Mrs Dot]

we've had similar happening to us so we leave the boiled water to cool off for 5-10 mins before we put the water in. we put boiled water in our 6 bottles after sterilising and then keep in the fridge (not in the door section though) and then warm the bottles when we add the formula at feed time.

 

[Lara310809]

Thanks ladies, I bought the clear bottles a few weeks before Chloe was born, and the murky ones when she was about a week old and we realised we needed more, so I don't know if the first batch were BPA free. I didn't really read the packaging of the murky ones because from what I could tell, they were the same as the first batch I bought. Of course, only when I threw out the box did I take a closer look and realise they had the ring inside and they were murky

Thanks for the suggestions. Oh and I didn't know there was a time limit on leaving teats in the sterilising fluid. The sterilising fluid I have takes 30 minutes to sterilise; does that still mean I have to take the teats out after 5 minutes, when surely they won't be sterile

 

[callumsmummy]

hey bhun, i boil the kettle, on,y wait a few minutes, then poor the water into the water then add the formula, and checked with health visitor and she said this was fine xx

 

[callumsmummy]

hey hun, i boil the kettle, only wait a few minutes, then poor the water into the bottle, then add the formula, checked with the health visitor and she said this was fine xx**

 

[bubbles123]

Lara - Avent instructions say 'don't leave in disinfectant (sterilising solution) for longer than recommended as this may weaken the teat'. So I assume this means that you can't leave them in all day and take them out when needed but it's fine to leave them in for as long as your particular sterilising solution takes