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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:03pm | IP Logged
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Are any of you trying this? Or have you done it already? I'm slowly ridding the pantry of plastic and moving to glass, but the one area I'm having trouble with is in the water bottle department. I'd like to have a non-plastic container for each member of the family. I've found two choices, but I really can't decide between the two.
Anybody got any opinions?
Kleen Kanteen is nice. They're all stainless which is a big plus in my book. BUT...they're all the same. It would be hard to tell the water bottles apart for my very picky and allergic-to-her-brother's-germs dd. KWIM? No different colors. I know I could get wraps or insulated thingies to go over the bottle, but I'm trying to streamline - I need this to be simple. Clean bottle, fill with water, pop in fridge for thirsty child to consume.
Or there's this option...
SIGG bottles are very pretty (allright, I confess I'm a very visual person  ), but they are not stainless! They are aluminum outside with an interior lining that they claim has been tested and does not allow for aluminum leaching. The bottle has been around for a long time, and a number of reputable health conscious sites sell them and stand behind them as a viable alternative to plastic. Of course, did I mention they are pretty? Everyone could have their own unique bottle. Plus I prefer the lid design with the flip-over top that keeps the sippy part clean. I just can't get over the aluminum thing, and I know that liner has to be some kind of *PLASTIC*  . Doesn't seem right to spend that kind of money getting away from plastic only to buy it again.
Help! Anybody?
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Jen Mackintosh
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Betsy
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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We have a few of the Kleen Kanteen bottles in different sizes. I went with them because they were stainless steel. To distinguish them I have just labeled them with my labeler or a marker...but I understand your frustration.
The Sigg bottles are darn cute, but I too wonder about the leaching. Who really knows...Nalgene was suppose to be the best thing since sliced bread and now that leaches too. I would probably not be concerned with leaching when they are new, but I have discover that our bottles, with heavy indoor/outdoor use for two+ years, have gotten quite dinged up. I would wonder if you might damage something on the Sigg bottles that might leach over time...but that is just my guessing and wondering.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Betsy
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KackyK
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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Good for you Jennifer. I'm with you and wish I could figure it out. Sorry I have no answers...would love to hear if you come to an answer though 
I hate the plastic water bottles, the reusable junky ones we use now...makes the water taste yucky, then I know it's not good...ugh! Flag football season is starting next week, I should get on this!
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mellyrose
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:18pm | IP Logged
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I know you said you didn't want to have extra things, but I use these on our water bottles and I never take them off. I wash the bottles, etc. and leave the name bands on the bottles all the time.
Which reminds me I need to order some for Lydia.
We have Kleen Kanteens and we also have Thermos Foogoo bottles. I love the foogoo bottles because they stay cold a LONG time and don't sweat, but my boys wish they were bigger than 12 oz. They like the straws on those bottles, too.
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:25pm | IP Logged
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Jennifer,
Why are we getting rid of plastic glasses? Is this just to do with water bottles that you would use for sports or all plastic glasses as you would use at the table? I use all plastic glasses since the kids always break the glass ones. I did read an article recently in a parents mag about certain "numbers" being bad numbers and I did have two plastic glasses that had bad numbers on the bottom and two bottles. So, I threw those away. Are "they" now saying that ALL plastic glasses are potentially harmful? I hope not!!! We do put all of our glasses in the dishwasher. Thanks for any info. on this since I don't want to inadvertantly give the kids something hazardous! Isn't it sad that we have to worry about this now???? I think back to all the toys the twins chewed on a year or so ago and wonder what the heck they might have ingested as far as lead etc. It is quite disturbing that instead of moving forward in safety in this areas, we seem to have gone backwards!!! I don't understand why someone didn't know about all this sooner. And then we wonder why everyone is getting cancer????!!!!!!!
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
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KackyK
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:27pm | IP Logged
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Those bands are cute Melanie!
I just looked at the Kleen Kanteen site...couldn't you buy a bag of colored rubber bands and twist them around the bottom of the necks of the bottles? They look long enough that no one's mouth will touch it??
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KackyK
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SusanJ
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:34pm | IP Logged
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We just bought a SIGG for everyone in the family. I don't see any reason why SIGG's claim to be safe is more or less reputable than Kleen Kanteen (maybe stainless steel will turn out to be bad for us, too!)
I liked the lower price and the personalization. We all love them so far!
Susan
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 6:48pm | IP Logged
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I really like the SIGG bottles.I used to have one but it was stolen (go figure). I think I'll get some for my kiddos, too. From what I read at the site, the liner is a "water-based polymer," which means it isn't plastic (or it would be petroleum based.) So, that makes me feel better about it. And they are super cute.
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SusanJ
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Sorry my post above was a bit curt. I had to deal with some bath separation anxiety in a hurry.
I read everything that KK and SIGG say about their bottles and they both claim to be about the safest thing around. SIGGs do dent very easily. I've had mine 24 hours and there are a couple minor dents already. The info from the company allows for this possibility and swears that it has no impact on the interior coating. I have a friend who obsesses over these kinds of things and went with SIGGs as well (can you tell I'm trying to make myself feel good about my decision ). These bottles do cost a small fortune when buying for the entire family in one shot, so I know it's maddening to think, "What if?" but just do the best you can!
Just a note on the tops for the kids SIGG bottles because I know the websites aren't helpful . . . the flip top snaps in place and then the sport-bottle-type drinking spout actually twists open. My 3yo got it in a couple tries but my 1yo can only get as far as sometimes flipping open the top. This is perfect to my mind because the bottles aren't leak-proof when open and I don't want her to have a shower on the way to Mass or anything.
Happy shopping!
Susan
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 8:40pm | IP Logged
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Eight Wonders wrote:
Jennifer,
Why are we getting rid of plastic glasses? |
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Kim,
Well the list is lengthy. Please understand, this is a choice we've made as a family after a number of major health problems we've faced - breast and brain cancers, thyroid and other hormone issues, along with cholesterol problems. We've made a number of lifestyle changes over the last couple of years, and removing plastics has been a part of it.
Here are a couple of articles I found, but a google search will yield more. It's scary though, I'm warning you.
Xeno Estrogens - the dangers
Bisphenol A - the hidden threat
Experimenting on Children
This article is really lengthy, but the science is very good - Can Nutrition Help Prevent Breast Cancer
In particular, Dr. Wallace says this about plastics and their relationship with xenoestrogens:
There are also xenoestrogens, compounds that act as very potent estrogen mimics (they can be 1,000 times stronger than our own estrogen), and appear to be implicated as a contributing factor in breast cancer and other disorders of hormone disruption (e.g., endometriosis, cervical cancer, infertility).
These are found in soft plastics (pthalates), bisphenol-A (found in plastic wraps and the plastics that line many canned goods), and in many herbicides and pesticides.
Choose organic foods. Avoid heating foods in plastic containers (choose ceramic or glass). Avoid storing foods with oils/fats in plastic wrap (choose cellulose bags, or wax or parchment paper with an outer layer of tin foil to seal out air).
Invariably, women across the globe have been exposed to xenoestrogens, which are very difficult for the body to eliminate.
Thus the search for non-plastics. 
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 25 2008 at 9:29pm | IP Logged
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mellyrose wrote:
I know you said you didn't want to have extra things, but I use these on our water bottles and I never take them off. I wash the bottles, etc. and leave the name bands on the bottles all the time.
Which reminds me I need to order some for Lydia.
We have Kleen Kanteens and we also have Thermos Foogoo bottles. I love the foogoo bottles because they stay cold a LONG time and don't sweat, but my boys wish they were bigger than 12 oz. They like the straws on those bottles, too.
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Melanie, thanks for those links and suggestions!!! I love the little band - I put 4 in my cart with the kids names on them! Those are so cool, and I've never come across them before. Also, I've never seen the Thermos Fogoos or the Safe Sippy by Kid Basix - all stainless! Unfortunately, the safe sippy is out of stock everywhere until May, but I put my name on the waiting list for that one. And, the Thermos Fogoos are out of stock too! Still, a few more options that I love! I think the bands do solve the "how to tell whose bottle is whose?" dilemma. I can see that they are sturdy enough to stay on the bottle through washing as well.
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Jen Mackintosh
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lilac hill
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| Posted: March 26 2008 at 5:54am | IP Logged
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Of course now that we have Nagleen bottles, they supposedly leech!
We are not freezing them and perhaps I will start planning another switch. I have already started to get rid of plastic in the kitchen, especially for reheating.
Okay, for those that have or have seen the Kleen Kanteens, how are they for washing? I really like the wider mouth of the Nalgenes because I can get to the bottom with my dish sink scrub brush and the carrried drinking water tastes like our own water.
Hopefully stainless steel is a very stable compound so it will not leech.
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Viv
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rashfordmom
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| Posted: March 26 2008 at 7:00am | IP Logged
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Ok, I've been totally clueless to this! Where do I find those "bad" numbers to start eliminating? We are very far from being a "natural" family but this sounds like a no-brainer.
Blessings,
Amanda
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 26 2008 at 8:04am | IP Logged
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Here is the guide I use to determine which numbers and plastics are most important to get rid of.
This page has a pdf link to download a printable form to keep in your home management notebook, or on the fridge.
ETA - my link above wasn't working. This page has a link to a PDF file with a printable version of Plastic Products to Avoid.
Viv,
The Kleen Kanteens have a wider mouth than the SIGGs. It is wide enough to be able to put a piece of ice in the bottle if you want.
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Jen Mackintosh
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: March 26 2008 at 8:14am | IP Logged
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Hi Amanda,
I honestly cannot remember now what was a good or bad #.  I probably should have memorized it. I read the article in Parents magazine (last months issue) which I guess I already threw out. I seem to recall maybe 5, 7, 8 and things like that being "bad" numbers, but I cannot be sure enough for you to act on those numbers. Does anyone else know where we can get this info. again since I have misplaced it too.
All: Also, I read all the articles that Jennifer kindly sent. (links) So, where does that leave everyone who has PVC water pipes coming into their homes?? Our water supply is connected to my in-laws and we have our water coming over to the house in PVC pipes for about 1500 feet. (This is all legal and was okayed by our county etc.) Since the water may "sit" in the pipes from time to time throught the day and night, and may heat up etc. I would think, although it is buried quite deeply. Do you think this is dangerous???????? Now I am a bit worried about that!!  I would have to really have a major scientific claim to ever have my physicist husband replace all the plumbing in the house and connecting to his folks. (and even then he would most likely not believe the "experts". He rarely does since he is "an expert" too.  ) I think everyone has pvc pipes, right? Is this a bigger issue, or is this a different PVC we are talking about? Is it just a problem if it is heated?
Thanks for your thoughts.........
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 26 2008 at 8:38am | IP Logged
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Kim-
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you about the PVC pipes that come into the house!! Here's my take on it - I can't do anything about the PVC that brings my water in - but I can do something about the plastic in the house, particularly the plastic we eat out of or use to store food/drink in. It is my understanding that it takes a substantial amount of heat to start releasing chemicals from plastic - the kind of heat you'd find in a microwave while nuking your leftovers in a plastic bowl. I don't think your PVC pipes buried under ground under the freeze line for your area are going to heat enough to be a problem there.
We have PVC too, I imagine most everyone does. It is the same kind of PVC found in plastic wraps. I wish I knew more of the science behind all of this so I could give you a credible explanation.
I just try to eliminate those things that are within my control to eliminate, and leave the rest. Just as I can't control if there will be a drunk driver speeding down the road toward me, but I can make sure everyone is in a seat belt and I'm paying close attention to the road. Is that oversimplifying?
I'm sorry, Kim. I hope I haven't worried you. We still have plastic everywhere in the kitchen - including the dreaded sippy cup! It is a long process to go through everything and make these changes. And it takes $$$. We try to make planned purchases, saving for big expenditures before buying. And I've been saving for the water bottle replacements for awhile. I just want to make sure I spend all that $$$ on the right bottle. KWIM? It always helps me to come here and hash things out with you ladies. I appreciate hearing all the different view points. So keep them coming!
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Jen Mackintosh
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lilac hill
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| Posted: March 26 2008 at 9:10am | IP Logged
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As a kitchen help, check out yard sales and second hand shops, that is where all my glass storage stuff cam from. I imagine cheap uunmatchced glasses can be prchased there too.
When we were young we drank out of Welches grape jelly (my brother ate nothing elsE) jars. After nursing and some bottle feeding we stated drinking from them. The price was vertainly right and i believe my mother appreciated the smaller , waste less size.
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Viv
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Wendy
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| Posted: March 26 2008 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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We all have Kleen Kanteens and I really like them. Maggie has the sippy cup size (12 oz), but we switched her to the sport drinking cap because the sippy cup cap leaked. I've been trying to phase out plastics, too, because I have a family history of breast cancer and because Maggie -- being a 26-weeker preemie w/ 90 days in the NICU -- has been exposed to *so* much already in the way of medicines, etc... It is hard -- plastic is everywhere!
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mama251ders
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Does anyone have any resources for safe non-breakable dinner ware for kids? I would rather not watch all my fabulous FiestaWare get broken, but I have a hunch that the Ikea plastic dinnerware is not the safest thing I can give them !
Betsie
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SusanJ
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You could do other IKEA stuff. We have two really sturdy, really cheap coffee mugs from IKEA that I give the kids for meals. We haven't had trouble with plates, yet.
Susan
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Topic: Getting rid of plastic cups/water bottles
