Baby Shower Gift Picks: Born Free Review

Welcome to Baby Shower Gift Picks, Contest Corner’s newest feature! This gift guide aims to help out those who are looking for the perfect gift for an expectant mom. For those of us who don’t have children yet, deciding on a gift can be tricky. What do moms really need? How can you be sure that you’re picking something that is truly practical? Baby Shower Gift Picks will introduce you to cool new products for parents – so whether you are expecting yourself, or just need some suggestions for a nice present, this column will provide you with some ideas!

Today I’d like to introduce you to BornFree, a company that produces a variety of products for infants, including baby bottles, cups, pacifiers, teethers, and more. Their name comes from the fact that their products are “free” of BPA, PVC, and Phthalates. I have heard parents express concern over the presence of these materials in products meant for children, so I wanted to do some research to learn more about the topic.

According to the FDA, BPA, or Bisphenol A, is “an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s.” Up until recently, research has supported that exposure to low levels of BPA is safe for humans; however, the FDA have recently raised concerns about its potential effects on infants and small children. They are currently conducting further studies to make a determination, but in the meantime, they are supporting industry actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and infant feeding cups. Extensive information about the topic may be found on the FDA’s website. Concerns have also been raised over PVC and Phthalates, although this appears to be a more complex and controversial issue. I would urge consumers to be their own advocates and research these topics, so that they can make informed decisions regarding the products which they purchase.

BornFree sent me a few complimentary samples from their line so that I could check it out for myself: A set of two pacifiers for ages 0-6 months, a set of two pacifiers for ages six months and up, and a sippy cup. I love to create my own gift baskets, and I think these would be perfect to tuck in a basket for an expectant mom. They are practical, useful items with attractive packaging – I like how the pacifiers are stored in a little plastic egg. All in all, I think the BornFree line of products are a great choice if you’re shopping for baby gifts!