In summer, food safety is on the first burner. Are you going to have a trip this year? In Missouri, visit one of the perfect family resorts. Fugitive and Gland Glaize Beaches are picturesque and toddler-friendly. But traveling with your small kids in a car, eliminate common risks. Is silicone safe for babies? During extreme summer heatwaves, try to minimize their exposure to plastic. In the hot sun, it releases toxic chemicals. Don’t let them move into your drinking water and food. A healthy alternative is available. Silicone is flexible, non-toxic, and durable. Are you going to use it to feed your tiny tot? You are to be completely sure of its safety. So, let’s delve into details.
Summer Risks and Challenges
Are you going to avoid or delay travel this year? To stay safe, try to review and follow the current CDC recommendations. You can easily have a good time in your city or town. For example, in Saint Louis, go to the landing at night to get an excellent dining experience.
Traveling and eating with kids is something else again. You are to eliminate dangers, like:
- dehydration;
- overheating;
- food spoilage;
- turbulence and crushes.
Your favorite bento box for kids is necessary a bit later. When your child goes to school, it’s useful. It helps your tiny tot to get an organized lunch. Now a reliable car seat, proper hydration, and food safety matter. Convenient food warming and bottle heating facilities would be necessary on the way.
Materials of your food containers and bottles might become decisive. For babies, it is to be not only shatterproof. Lightweight, easy to handle stuff is beneficial. Durable, easy to hold items are preferable. Which ones are the best? Let’s check it right now.
Is Silicone Safer than Plastic?
Traveling with kids, you may face a lot of challenges. The risk of disease is still high. Additionally, summer heat might make your trip extreme. For example, in Missouri, both August and July are hot and sticky months. High humidity makes it feel oppressive. You would stand it until a summer heatwave bears down on you.
Will you travel with your kids when the temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit? The weather is unpredictable, so you may not anticipate it. I guess you shouldn’t avoid traveling. Just equip it with the safest kid’s stuff. What about plastic baby bottles?
Consisting of polypropylene, they are:
- tough;
- lightweight;
- intuitive to measure;
- unbreakable;
- easy to carry and store.
Top-quality polypropylene is safe for food contact. FDA has approved it. Due to its high heat resistance, it suits hot beverage applications. This rigid, stiff plastic is commonly BPA-free. Its surface is a bit slippery but resistant to normal wear and tear. It’s more resistant to acidic foods like juices than other types of plastic. Unfortunately, it still can pose some risks.
Is it Safe for Babies to Chew on Silicone?
As a parent looking for safe ways to soothe your baby’s sore gums, you may wonder – can I let them gnaw on silicone teethers and toys? Rest assured silicone makes a smart chew choice over plastic thanks to some helpful qualities:
Silicone Safety Benefits:
- Non-toxic – contains no BPA, phthalates or latex
- Easy to clean and sterilize
- Durable yet flexible – good for compression
- Can be chilled to provide extra gum relief
- Stays fairly tasteless after repeated chewing
- Shapes and textures ease soreness for itchy teethers
FDA also backs food-grade silicone as harmless for repeated mouthing. While no object is 100% bite-proof, silicone rates very high for durability meaning teeth likely won’t break off small chunks.
Look for one-piece designs without crevices that harbor germs, and frequently sterilize. Avoid low quality silicone which may interact with other materials over time. With safe materials and cleaning habits, silicone makes chewing satisfaction!
Which Baby Bottles Suit Summer Heat Applications?
During a trip, plastic boxes and containers seem to be the best. They are not as flimsy as your paper sacks. Versatile and moisture-resistant, they don’t overload your bag or car trunk. These options are durable, affordable, but not completely green. Unfortunately, their nontoxicity is not 100% absolute.
In normal conditions, plastic baby bottles are virtually safe. Can you freeze plastic containers? Freezer-safe products suit the application. Air-tight, sealable containers are a good pick. But in summer, they may become harmful. High temperatures or shaking make them release microplastic particles.
In a hot car, temperatures may reach 150 degrees. What about the glass baby bottles? These time-proven solutions are:
- durable;
- easy-to-clean;
- dishwasher and microwave safe;
- reusable;
- eco-friendly.
The nonporous glass surface is inert. It resists scratching, releasing no harmful chemicals into your food and air. It’s a natural choice, easy to sanitize, BPA-free and odor-resistant. But during a trip, glass baby bottles wouldn’t be handy enough. Heavy and breakable, they pose other dangers. Are there any soft, easy to grip and lightweight alternatives? Of course, they are widely available.
Benefits and Applications of Silicone
Are your little kids younger than 5? Fortunately, they don’t have to wear face masks yet. Low-quality protective equipment may release tiny nano plastic particles. It would add discomfort to summer heat oppression. Do you want to provide risk-free comfort for your honey chiles?
Even during a trip, it’s possible. Thus, you would minimize their exposure to plastic. A new, soft, and flexible substance has made a difference in the lives of young parents. It waves common distresses and allergies off. Modern, safe and non-toxic child care products consist of silicone. They include:
- teethers;
- baby bottle nipples;
- pacifiers;
- spouts of sippy cups;
- various toys and toothbrushes.
Cookware and kitchen utensils make baking and cleaning easier. What about your cool silicone food storage containers? Durable, space-saving options are beneficial. They withstand extreme heat and sudden temperature changes. Transferring them directly from your freezer to the microwave is handy. Low toxicity of silicone is invariable. No weather conditions or cooking environment impair it.
Are Silicone Utensils Safe to Use?
These items are pretty popular nowadays. Just look around. You find a lot of silicon spatulas, spoons, brushes, turners, and barbeque tongs. Why do you use them? Being soft and smooth, they won’t scratch your delicate, non-stick pot and pans. Silicone utensils are colorful, easy to grip and pleasant to touch by hand.
These handy, advanced items are:
- lightweight;
- easy to use and store;
- flexible but sturdy and durable;
- convenient to store;
- long-lasting, not prone to discoloration, warping or deterioration.
Are silicone containers microwave safe? They easily withstand high temperatures and continuous moisture exposure. Sleek, smooth surface of your silicone spatulas and spoons is intuitive to clean. So, you can easily put them into your dishwasher.
Additionally, silicone is a perfect insulator. Its thermal and electrical properties are outstanding. So, unlike metal utensils, silicone spatulas don’t heat up. They won’t burn your fingers or hands during use. I guess it’s one of the most ergonomic and user-friendly materials.
Is Silicone Toxic to Humans?
As well as time-proven plastics, silicone is a man-made substance. Synthetic polymers commonly consist of petroleum, oil and natural gas supplies. At certain conditions, both polypropylene and HDPE may start degrading. They would release harmful chemicals and toxic gases.
Quite naturally, it doesn’t happen at room temperatures. Regular sterilization damages plastic vessels. So does the exposure to direct sunlight in a hot car. Can you use baby bottles without sterilization? Caring parents might be put out due to this advice.
Silicone is another pair of shoes. It consists of silica sand, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. So, it’s much more stable and non-reactive. This rubber-like substance is resistant to:
- moisture;
- heat and cold;
- UV light;
- most chemicals;
- bacteria and mold growth.
Silicone is an unrivaled sealant and insulator. Thus, your best freezing soup containers may consist of various materials. Borosilicate glass, polypropylene, and Tritan plastics are acceptable. Their airtight lids are inimitable. Coming with silicone rings and gaskets, they keep your food fresh for longer. They prevent leakage and spillage of liquids, making your containers handy.
Is Silicone Toxic when Heated?
Silicones or siloxanes are synthetic materials. It’s something between rubbers and plastic polymers. During the production process, silicone has some plastic-like properties. In a furnace, at high temperatures of about 3270 ºF, it’s malleable and colorless.
Manufacturers shape it, hardening or softening, according to the application. Upon forming, it gets excellent temperature and water-resistant properties. Silicone resists cold and heat, from -22 to 600 degrees, releasing no toxic fumes.
Does silicone have BPA? It doesn’t contain these common ingredients of plastic, as well as phthalates. Therefore, silicone kitchen utensils and baby bottles are:
- odorless;
- stain-resistant;
- non-toxic;
- hypoallergenic;
- hygienic.
They are simple to clean and sterilize. Use boiling water or microwaving to kill all bacteria and germs. The silicone surface is still mold-resistant. It’s virtually as inert and smooth as glass. Extreme temperatures or harsh environments don’t damage it.
What about the soft texture and flexibility of silicone? It offers you unique space-saving opportunities. What about your baby products like teethers or nipples? Resembling the feel and warmth of human skin, they are beneficial. So are the stretchable, air-tight lids. They are adaptable and easy to handle.
What Is Food Grade Silicone?
There are several silicone forms and types. It can be liquid, vulcanized and solid. People widely use it in construction, electronics, aerospace, automotive and even biomedical industries. Quite naturally, injectable silicones and breast implants may pose some risks.
Are you going to use silicone for baking? It’s completely safe. FDA has approved it for food contact. Quite naturally, not all products are the same. What is the difference between food-grade silicone and regular silicone? It should be free of hazardous fillers and lead. Pure silicone doesn’t:
- react with your delicious food and beverages;
- change color when pressed or twisted;
- release any hazardous fumes.
High temperatures don’t impair its look and shape. Your baby bottles don’t crack or peel in time. Most importantly, they don’t become brittle, being safe and long-lasting. They are as durable so you can reuse them with your next child. So are silicone food storage containers. They are handy, safe and virtually everlasting.
Bottom Line
Don’t you still use any silicone food storage products? It’s a perfect material. Lightweight and non-toxic, it encompasses the best benefits of plastic and glass containers. You can use it in any condition. It easily withstands freezing, reheating and dishwashing. No shape change or discoloration happens. Additionally, silicon perfectly suits baby bottles and teethers’ applications. It’s completely safe, hypoallergenic and harmless. Smooth and durable, silicone releases no toxic chemicals. During a trip, in the summer heat, flexible, hygienic bottles are indispensable. Do you still hesitate to use silicone in your household? Buy a set of suitable containers. Explore their undeniable usability, health benefits and keep well.
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