Yes, it’s St. Patty’s Day today. And while my usual annual indulgence involves copious amounts of green beer complete with wicked green hangovers, this year is a little lot different.
This year, I’m doing something green in a little different way. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been testing the uber-cute Green to Grow bottles, and I’m gonna tell ya all about ‘em.
When I first bought bottles, during my pregnancy, I had no experience what-so-evah with what or why to buy. I took the recommendations of friends and purchased the Born Free. I am nursing the babe, but I knew from the start that I was not going to be all La Leche League about it. I wanted baby-daddy, her grandparents, and of course random babysitters to be able to feed her. And the whole nipple-confusion thing? I’m convinced it’s total BS. Peaches spent 3 nights/4 days in the NICU for jaundice when she was 4 days old and was bottle-fed exclusively for that time, and STILL returned to the breast with only mild interruption. End: rant. So anyway.
We’ve been happily using the Born Free’s until recently, when I lost the last cap I had for them, thus rendering their portability useless. I like to pump and bring a bottle with me when we go out to the beach or are away for long periods - I never know where I’ll be when she needs to eat so I like to be prepared when popping out the boob is somewhat weird or uncomfortable. So not having a cap was clearly an issue.
I started surfing the web, looking at safe and cute bottles, wanting to try something different. I settled on the Green To Grow for a couple reasons:
- Their packaging alone is so cute. And as you may have learned, I’m a sucker for good design. Also, it’s 100% recycled – score!
- They are safe for my baby: BPA, PVC, and Phthalate-free. The nipples are medical-grade silicone. All those chemicals that we aren’t sure what they do to us? If I can avoid them, I’m gonna.
- They have a wide-neck option that is similar to the Born Free, and makes Peaches have to use a latch more similar to how she nurses.
- They have fewer ‘parts’ than the BF so are easier to wash.
- They have a cap. That isn’t lost. Yet.
I ordered the wide-neck 10-ounce bottle and some ‘intermediate’ nipples since Peaches is also using the Born Free Level 2 nipple, and I thought it would be similar. And overall, it is. I like the bottle; the design, the colors, the safety. . . but there are definitely a few things I’m not crazy about.
- The nipples are not labeled as to what ‘flow’ they are. This causes a major issue because I wanted to save the slow-flow in case the faster one was too fast. But they got mixed up (I think) and they don’t have a label for me to tell which is which.
- The nipples are also a little harder and Peaches has a difficult time latching on right away, while milk dribbles all down her chin and neck until she gets it.
- There is no ‘anti-colic’ mechanism. She’s past needing it, but somehow that weird valve in the Born Free makes me feel like she’s getting a little less gas. That mechanism, though, is a pain in the ass to wash so this could go either way.
As she gets older, she doesn’t need the special anti-colic valve, so a bottle really does become just a bottle. And the Green to Grow are a very cute, safe option – no more, no less.
Rating: 
Free Stuff Alert Contest Has Ended – Congratulations Elizabeth!
Alicia at TheSoftLanding.com, home of all things green and safe for baby, has generously offered two Green to Grow bottles and a package of nipples (size of your choice) to a lucky reader.
Required for entry: Visit TheSoftLanding.com and let us know your favorite GREEN product. This can be the color green or green in the environmentally-friendly sense.
Then, you can earn up to 3 additional entries by doing the following:
1. Subscribe to YourMama’s feed or email. Comment to let us know.
2. Paste our badge on your site, profile (Facebook, MySpace, etc) or blog. Just cut/paste the code below into your page, then comment to let us know where it’s posted (leave your link!).
3. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment again and include your twitter username so we can verify.
COMMENTS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE ENTRY RULES WILL BE DELETED. The winner will be chosen using a random-number generator. Contest runs through Tuesday, March 24 at noon EST. Please make sure you leave a valid email address. Offer limited to US and Canadian residents.
About the author: One day, Andi hopes to teach the men in her life that they, too, can pick things up and put them away after they’ve used them. Read more from this author.
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Frostware 10″ Plate Set of 6–I need some of these, my kids plates are old. I would love to win the bottles…my baby is due next month.
I just sibscribed to your blog via email
I twittered this…my twitter name is jorayne
http://twitter.com/jorayne/status/1342143606
I think my favorite is the Kids Konserve “waste free lunch kit”.
I tweeted. username: mohop
Green Sprouts Baby Dish Gift Set
i get newsletter
frost ware plates
Sophie the Giraffe Natural Rubber Teether Toy
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I really like the Think Baby Stainless Steel Feeding Set.
I like the THINK stainless steel feeding kit
[...] Your Mama ReviewsWhat: Two Green to Grow bottles plus one package nipples of your choice.How To Enter: See [...]
I like the Go BPA Free Organic Wood Teether Sampler.
I love the sophie the giraffe and the fact it is made from all natural rubber.
I like the Kids Konserve Stainless Steel Round Container. Non-toxic, reuseable, and they have a green lid! :)
I added your badge to my blog here:
http://emilyisland.blogspot.com/
badge on my site!
As for The Soft Landing, I love the Green Sprouts Stainless Steel Bottle
I love that they have bottle sampler kits. My first baby refused a bottle and we tried every kind, which got really expensive! This would have been a lifesaver back then, and is probably a good investment for #2.
I love the PVC-free bath appliques. Thanks!
Here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/prizealert/status/1349257993
We like the Think Baby 9oz Training Cup. And it is packaged in recycled materials!
I love the Vulli Natural Rubber Toys. My daughter is at the stage where she puts EVERYTHING in her mouth and I worry about the safety of the objects. These are great and worry free
I subscribe vie RSS
I tweeted it http://twitter.com/SaraMama
i like the Think Baby 9oz Training Cup.
I love these bottles as well I have been using the born free system but purchased some of these to check them out, great price and design. I love the think baby bottles as well that can be found at the soft landing.
I like the BPA Free Sippy Cups
gkstratos@yahoo.com
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gkstratos@yahoo.com
I love anything green for my baby. I also subscribed via email.
I like the BPA Free Plastic Water Bottles.
My favorite is the Green Sprouts Cornstarch Hand Teether Rattle
I like the giraffe teething toy!!
I subscribe by email!
The stainless steel feeding kit is great! Thanks for the chance!
mogrill@comcast.net
The Kids Konserve Waste Free Lunch Kit looks like a great product
Email subscriber
I like the GREEN Bibbity Baby Bib! :D
Got your badge here:
http://etsyitup.blogspot.com/
Got your badge here:
etsyitup.blogspot.com
I didn’t know they sold pet items like the Zogoflex Tux 6″ Treat Ball.
I love the Sophie the Giraffe Teether Toy, which is made with all-natural flexible rubber and non-toxic paint.
I would get non toxic paint, i’ve actually been looking for some for my toddler. its hard to find though. Looks like great safe bottles! having another soon and could use these! thanks!
I love the BPA-free sippy cup set–not sure if that’s green in the environmental sense, but they’re great for baby and a great idea!
I like the ThinkSport black stainless steel water bottle for me and BPA Free Beginning Solids set for the baby I’m expecting in April. I’d think both of those are green in the environmental sense, as they’re reusable!
Wow, I love everything on that site (and yay, they have a registry option!). The Baby Cubes really caught my eye. What a perfect and easy way to save the extra homemade baby food.
I’ve just subscribed via email. Thx
So many things I like on TSL, but I really like the Boon Scrubble Bath Toys (http://www.thesoftlanding.com/boon-bath-toys-scrubble.html)
I like the Thermos 24oz Intak Hydration Water Bottle – Green – double green!
I love the Green Sprouts collection.
I like the Green Sprouts Cornstarch Baby Dishes and Utensils.
I love the Kids Konserve lunch kozies – brilliant idea!
I like all the steel serving wear. Sounds like it’s safe AND would last forever!
Green to Grow Bottles are great! Thanks!
i loved the Boon Scrubble Bath Toys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the Kids Konserve Lunch Kit . A little bit of green in the design and it’s green to in the sense that you reuse the products instead of using plastic bottles for water, paper napkins, ziplocks for sandwiches etc.
I like the Think Baby Stainless Steel Feeding Set.
the Green Sprouts collection
I love the pet toys!!!
i like the green bottles
I like the Boon Scrubble Bath Toys
oh i love the high chairs
I subscribed
I like the Bibbity Rinse & Roll Baby Bib
I tweeted your giveaway! (My username is @ThriftyJinxy)
I love the Green Sprouts Baby Dish Gift Set
Favorite product is the green Mam toothbrush
I’m a subscriber
I soooooo love the Lolly PVC Free Chalk Mat – Airplanes! So adorably cute!
Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I also subscribe! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
And, I TWITTERED about this give~away…….username: mamaleahita.
http://twitter.com/mamaleahita/status/1380789253
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I love the Green Sprouts Baby Dish Gift Set. Not only is it a GREEN product but it is also the color green. Thanks for the chance to win! :)
I subscribe via google reader.
I’m a subscriber.
I tweeted @ http://twitter.com/Naddez
Posted your badge on my blog @ http://naddezsgoodycorner.blogspot.com/
Love the green sprouts collection.
I love the Blue Flower Thermos Stainless Steel 10 Ounce Insulated Food Jar!
My favorite is the Boon Flair Pedestal High Chair – Blue/White – and look! — FREE SHIPPING! Thank you so very much for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway!
I like the Go BPA Free Stainless Steel Sippy Sampler which includes the One Klean Kanteen Sippy, One Safe Sippy, One Green Sprouts stainless steel sippy, and One Green Sprouts neoprene insulated sleeve with handles.
Subscriebd via google reader
I like the Go BPA Free Organic Wood Teether Sampler.
The Alladin Lunch and Go Sets are my favorite!
I got your feed.