Is silicone better than glass for babies?

Introduction

When searching for baby feeding and drinking vessels, you would most likely come across silicone vs glass. Both materials have their advantages and disadvantages, which makes it hard to decide. The two most common materials used for baby-feeding are glass and silicone, and in this article, well help you answer and compare silicone vs glass for babies, is silicone better than glass?

Advantages of Silicone

Silicone, known for its shape retention, has a long lifespan. Silicone is unbreakable, and it doesn't shatter when dropped unlike glass. The big one here is for infants that are just learning to pick things up and have the potential to injure themselves with broken glass it is far less common.

Silicone is virtually non-toxic (as "good" as glass) and has the clear advantage of you will never have broken bits or cut yourself on an edge. There is also the fact that silicone can withstand extreme temperatures so using them for hot or cold foods and drinks are safe. This temperature resistance is a convenient feature for parents to prepare the bottles or food quickly and safely.

It takes hardly any time to clean silicone too! And the dishwasher friendly nature of most of these are a godsend for busy parents. Aside from that, silicone is also non-porous, limiting stains and bacteria preventing clean and hygienic items.

Advantages of Glass

There are also few benefits of glass. Its an old school, high wrap, pleasing to the eye and durable material, if you give it the proper treatment. Glass transparency permits visibility into the vessel to check food or liquid levels. Also, glass remains chemically stable and does not seep dangerous compounds into the contents.

Disadvantages of Glass

While glass does have many benefits, it makes a pretty poor baby bottle material. It's delicate, easily shattered, and can cut you with the jagged pieces. This risk is especially alarming for toddlers and preschoolers whose gross and fine motor skills are not yet fully developed. Even more, glass has a greater weight than silicone, in which a baby can find it more challenging to grasp.

Glass products can also be harder to clean and maintain. Glass is more absorbent to stains and smells than silicone. On top of that, not every glass product is actually dishwasher safe, making it a hassle for many parents.

Comparison and Considerations

Silicone vs Glass – Safety (Priority No.1 for Baby), Compared to silicone, broken glass is a much greater concern regarding risk of injury. The second aspect to consider is practicality for everyday life. Silicone also makes for a more practical, versatile everyday material for babies, easy-to-clean and resistant to high temperatures.

And the material or materials chosen may also have to have these underlying factors considered while balancing both the inherent resource cost, in addition to environmental. Generally silicone is more durable and lasts longer than other products which in the long run, is more economical. Glass is actually more environmentally damaging to make and dispose of than silicone, which is usually more eco-friendly.

Conclusion

Finally, silicone is a better material than glass for babies' feeding and drinking utensils. Its wipe-clean surface, safety, temperature resistance, and durability means most parents consider it a far better option. But while glass is solid and easy to see through, it breaks too easily and that makes it a poor choice for young children. Short story; the pros of using silicone clearly outdo those of glass and silicone remains to be the more suitable for babies middle term. That said, there are certain cases (aesthetic, preference, etc.) where glass will continue to be the choice, especially for materials that offer extra durability like tempered glass.