As parents we use products that make family life easier, safer, more fun — even more beautiful, but in the rigmarole of daily living, we don't often think about the people who created those items. We looked into a few of our favorite brands. Meet the mothers and fathers behind the bottle, the bedding, the baby food, the game, and the crib.
When my son's doctor told me to transition him from a sippy cup to a straw version, I knew my one-year-old was on the right path. Over the past month, my tot had taken a liking to drinking water out of a real cup with a straw. But that's only convenient when we're at home or in a restaurant. As a second child, my lil one is constantly on the go and we needed a cup that was easily transported. I reached out to a number of companies and put seven brands to the test. Check out the results!
Ron Vigdor's two sons were already out of diapers when he created BornFree bottles, but he wanted to give fellow parents a safe way to feed their babies. The real estate and high-tech entrepreneur "saw a way to do good and have a viable business" after watching an early 2006 news report about toxins. His company put the first Bisphenol-A-free bottle on the market. When the BPA scare made headlines, the product flew off the shelves while those of long-trusted and bigger baby brands collected dust. Vigdor won't disclose the exact number of units he sells annually but says it is in the millions. And, despite relatively new BPA-free competition, Vigdor says BornFree remains the leading manufacturer of toxin-free bottles. We recently had the chance to chat about his current and future environmental endeavors.
LilSugar: How do you feel about being attributed with raising awareness about BPA?
Ron Vigdor: First of all, I want to acknowledge the scientific community because I am not in any way related to them. I think that BornFree has been blessed with phenomenal media and phenomenal awareness to be able to elevate it to be known as the safe or toxic-free feeding system.
LS: You had perfect timing because your bottles were online and at Whole Foods before the BPA chaos?
RV: We were online first, but I think that Whole Foods recognized (the need for) BPA-free and gave moms and dads an alternative, which made them just as much of a pioneer as I was. They were the first retailers to carry it (the bottles).
To see what Vigdor had to say about expanding his brand, read more
Most babies put back a lot of bottles in their little lifetimes, so moms, especially first-timers, want to figure out which brands are best. Some companies cater to tots moving from breast to bottle, while others boast to be made of more pure components. Like children, the feeding contraptions come in all shapes and sizes. Some infants reject one brand and latch right on to another, so we've tested numerous lines and rounded up five of the very best bottles on the market. Check out our picks and let us know which one you (or your children) prefer.
This month cupid will be flying high so we've selected a few of lil's favorite things for the littlest loves of our lives —newborns! Fresh back from maternity leave, I selected the five mommy and baby must haves that I could not live without! From outfits that take your infant from sleep to play to a fabulous activity mat that gets their little limbs moving, check out our picks!
Vanilla ice cream, Dove soap, and a cup of joe: these are a few of my favorite things because there is no worry attached to them. I get that same feeling when I am buying something from BornFree. The company that put BPA free products on the motherhood map has expanded to include more than just nipples and sippy cups. Mothers can now enjoy peace of mind when it comes to pacifiers and teethers, too. Expectant ladies looking to stock their shelves with tried and true bottles may enjoy the gift set ($25) that includes a bit of everything. Even now, my almost 1-year-old boy can't get enough of the teething-gum-brushing-blue-ringed toy. The pliable object may have sent Sophie the Giraffe down to the minors.
Bottoms up! When it comes time to move baby from breast to bottle, there are a lot of options on the market. When my son was born, I swore by a barely known brand of bottles that quickly gained momentum after the Bisphenol A scare called BornFree. The non-toxic containers didn't leak and had sippy cups made in their likeness so my child was able to easily transition to a big boy cup at about 4 to 5 months old. While I'm still a fan, there's a new line on the market that I'm equally impressed by and considering for my baby-to-be — Weil Baby. 
Having read a few of the renowned health experts books, I was anxious to check out Dr. Andrew Weil's bottles, training cups, brushes, and silicone nipples and pacifiers. Though creating modern eye candy wasn't his intent, the line's ergonomic lines will be popular with design conscious parents as well as eco-friendly families. Made from glass and Tritan, a clear BPA free material, the bottles ($18 - $19 for a 2pk) have a built-in venting system (no tedious washing!) that helps eliminate gas bubbles and colic in kiddos. The goods are sold in recyclable packaging so you can also feel good about lessening your wee one's carbon footprint.
