Life Factory Glass Baby Bottle Review And Why I Chose Glass Bottles

A Life Factory glass baby bottle review by a mama looking for the best alternative to plastic baby bottles.

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When I tell people that I used glass baby bottles I get a range of responses. Parents who also used glass baby bottles simply say “Me too!” and then the conversation ends. But some people seem alarmed about using glass bottles. First, they’re concerned that glass bottles will break, and then they wonder how my baby ever managed to feed herself when her bottles were so heavy. Others say they thought about using glass baby bottles but an influential family member insisted that they use plastic bottles. I used LifeFactory glass baby bottles because I felt the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. I’ll tell you all about why I recommend Life Factory glass bottles for families that are interested in an alternative to plastic.

Some Background on Glass Baby Bottles

First, let’s cover some background. I believe using glass baby bottles in 2017 is controversial because it isn’t what everybody does. But it used to be what everybody did all the time! I’ll admit, I would not be comfortable using a glass baby bottle that didn’t come with a protective silicone sleeve because I would worry about breakage, and thus, safety.

Glass baby bottles came back on the scene when parents started worrying about harmful chemicals (like BPA) leaching into milk from plastic bottles. However, BPA is now banned in baby bottles in the USA, and all baby bottles and sippy cups sold in the US are BPA-free. You can read more about these developments in this useful article about glass bottles written by the experts at WebMD. Given that there were issues found with plastic baby bottles, some parents have more peace of mind using glass as an alternative. I am one such parent. (This article that discusses how the chemical industry works is an interesting read). To be clear: As far as we know, all baby bottles in the US are safe to use. There is not currently scientific evidence that I’ve read to the contrary.

Why Life Factory baby bottles?

When I was in the market for glass baby bottles, I wanted bottles that would be durable, compatible with my breast pump, easy to clean, and aesthetically pleasing. I didn’t know if I could meet every aspect of my criteria, but Life Factory delivered!

Durable Glass

I know the phrase “durable glass” sounds like an oxymoron. Life Factory bottles are not unbreakable, but this is heavy glass. The bottles are made from a special kind of glass called thermal shock borosilicate glass. Thermal shock borosilicate glass has unique properties that allow you to safely transfer a bottle directly from the freezer to boiling water.

I didn’t test the bottles in that particular way. I never froze my milk directly in the bottles. (I used these storage bags for that purpose.) And I didn’t put the bottles directly in my bottle warmer either.

I purchased four Life Factory bottles, and none of them ever broke or chipped. That said, I did not use bottles on a daily basis. I planned to use bottles daily, but the way my breastfeeding story unfolded, I was usually able and willing to breastfeed on demand. Still, I feel good about recommending these bottles because the glass used is thick, high quality glass.

Protective Silicone Covering

Life Factory bottles come in an array of colorful protective medical-grade silicone coverings. This removable silicone covering has multiple functions. First, it has a grippy texture which makes the bottle easier for little hands to hold. This textured silicone sleeve also helps to prevent potential breakage.

This simple silicone covering, paired with the thick high-quality glass, gave me a lot of peace of mind about using glass bottles. I never worried about them breaking. (But I also wasn’t throwing them across the room or anything too wild!)

Life Factory Glass Baby Bottles Are Breast Pump Compatible

Finding a glass bottle that would work with my breast pump was a top priority. You can attach these glass baby bottles to many standard pumps easily. They come with caps so you can easily store expressed milk in the fridge. Though I occasionally stored expressed milk this way, I preferred to move it to the freezer in these breastmilk storage bags for later use. Though these bottles are compatible with breast pumps, it’s not as crucial a feature as I thought it would be. I know it sounds ridiculous that I pumped in glass bottles only to transfer my milk to plastic bags and then to transfer them back to glass bottles again, but that was my imperfect system.

If you need to review breastmilk storage guidelines, check out this helpful article from Kelly Mom.

Weight

No doubt about it, glass bottles are much heavier than plastic ones. These bottles definitely have heft to them. They will add significant weight to your diaper bag. If weight is a consideration for you, plastic may be the way to go.

Easy to Clean- Few Parts

Life Factory glass baby bottles are safe for the dishwasher on the top rack. They can also be washed by hand following directions on the Life Factory website. I liked using this bottle brush because there’s a tiny nipple brush built into the handle. Remember to keep small bottle parts in a separate closed basket or mesh laundry bag when you use a dishwasher.

Many people love Dr. Brown’s bottles and their venting system. Dr. Brown also makes a glass bottle with a silicone sleeve. I do not like washing all of the extra parts that come with the Dr. Brown venting system and was looking for a simpler bottle. That said, if my child had reflux or other digestive issues, I would have considered a vented bottle system.

Colorful Options

While this isn’t a necessity, I love that the Life Factory bottles are available in so many cute colors! The options have expanded since I purchased my bottles in late 2015, and many of these options are gender neutral.

Sippy Cup Option

Did you know that you can convert these bottles into sippy cups? Life Factory sells special sippy caps so you can get even more life out of your bottles. This sounds like it could be a great option for helping babies transition from their bottles to sippy cups. Because we weren’t using bottles regularly, my child wasn’t attached to them and I offered her this stainless steel sippy cup for water at six months.

How Bottles Many Should I Buy?

I bought four glass baby bottles. I also had several Medela bottles on hand leftover from my pump and cooler set. Remember, I did not use baby bottles very often (not even on a daily basis) so four was more than enough for me. I think the right number of bottles to buy depends on each family’s unique schedule and situation. I planned to use bottles much more than I actually did.

Cost

A 4oz Life Factory bottle runs $15, and a 9oz Life Factory bottle runs $17. I have seen their prices drop significantly on Amazon around Black Friday. By comparison, the Dr. Brown’s Options Wide-Necked Bottle with silicone sleeves cost $40 for a pack of three.

Glass bottles are more expensive than plastic, but you may not have to replace them as often.

Sources

Life Factory bottles are easy to find online through Amazon. I’ve seen them at a few specialty baby stores, but they’re not yet widely available in stores.

Summary

If you’re looking for glass baby bottles, I had a great experience with Life Factory. I found these glass baby bottles durable, easy to clean, and attractive. I plan to use the same set of bottles again if I have another child, so they definitely have the potential to last a long time. (That said, these bottles worked well for my first child, but they may not work for a different child. I’m ok with that! If I need to find another option when that time comes, I’m open to trying another solution.)

Thanks for reading my Life Factory glass baby bottle review! If glass bottles aren’t your thing, now you know some reasons why parents choose glass over plastic!

Would you like to talk more about feeding your baby? Check out this post about the CDC’s new guidelines for cleaning your breast pump kit and learn how my husband helped with breastfeeding.