Concerned About BPA? Try BornFree Toddler Cups! Review and GIVEAWAY! 2/1

I am thrilled to say, my youngest child is now officially off of the bottle! You cannot imagine how happy we were to donate every single bottle in our home to a local Crisis Pregnancy Center that helps teen and other lower-income moms get community help and supplies for their new babies. I love knowing that someone else will be able to use them, and we have freed up a tremendous amount of space in our "Baby Pantry". (Yes, with 2 babies in the house, they actually have their own dedicated pantry!)

Now that Xander has followed in his sister's toddler footsteps and is now drinking from a "big kid cup", we have had to stock up on sippy cups. One concern as a parent when choosing the right toddler cups is BPA. Bisphenol- A (BPA) is a chemical compound that is a key ingredient in the creation of polycarbonate plastic, a hard, clear plastic used widely in consumer products, including baby bottles and food containers. This substance has been linked to plenty of significant health risks, including heart disease, diabetes and high levels of liver enzymes, while the U.S. National Institutes of Health in September 2008 determined there was some concern about BPA`s effects on fetal and infant brain development. Research also suggests that BPA may act as an endocrine disruptor, a substance which mimics natural human hormones and could cause developmental and neurological problems in children such as early puberty, and attention disorder syndromes. Pretty scary stuff, huh? More and more manufacturers are steering clear of BPA, but you should always make sure that a product is clearly labeled as BPA-FREE.

One company that provides wonderful infant and toddler products that are safe and environmentally friendly is BornFree. BornFree specializes in developing and manufacturing baby feeding products that combine the safest materials with the smartest innovations. I have actually loved BornFree for years now, and used their bottles with both of my babies. Luckily, my love affair with them isn't over just because my babies have outgrown their bottles. BornFree also offers a fantastic line of training cups, drinking cups, and straw cups for toddlers!

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I was thrilled to receive a selection of both their soft-spout training cups for my little man as well as their ingeniously designed Twist 'n Pop Straw Cups for my tiny diva. These innovative toddler cups are made from completely safe materials, are easy for baby to use, and are leak-free. (That's a big plus in my home!) They also come in bright, cheerful colors that are sure to delight any child at mealtime. Take a look!

But how did these cups hold up when being used by two very active toddlers? Here's a breakdown of my experiences with both of these cups:

The Training Cups feature a soft, silicone nipple that allows liquid to flow freely without the need for hard sucking. They also have a great air valve and vent system that helps to reduce vacuum build-up inside of the cup. They also have great removable handles which make it easy for baby's little hands to grip the cup as they enjoy their beverage. This cup, like all BornFree cups, are top rack dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning them a breeze. They are also quite easy to assemble and disassemble in a hurry. Time is of the essence when you've got a thirsty, fussy toddler or two on your hands!

I also love the fact that the BornFree Training Cup is leak-proof. My kids, like many, love nothing more than to shake and throw their cups. With a cup that isn't spill proof, this can prove to be quite a messy situation! I am happy to say that my little Xander has transitioned from his bottle to the BornFree Training Cup almost seamlessly. He got the hang of it right away, and he loves chewing on the spout as he drinks. Thankfully, the silicone spout is quite durable and can endure his teething efforts without losing its structural integrity. Overall, this is a great cup for babies who are making the transition from bottle to sippy.

Sophie got to try the BornFree Twist 'n Pop Straw Cup. This is a 14oz, ergonomically designed cup that is easy for little hands to hold. It features a soft, pop-up silicone straw that is kid-friendly and won't poke little mouths like harder straws can. The Twist 'n Pop also has an ingenious twist mechanism that will "close" the top, keeping the straw clean and minimizing spills. The straw literally bends and is covered by the built-in "lid", making this great for traveling.

I must admit, I was a little bit apprehensive about giving her a straw cup. I have tried a couple of them in the past, and wasn't too impressed. Sophie is probably the world's messiest toddler, and straw cups are generally not very leak-proof. She would wave and shake them around, painting my walls, furniture and floors with whatever she happened to be drinking at the time. Not a pleasant thing to deal with!

So I said a quick little prayer and gave Sophie a BornFree Twist 'n Pop Straw Cup full of milk....And sat back and waited. Much to my surprise, she figured out how to twist the cup closed right away. She actually seemed amused by the pop up straw! (Insert sigh of relief here.) I watched in amazement as my daughter drank from the cup and then twisted it shut. Sure, she shook her cup around like usual, but with the top closed, there wasn't any mess to contend with. She did try shaking it while the straw was up, and there was a small amount of spillage. She promptly said "Oops! Uh-Oh!" and closed the top again. Hooray, my little girl is learning!

Overall, I am very pleased with the BornFree Toddler Cups. The babies are, too!  These cups are fun, colorful, and easy to drink from. They're also super simple to assemble and clean, making my life as a mom easier. Most importantly, though, BornFree cups are completely safe for my babies to use and are BPA-free. Having used and loved BornFree bottles, I had high expectations of their toddler cups. A high standard had been set by the company. I am pleased to say they met and exceeded my expectations. But with BornFree's stellar reputation as a leader in baby and toddler feeding supplies, would you expect anything less than the best?

BUY IT:

BornFree products are available online as well as at many fine retailers including Babies R Us, Target, and Buy Buy Baby! Check out their handy retail locator to find BornFree products near you!

You can also follow BornFree on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

WIN IT!

One very lucky winner will receive a BornFree Toddler Cup of their own to try with their little ones! How cool is that?!

Please use this easy Rafflecopter form to enter.


This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 12:00AM on February 1, 2012. No PO Boxes. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

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a Rafflecopter giveaway