Microplastics and Children: What UK Parents Need to Know

Children are disproportionately exposed to microplastics. They eat more food per kilogram of body weight than adults, they put objects in their mouths constantly, and many of the products designed specifically for them — bottles, dummies, sippy cups, plastic plates — are made from plastics that shed microparticles.

For UK parents, understanding the scale of this exposure and knowing what practical steps are available is increasingly important.

Why Children Face Higher Exposure

Baby Bottles

A landmark study published in Nature Food found that polypropylene baby bottles release up to 16 million microplastic particles per litre when used to prepare infant formula at 70°C — the temperature recommended by the NHS for safe formula preparation. The study tested 10 different PP baby bottles representing 68% of the global market.

This research was significant because it showed that the combination of hot water and polypropylene — exactly the conditions of formula preparation — generates far more microplastic shedding than room-temperature use.

Mouthing Behaviour

Babies and toddlers explore the world by putting objects in their mouths. Plastic toys, teethers, and dummies made from synthetic polymers are in direct oral contact for hours each day. Research in Environmental Science & Technology estimated that children’s mouthing behaviour with plastic objects contributes a meaningful proportion of their daily microplastic intake.

Body Weight Ratio

Because children weigh less, the same absolute amount of microplastic exposure represents a proportionally larger dose relative to body weight. A 2021 study in Environmental Science & Technology Letters found that infant faeces contained over 10 times more PET microplastic particles than adult faeces, suggesting significantly higher ingestion rates.

Practical Steps for UK Parents

Switch to Glass Baby Bottles

Glass baby bottles are the single most impactful swap for reducing infant microplastic exposure from feeding. The Philips Avent Natural Glass, MAM Feel Good Glass, and EcoViking glass bottles are all available from UK retailers and use borosilicate glass that cannot shed microplastics.

If you currently use polypropylene bottles, the switch is straightforward. Glass bottles are slightly heavier, but modern designs include silicone sleeves for grip and drop protection.

Choose Natural Rubber Dummies

Conventional dummies use silicone teats (likely free of microplastics) or latex. Natural rubber dummies from brands like Hevea and BIBS use 100% natural Hevea rubber, which cannot shed microplastics. The Hevea dummy is a single piece with no joints or crevices where bacteria could collect.

Avoid Heating Food in Plastic

Do not microwave food in plastic containers — including those marketed as “microwave safe.” This label means the container will not visibly deform, not that it will not shed microplastics. Use ceramic or glass bowls for heating children’s food.

Use Glass or Stainless Steel for Drinks

As children transition from bottles to cups, consider stainless steel sippy cups or open cups rather than plastic ones. The Babycup open cup system uses Tritan (classified as likely free), while stainless steel options avoid plastic altogether.

Choose Natural-Ingredient Baby Products

Baby wash, shampoo, and moisturiser go directly onto a baby’s skin — which is thinner and more permeable than adult skin. Products from brands like Green People Organic Babies use certified organic plant ingredients without synthetic polymers.

Natural Teethers

Swap plastic teethers for natural rubber (like Sophie la Girafe) or untreated hardwood teethers. These cannot shed microplastic particles, even with vigorous chewing.

What About Breast Milk?

Research has detected microplastics in human breast milk — a 2022 study in Polymers found microplastic particles in all 34 breast milk samples tested. However, the health benefits of breastfeeding are well established, and no health authority has recommended changing breastfeeding practice based on microplastic concerns.

The presence of microplastics in breast milk reflects the ubiquity of environmental contamination rather than a specific risk from breastfeeding.

The Bigger Picture

No parent can eliminate their child’s microplastic exposure entirely — these particles are now found in air, water, and food everywhere. But simple material substitutions for the products children use most directly — bottles, cups, dummies, food containers — can meaningfully reduce the daily dose. And unlike many environmental health issues, these substitutions are available now, at similar price points, from regular UK retailers.

Sources

1. Microplastic release from baby bottles during formula preparation — Nature Food, 2020
2. Microplastics in infant faeces — Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2021
3. NHS guidance on preparing infant formula — NHS
4. Microplastics in human breast milk — Polymers, 2022