I’ll be honest, I had always assumed that choosing a glass baby bottle meant choosing the safe, simple option. Glass is usually one of those materials we feel good about, especially when we’re trying to avoid plastic around our babies and young children.
So when I heard that lead had been found in some glass baby bottles, I was genuinely confused and caught off guard. How could lead paint possibly end up on a glass baby bottle in the first place?
I know my next questions would be the same as any mum’s: Is this actually a thing? Is the lead in the glass? And how do I know which bottles are safe? Here’s what we found.
Quick answer: Is there lead in glass baby bottles?
Yes — some glass baby bottles have tested positive for lead. But here's the important nuance: the lead isn't in the glass itself. It's in the painted decorations on the outside — the logos, the coloured patterns, and especially the millilitre/ounce measurement markings.
Plain, uncoated glass is not a lead risk. Painted glass can be.
Why is lead a concern, especially for babies and children?
Before we go any further, it helps to understand why the word “lead” gets such a strong reaction.
Lead is a toxic metal that can build up in the body over time. Babies and young children are particularly vulnerable because their bodies and brains are still developing, and they can absorb more lead than adults.
According to the World Health Organization, lead exposure can affect a child’s developing brain and nervous system. At lower levels, there may be no obvious symptoms, but exposure may still affect learning, attention and behaviour. This is why health authorities say there is no known safe level of lead exposure for children.
That sounds alarming, but finding out that a bottle has painted markings does not mean your child has lead poisoning or that lead has entered their milk. The concern is that lead may be present in a coating on something babies and parents regularly handle. It makes sense to avoid that possible source where we can, but there is no need to assume every painted bottle contains lead.
Why can the paint on glass baby bottles contain lead?
This was the part I really wanted explained. If the bottle is made from glass, where does the lead come from?
It comes down to the way decoration is fired onto glass. To make paint bond permanently to a glass surface, manufacturers use a low-melting-point flux. A flux helps the pigment fuse to the glass at a workable temperature. Historically, one of the cheapest and most effective fluxes for this job has been lead-based.
You may also see these exterior coatings described as enamel, decals or glass frit. The terminology varies, but the important question is whether a separate material has been applied to the outside of the glass.
Put simply, the bottle itself may be made from glass, but the paint added to create its logo, pattern or measurement scale is a separate material. That painted coating is where lead has generally been found when affected bottles have been tested.
In these documented cases, the glass itself was not identified as the source of the lead.
Which glass baby bottles have been found to contain lead?
This is not just a theoretical concern. Two of the most publicised cases involved NUK, Lansinoh and Pigeon glass baby bottles.
- NUK’s 2022 recall: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission found that the printed stars, logo and volume scale on a batch of glass baby bottles exceeded the legal US lead limit for children’s products.
- Lansinoh and Pigeon’s 2024 sales pause: Independent testing detected lead in the painted decorations on their glass bottles. Both companies paused sales and reformulated the coatings before returning the bottles to market.
In both cases, the story was the same: plain glass, painted markings and lead detected in the paint.
This does not mean that every bottle made by these brands contained lead. The NUK recall, for example, related to a particular bottle and batch. It does show why it is worth looking beyond the word “glass” and checking how a bottle’s logo, decorations and measurement scale have been added.
If my glass baby bottle wasn’t recalled, is it safe?
I know the first thing most of us would do is search for the brand we already own. If it is not on a recall list, that feels reassuring, but it does not always give us the complete answer.
- Recalls only capture products that have been tested and reported. Many painted bottles have not been independently tested at all.
- Australian stock is not always from the same batch as stock recalled in the United States. Much of the public reporting on this issue comes from the US market, including CPSC recalls and US-based independent testing. Supply chains, print runs and manufacturing batches sold in Australia can differ from those pulled from sale overseas.
- Older and reformulated bottles may both remain in circulation. This is particularly relevant when bottles are bought second-hand or when older stock and newly reformulated stock have been sold at different times.
In short, “not on a recall list” is not the same as “verified lead-free.”
That does not mean we should assume every painted bottle contains lead. It simply means a recall search cannot confirm what was used in the markings on every bottle.
If you are in Australia, check the Product Safety Australia recalls database using the bottle’s exact brand, model and batch details. A US recall does not automatically mean Australian stock is affected, but the absence of an Australian recall does not independently verify what was used in the bottle’s painted markings either.
How can I check my glass baby bottle for painted markings?
If you are looking at the bottle in your kitchen right now, start by gently running a fingernail over the logo, decorations and measurement scale.
- Printed or painted decoration usually sits on top of the glass. It may feel flush against the surface or slightly raised and glossy, a bit like ink sitting on top.
- Etched or sandblasted decoration feels different. You may be able to feel a texture or slight indentation because the marking has been created in the glass rather than added on top.
Pay particular attention to glossy, coloured or painted-looking markings, including the millilitre and ounce scale, which often carries the most decoration.
Important: This check can help you work out whether a marking has been applied to the glass or formed in it. It cannot tell you whether a particular paint contains lead. If you are unsure, contact the manufacturer and ask what was used in the markings.
Also look for the bottle’s exact brand, model, size and batch information. A recall may apply to one particular version rather than every bottle sold under that brand.
The simple solution: a paint-free, non-toxic glass baby bottle
After reading about lead in painted markings, I can understand wanting a bottle where you simply don’t have to wonder what was used on the outside.
That is what makes the Baby Quoddle Glass Baby Bottle such a reassuring choice. Baby Quoddle removes the need for paint altogether.
The logo is sandblasted directly into the borosilicate glass, while the measurement markings are formed in the glass rather than printed on top. There is no painted decoration, pigment or lead-based flux used on the bottle.
It is a simple design choice that removes this particular concern from the beginning.
Why Baby Quoddle stands out
- No painted markings on the logo or measurement guide.
- Hand-blown borosilicate glass that is dishwasher safe and thermal shock resistant.
- A pure Hevea rubber teat made from natural tree sap rubber rather than silicone.
- A one-piece moulded teat with no joins or cracks where milk residue and bacteria can collect.
- No plastic components. The bottle, teat and cap are free from BPA, polycarbonates, phthalates and PVC.
- Only two parts, making the bottle simple to assemble and easy to clean.
- 150ml and 300ml bottle options, with newborn slow-flow and medium-flow teats available.
- Designed in Cairns, Australia by a Queensland family who could not find a genuinely plastic-free bottle for their own baby.
What parents say about Baby Quoddle
“I was using Tommee Tippee glass bottles but have since discovered they use lead in the paint for the markings. These bottles have etched on markings, so no paint necessary. Easy to clean too, as there is only 2 parts.”
Lexi, verified buyer
“It was really important for me to ensure that he was being bottle-fed in the best way possible. Finding these glass bottles with natural rubber teats was great, as I knew these would be non-toxic.”
Cynthia, verified buyer
“Makes us so happy to have this kind of quality for our child, the absolute best bottle in the industry today. Thank you Quoddle and Biome for our peace of mind!”
Jonathan
Care note: Do not heat-sterilise the natural rubber teat, as heat can damage it. Use a cold sterilising solution, such as Milton, for the minimum recommended time and allow it to air dry. Replace the teat every four to six weeks with regular use, or sooner if you notice wear. This is normal for natural rubber made without added hardening agents.
One less thing to worry about
Choose from 150ml and 300ml Baby Quoddle glass bottles, plus slow-flow and medium-flow natural rubber teats.
FAQs about lead in glass baby bottles
What should I look for in a lead-free or non-toxic glass baby bottle?
Look beyond the glass itself and check every material used in the bottle, teat, cap and exterior markings. Choose markings etched, moulded or sandblasted directly into the glass rather than painted on top. Also check for clear information about the teat and cap materials and whether the bottle contains plastic, BPA, polycarbonates, phthalates or PVC. Baby Quoddle combines paint-free glass markings with a natural rubber teat and no plastic components.
Do all glass baby bottles contain lead?
No. Lead has been detected in the painted exterior markings on some glass baby bottles, but that does not mean all glass baby bottles contain lead. Bottles with markings etched or sandblasted directly into the glass do not need exterior paint.
Can lead in markings on the outside of a bottle get into the milk?
The painted markings sit on the outside of the bottle rather than in direct contact with the milk. Finding lead in an exterior coating does not automatically mean lead has entered the milk. The concern is that the outside of a bottle is regularly handled and exposed to washing, rubbing and wear, so avoiding lead in the coating removes a possible source of exposure.
How can I tell if baby bottle markings are painted or etched?
Painted or printed markings generally sit on top of the glass and may look glossy, coloured or slightly raised. Etched or sandblasted markings are formed in the glass and may look frosted or feel slightly textured. This can help you identify how the markings were made, but it cannot tell you whether a particular paint contains lead.
Can I test a glass baby bottle for lead at home?
Home lead testing kits are not a reliable way to confirm whether a baby bottle coating contains lead. They can produce false positive and false negative results and may not work consistently across different coatings and surfaces. If you are concerned about a particular bottle, check official recall notices and contact the manufacturer or Australian supplier. Reliable confirmation requires appropriate professional testing.
What should I do if my bottle has painted markings or has been recalled?
Painted markings do not automatically mean a bottle contains lead. Check the exact brand, model, size and batch against relevant recall notices, and ask the manufacturer what was used in the exterior coating. If your exact bottle has been recalled, stop using it and follow the instructions in the official recall notice for returning, replacing or refunding it.
Related reads
Are glass baby bottles safe? What to know
Which baby bottles do not contain microplastics?
