Many of us think of plastic as a simple, single material. It is not. It is made from more than 16,000 chemicals, including 4,200 known to harm human health. Babies are uniquely vulnerable to these chemicals. Their organs and nervous systems are developing rapidly. Even small exposures to certain chemicals can have lifelong effects on growth, metabolism and reproductive systems.

As new parents, we cherish the fleeting firsts: the first laugh, the first unsteady steps and the first foods at family dinners. We research, we plan and we try to give our babies the healthiest start possible. And in the swirl of advice from every direction, we often lean on what feels familiar and trusted.

For generations, store-bought baby food provided some of the earliest meals for babies across the country. The distinctive, petite glass jars have long symbolized the kind of wholesome, uncomplicated nourishment many parents reach for when they want something healthy and reliable.

Over time, many of these glass jars were replaced with plastic pouches — but plastic food containers have given us something new to consider.