DON'T JUDGE, but Why is it so important to get babies off the bottle so soon?

Question

My son is 13 months and he uses a sippy cup and occasionally a bottle (but rarely). Besides possible dental repercussions, what's the big deal? Any one over 25 probably not only used a bottle till we were 3 but we were probably put to bed with one. *PLEASE do not get on your soap box on the evils of other mommies (namely me) I am only curious.

Answer 1

Ok, one thing to ask yourself is......will my child be 16 carrying around a bottle. Of course not. This is a time in your child's life when they need a little extra comfort and dependence. However, I would watch for a few things:
1. Make sure that your child is not wanting to go to the bottle over you or family members. I do not have proof of this but I believe it will cause a dependence on food as a form of comfort. (something I struggle with) I think you can minimize this by giving the bottle on a schedule; i.e. bedtime, nap time or when they first get up in the morning.
2. Make sure you are not putting juice in the bottle. If you do put juice in, dilute it drastically. You do not want your child to have completely rotten teeth at age two and juice (as I am sure you know) has tons of sugar. It's like giving them a lollipop at bedtime.
3. Use the bottle as bonding time. If your child will lean against you while drinking it or let you read a book, it will give you a chance to let your child know that you will be there always. It might be easier for him to give up the bottle when you decide the time is right.
4. You are the mom of your son. Only you can know when is the perfect time. Just don't wait until he is 16. ;)
Good luck.

Answer 2

It's easier to do it before you hit the terrible twos. If you wait til then, I think you run the risk of getting into a battle of wills with your 2-year-old who's determined to have things their own way. Other than the dental damages of sleeping with a bottle, I can't think of any other reason.

I went ahead and started my son on a regular cup (not a sippy cup) at about 5 months (with my assistance obviously). He didn't really seem to mind the switch at that point. I don't think I was lazy for doing it. I just traded the aggravation of cleaning bottles for the aggravation of having to deal with helping him drink from a cup. That certainly didn't make him any more "advanced" than any other baby. (He's three and we still don't have any progress on the potty front.) However, it did eliminate one thing to worry about later.

And right now, smack dab in the middle of the terrible twos, when EVERYTHING is a power struggle, I'm glad we're not fighting over a bottle or sippy cup. (Most daycares around here will not let three year olds drink from either so we would have to have the fight.)

Answer 3

Such a good question!!! I have an 18-month-old who still has a morning and evening bottle (4 ounces each). I could probably wean him from it fairly easily, but I've come to really cherish my cuddle time with him, especially now that he's so busy and running around all the time.

I finally asked my pediatrician what the rush is and I explained my reasons for continuing to give him a bottle. She explained that the nutritional needs of babies change after they turn 1 and they shouldn't fill up on milk if it causes them to not eat other foods that provide the nutrition they need. She said that as long as we keep the bottles at 4 ounces and brush his teeth afterwards, there is no reason to stop. All she said is that it does get more difficult to eliminate the bottle when they are older and more set in their ways.

If an occasional bottle still works for you and your little boy, I say continue and enjoy!

Answer 4

My son is gonna be 2 in Feb he still has a bottle my daughter didn't come off of her's until she was almost 3. And her teeth are perfectly fine. He uses a cup most of the time but sometimes he just wants his bottle. It's a comfort thing. To me it's not different than blankies and potty training and stuffed animals. You cannot make your child grow out of something. Some kids go off the bottle just fine and some don't. I don't believe in using age as a guide line, but rather you know your kid right? Then you will know when they are ready to let go of something. i tried for a year to get my daughter off the bottle, she would wake up with nightmares and she was generally cranky. Then the last time I did she was fine. You gotta do what works for you. As parents we do have to do some things to make it easier on us, when it comes to things that are not going to affect our child in a real crucial way. I've never known a single person who had bad teeth because they were on a bottle. The only thing people worry about is weight, as long as they aren't living on milk all day they should be fine. I've tried more than once to take my son off his bottle and I've managed to decrease the amount of bottles he gets each time but at bed time he just wants his bottle. Some people I know do it by telling their child they can have water in their bottle only and if they want juice or milk or something else they have to have the cup. But again you can only go off of what you know about your kid, do your best, and forget what anybody else thinks.

Answer 5

i never took the bottle away from my kids. they used it until they was ready to let go of it. they also had sippy cups but aways carried a bottle around, most of the time it was a clean one with nothing in it. after awhile i think it was more security thing than anything. i don't think it is a big deal. they will get rid of it when they are ready. i don't care how many people told me that i should take it from them, i did not and i will not on the next one either.

Answer 6

initially, suitable for you for wanting to breastfeed. that's large. definite breast pumps do paintings on more suitable breasts. Mine are a 32E and that i have no difficulty. The pump is operating on the nipple and areola, and not in any respect the full breast. that's an exceedingly magnificent idea that you'll get your husband in touch through pumping and providing a bottle. even with the indisputable fact that, i'd propose you wait round 6 weeks earlier you try this. both you and toddler favor risk to get breastfeeding favourite. Introducing a bottle too quickly to toddler may reason nipple confusion and preclude your risk at useful breastfeeding. once you're particular that you're both looked after with breastfeeding, through all skill pump and enable your significant different feed from a bottle. good luck!

Answer 7

Its hard to wean children completly away from sippy cups this early. The dental ramifications are the only downside I can think of. I tried to encourage both my kids right around 12-13 months to lose the sippies but many tantrums resulted and I had to do it very slowly. I just had to make sure to clean their teeth well. There seems to be a growing trend towards pushing abnormally early development. I believe kids find their own pace.They both dropped the babas before 2, and they're both good, well adjusted kids.(and their teeth are ok)

Answer 8

I think it is soceity and the whole PERFECT parenting that everyone "so call" performs that make it hard for parents like us who are a lot more easy going. I think my son was about 14 months before I stopped b/c my pediatrician was bitching about it. My husband never let my son have a pacifier past 5 months so the bottle was all he had. Now my son is almost 3 and I feel pressured into potty training him which I want so bad, but he is so defiant about not doing it. He is going to do it when he is ready and I can't pressure him b/c other people think it is right!!! Neither should you, it is the whole Dr. Phil issues: What he thinks isn't always what is right for you and your family.

Answer 9

Other than dental caries...nothing, it won't cause overbites, or buck teeth, unless they cont. to 12 or so.
The falling asleep with milk or juice dripping in the mouth cause the dental caries.
Babies need the sucking stimulus.......some not as long as others.
If you put a child to bed with a water bottle even the dental caries issues is resolved.
But I know I never used a bottle until I was three......but I was breast-fed til I was about that age!

Answer 10

It's just like sucking on the thumb or binky it can make them have an over bite. It's all about them growing up and becoming little people with their individuality and some think that when they are still on the bottle then that keeps them in the baby state instead of going into a toddler.