2007-01-09 02:32:59 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
The natural age of weaning in humans is 2-4 years. There is no real reason to stop before your child has weaned and no longer requires milk on a daily basis. If they can easily be transitioned from a bottle to a cup feel free. However it doesn’t really make much of a difference. Also there is almost no difference between a soft spouted sippy cup and a bottle. Except that bottle nipples are designed to have minimal impact on developing teeth and sippy cups are not ;)
While there is some evidence that breastfeeding is protective against early childhood cavities, bottles do not really cause "bottle cavities". Cavities in children is mainly related to the type of bacteria they have in their mouths (we all have bacteria in our mouths), the acidity of their saliva, and the thickness and type of their enamel. The last two are controlled by genes. The first is largely due to what they are exposed to during the first days of birth. Generally they get what the family (particularly mother) has. During a c-section because they are not exposed to the vaginal canal and often receive antibiotics (through the mother's blood and breastmilk even if not given separately) they are more likely to acquire non-family bacteria. Babies born via c-section have been shown to have a slightly higher risk of cavities.
Another factor is of course hygiene. Consider offering a small amount of water after the milk. Do not brush the teeth immediately after milk but about an hour afterwards (immediately after eating some foods the enamel becomes softer temporarily, or at least that is the new theory floating around). At the very least brush teeth once a day.
Try to limit bottles to certain times; they shouldn't sip them all day. They can sip water all day but not milk or juices. Milk or juice should be consumed all at once. Try not to fret about bottles of milk during the night. If your child needs it they need it. Try to have the bedtime bottle before the tooth-brushing though.
2007-01-09 06:57:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should break them from a bottle at 12 months. For the childs first birthday, give them a spill proof cup. If you let them continue to drink from a bottle you run the risk of baby bottle rot. That is where the teeth just rot out due to the position most babies hold the nipple. The milk just sets in there teeth. Even with a cup, you should never put them to bed with it.
2007-01-09 10:47:42 · answer #2 · answered by Treyes 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the child, when my daughter was a year I gave her a sippy cup at meal times and a bottle only before bed. By the time she was 15 months she wanted a sippy cup at night as well so it was an easy transition. Do whatever works for you!
2007-01-09 10:50:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should try to get the baby off a bottle at around one year. Offer sippy cups with milk and other drinks. Good luck.
2007-01-09 10:37:56 · answer #4 · answered by mktk401 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At 1 year. Make all the bottles disappear. The sooner the better. By 15 to 18 months they put up more of a fight when you try to take them away.
2007-01-09 10:42:42 · answer #5 · answered by ruby 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
stop the bottle at 12 months
2007-01-09 11:01:38 · answer #6 · answered by njyecats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sooner the better, I think to start after there one if the baby is already drinking from a sippy cup! the best way is for them to dissapear.
2007-01-09 12:21:26 · answer #7 · answered by Toni H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my children stopped bottles at twleve months and sippy cups at twenty four months.
2007-01-09 10:36:18 · answer #8 · answered by littleluvkitty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MY DAUGHTER BROKE HERSELF FROM THE BOTTLE WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD. I GUESS I WAS LUCKY.
2007-01-09 11:30:03 · answer #9 · answered by Jennifer H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋