how long should babies be on a bottle? If they are on it for longer than usual can that make them obese? Or what other effects could happen for being on it too long..
2007-02-23 01:23:43 · 11 answers · asked by jobruce86 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Most pediatricians (in the U.S., at least) now recommend that bottles be stopped by or around a child's first birthday.
The biggest issue facing parents who don't wean their children from bottles early is that, the older a child gets, the more difficult the weaning process may become. It's much easier to replace a one year old child's bottle with a sippy cup than it is to do the same thing with a two year old, who is more independent, vocal, etc. at that point and may really rebel.
A secondary issue is: what's IN the bottle? When it comes to formula (generally stopped, for formula-red babies, around the first birthday) and milk (which shouldn't be introduced until around the first birthday), the sugar they contain lends itself to tooth decay, often referred to as "bottle rot" because bottle-fed babies tend to hold on to the some of the liquid and keep it in their mouths. (That's also why it is suggested that parents not allow babies to fall asleep at the bottle.)
I'm not clear on the whole crooked teeth argument. I gather there's no evidence for it, and I also fail to see how the sippy cup would be an improvement, as it also involves a protrusion on which the child sucks to get the liquid....so if a bottle were to cause crooked teeth I would expect a sippy cup to do the same. Again, I'm not clear on that.
I have never heard *anything* to suggest a connection between using the bottle and being/becoming obese.
But the biggest problems I've personally heard of and "seen" surround trying to get an older toddler to give up the bottle. It can be very difficult, in addition to which bottles may not be allowed at day care or wherever the child is spending the daytime hours (if not at home).
2007-02-23 01:36:13 · answer #1 · answered by ljb 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on the child. The biggest problem with a bottle is if the child takes it to bed with them. Then the milk stays on the teeth all night, and cavities develop quickly. I have seen many kindergarteners with silver crowns, and brown/black teeth due to this. Even if they have the bottle right before bed, the saliva will wash the milk away enough before they fall asleep. (Or brush - even better.)
Usually the progression is as follows -
nursing or a bottle with formula until the age of 1 year.
Then whole milk until age 2.
Then 1 or 2 percent milk after age 2.
Some babies stay on formula longer if they are on the slender side. My 2 1/2 year old is still on whole milk, and will be until age 3.
Both of my children are skinny, so I kept them both on bottles (after nursing) until age 2. They had sippy cups at mealtimes, and bottles before bed to try keep their calorie intake up. My rationale was that they would suck the bottles down quickly. At age 2, I cut a little slit in the nipple of the bottle, so the suction would be less . Two months later, I cut an X in the nipple. Two months later we said the bottle "broke", and we were going to give them to a new baby to use. They had no problem quitting, since it was once a day anyways.
You'll get many different opinions on this subject - do what you feel is best for your child. If you're worried about obesity, your doctor can best answer that question. They should have a limit of fluids that your doctor will know (I can't remember exactly, but at age 2 it may be 24 ounces of milk per day.) If that comes from a bottle or a cup should make no difference on obesity. Also, I've heard the saying "I've never seen a college student carrying around a bottle." They'll be done when they're ready, with a little help from you. Good luck!
2007-02-23 02:15:17 · answer #2 · answered by Jilly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you give them bottles at night to go to sleep with, with anything other than water, it can be bad for their teeth (even if they have no teeth yet). The sugars in formula and juice can rot the teeth before they even come through the gums.When fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth and it just stays in there for a long period of time, that's asking for dental trouble. I fed my kids their last bottle and put them to bed. They never got a bottle to hold while they went to bed. I took my kids off the bottle when my daughter was 1 yr (on her birthday actually) and when my son was 9 months I started giving him sippy cups with a straw. I don't know about obesity. it doesn't matter if it's in a bottle or a cup, if you give too much juice or food in general they will be obese, I don't think a bottle would contribute to that.
I will add that my daughter used a pacifier until she was 3. her teeth are fine. She's not buck toothed. Her teeth are straight.
2007-02-23 02:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A child should be on the bottle till the age of one. At that time you will swith to a sippy cup and stop the formula/breast milk. You will then give them regular milk or soy milk if they are lactose intolerant. The same goes for passifire. A bottle messes up a child's teeth and the sooner they get off of it the better it is.
2007-02-23 22:57:06 · answer #4 · answered by dr. madison 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was on the bottle until she was a year old and then they advised me to keep her on the formula for one more month because she was two small. After a year I would mix her formula and put it in a sippy cup so that we could go ahead and break her from the bottler. Because I believe it is hard on children if they are getting a sippy cup some and a bottle some. I have heard that you should never put your child to bed with a sippy cup or a bottle if it has milk or juice in it because it will hurt you child's teeth. If they use them for a security blanket than your best advice is to put water in it. If you do keep them to long on the bottle you might have a harder time breaking them from it.
2007-02-23 01:45:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is a personal choice, but all 4 of my kids were totally off the bottle by their first birthday. I started gradually, giving sippy cups during the day, but giving one last bottle right before bed. They adjusted well, loved the sippy cups until finally I just replaced the bedtime bottle with a milk cup.
2007-02-23 02:18:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no joke I drank out of bottles until I was 4. I just loved them so much, I didnt drink formula or anything... but water, juice, all that. The result: I had braces for 3 years so I recommend taking your kid off by age 2 at the most
2007-02-23 02:19:45 · answer #7 · answered by marl_brookes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the worst thing but not proven is there teeth may not be straight i dont know my son is 71/2 months and my health nurse said he should be more on sipy cups and could start drinking out of a glass with help. but hes still on bottles. i would say no more than a year
2007-02-23 01:26:40 · answer #8 · answered by miraclebaby_2006 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A Baby should be on a bottle until they hit the age of 1. If they stay on the bottle any longer they would just want to be babied and also if they stay on they would developed buck teeth . Good Luck with it
2007-02-23 01:35:27 · answer #9 · answered by babygirl 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
given an option bottle should be avoided as there is no substitute for breast milk .
if given it should be weaned off by the first birthday .
night bottle feed effects the dental hygiene in the long run
2007-02-23 05:11:49 · answer #10 · answered by purimani2005 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋