1 year old and bottle?

Question

My son is 13 months. I still breastfeed once in the morning when he wakes up, and he gets bottle of whole milk (usually 6 oz) before his naps and before bedtime. 2-3 bottles a day. He also eats normal meals, breakfast lunch and dinner. Still on baby food, and has snacks (crackers and such). When I told the lady at my WIC appointment she acted very weird and -told- me that a one year old should not be usuing the bottle anymore and was very awkward that Im still breastfeeding. I don't understand this stigma. No one I know breastfed past 6 months, if the breastfed at all. Why is it that it is being pushed that breastfeeding is a 'no-no' past a certain age. It is a proven fact that the longer a child is breastfed the more benfits he has, hell most major leage athletes were breastfed for awhile and look how great they turned out (micheal jordan was breastfed until he was 3 1/2!) Why do people think im weird for still breastfeeding, and why is a bottle for a one year old BABY a problem????

extra details, some have metioned I forgot to add-
My son drinks juice and water and milk out of both sippy cups and regular cups at meal time. He brushes his teeth everynight after his bottle (his routine is bottle, bath, brushing teeth, book, betime) and has never once been put to bed with a bottle. As most of you have agreed I see no problem with this, I was just looking for insight as to why others do. Why is it such a "no-no" if I doing everything right?
Also, thank you for all the support!

Answer 1

I agree with you comlpetely - people have preconceived opinions about what a woman should do with her body and her child and they either dno't research or don't care about the research - but instead look down at you. I'm still nursing my 15 month old and plan to until she's ready to stop. My daughter has about the same feeding schedule as you it sounds. She uses a sippy cup or a bottle - she'll drink out of anything - but only recently started that. at 13 months she wouldn't drink out of anything except a bottle.

Just ignore those annoying people trying to tell you what to do and follow your instincts..

Oh and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and WHO (world health organization) both recommend exclusively nursing for the first 6 months, then nursing while giving other food for the next 6 months. AAP says to continue past 1 year as long as mutually desired by mother and child, and WHO advised to continue until at least age 2.

Answer 2

Well, my daughter took a bottle until 2 years and then I switched completely over to a sippy cup. Some Dr.s say the bottle is a no-no past 1 because of the risk for tooth decay. I honestly wasn't too worried about since I had my daughter brush her teeth before bed. Also, I don't understand the stigma of breastfeeding an older baby. Alot of people think it's inappropriate past a certain age, but most of these same people never breastfed, so they wouldn't understand. I think the longer you can do it, the better. If people don't like it, then they shouldn't look!

Answer 3

I breastfed for 14 months. I don't think that is weird. Some people do, but who cares. Like you said they really don't even know you are doing it. The bottle is bad, because it is bad for the teeth. Plus some kids get attached to it. My son never would take a bottle so when he started juice I just gave it to him in a sippy cup. If I were you, I would just give him the milk in a cup instead of a bottle. And if you are giving it to him before naps and bedtime, make sure you brush his teeth. When you see little kids with caps on all their front teeth it is usually because they were put to bed with a bottle. It is called "baby bottle mouth". That is why after a year they should move to a cup.

Answer 4

First of all, it is not weird for a child to still have a bottle when they are one. The child is used to the bottle, so it will take time for them to give it up. But it is not the end of the world. And as for the breastfeeding. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that a woman breastfeed until the child is 2 years old and then until mutually desired after that. I am still breastfeeding my 14 month old daughter. She is very healthy and active. Do not listen to what people say about these topics, you are the mother, you will pick when to start something and stop something. Good luck!

Answer 5

I dont see the point in the bottle, I put son straight to a sippy cup. As for breastfeeding it really si a shame what this country thinks is "normal" for our children. I mean look at how long it is done around the world, and our children certainly are the least healthy in general on teh planet.
There are so many old wives tales have been made up about breastmilk after a year. I just read one womans claim that it has no iron!!! Many that it is just useless after a year. And many more, I guess because our culture is just so sexually oriented that its just nasty to breastfeed at all nevermind to do it extended.

Answer 6

Stop stressing out and just give her some more time on the bottle. Try the sippy cup again in 2 months. Until she is about 2 years old, a bottle is fine.

Answer 7

Breastfeeding after 1 isn't bad at all. A lot of people do it until 2. The reason docs now say no to is because kids just need to become accustom to cows milk, and that's when they suggest it. You should however stop using a bottle. Your son needs to develop the other muscles in his mouth, and be able to handle a larger flow of liquid. You should be able to make an easy switch to a sippy cup in no time.

Answer 8

Well, I'll say that there isn't a real defined 'right' and 'wrong', but you already know that. There are just general guidelines and milestones for children, with a pretty wide variance in how different children react or are raised.

Personally, at one year old, I just went with sippy cups and got rid of the bottle completely. My son didn't even notice as he already had learned how to use the sippy cup. I don't think there is a real problem with the bottle after 1 except for their teeth which should be coming in or already in by that time. Milk before they go to sleep is a bad idea because of that...no matter if the milk comes from a breast, a bottle or a sippy cup...the sugars in the milk break down into acid and eat away at the teeth.

My personal opinion on breastfeeding is that it is very inappropriate to have a child run up to a mother and want to suck on her breast...it just looks funny after the kids can walk or run

Answer 9

Your child just turned one years old so it's fine that he is still on the bottle. You should start winging him off of it. Start giving him a sippy cup once a day.

I think breastfeading is fine. You can also try pumping it and giving it to your child in a sippy cup. People fill that when their child gets teeth thats the end of breastfeeding. I think its wonderful that your child still want the breastmilk. It is certainly healthier for them.

Answer 10

If a child drinks from a bottle too long it will cause "bottle mouth"...this is when the front teeth rot out...as a personal preference i wouldn't breastfeed past one year...i had a relative do this and her son used to pull on her clothes, i guess he was trying to feed himself.