I've always heard that it is bad to send a baby to bed with his bottle-bad for teeth and mouth (?) development. My husband swears it's okay. Anyone have any insight into this?
2007-06-20 03:55:09 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
No, it's a bad idea for several reasons. First, babies could choke on the nipple or the liquid in the bottle if they are drinking lying down. Second, milk has natural sugar in it that if left on the teeth overnight can cause cavities. Third, babies can become dependant on the night bottle to go to sleep so you will have a really tough time trying to take that away from him later. Even if you put him to bed with a bottle with just water in it it's still not a good idea.
Try establishing a soothing and quiet bed-time routine with a warm bath, some cuddle time and perhaps a story. He will learn to soothe himself to sleep quicker if you stick to a consistent nighttime routine.
Good luck to you!
2007-06-20 04:05:17 · answer #1 · answered by Pink1967 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's really not a good idea. There are two problems with sending a baby to bed with a bottle:
1. The baby could choke (less likely)
2. The lactic acid in the milk/formula will damage the enamel on your baby's teeth.
Both are real concerns, and while your child may not have his/her first tooth yet if you're sending them to bed with a bottle now you'll be starting a habit that will be hard to break. It's no fun but stay up the few extra minutes to feed the baby the whole bottle then remove it from the crib, in the long run you'll be glad you did. Good Luck!!!
2007-06-20 04:01:29 · answer #2 · answered by boitchick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a really, really bad idea! This allows formula or milk to drip into the mouth and pool around the teeth. They can even begin to rot away before they are completely showing! If your husband thinks it is bothersome to get up in the night to give a bottle, just wait until he pays out thousands of dollars to have little black nubs removed from his kid's mouth, who is screaming in pain the whole time and then develops a lifelong fear of dentists.
If your child feels comforted by holding a bottle while asleep, then fill it with plain water!
2007-06-20 04:15:04 · answer #3 · answered by yellobrix 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sending a baby to bed with a bottle can cause many problems latetr in life, as well as now. For now, It can lead to ear infections, choking, and overfeeding becasue sleeping babies suck on instinct and may overfeed themselves. Later in life, it can cause "baby bottle rot" which is the extream decay of teeth. The sugars in the milk, or what ever you put in the bottle pool in the mouth and soak into soft baby teeth and gums. Also, the nipple can force teeth to grow in crooked. If baby needs to suck to be soothed, offer him a pacifier, they are much safer then the bottle and the thumb (thumbs also cause crooked teeth, and messes with the bone developement). Try to set a routine. I use bath, bonding, bottle, book bed. My son sleeps through the night, and has from 2 months old. Just tell your husband you do not want to risk his safety and teeth with the bottle. Good luck.
2007-06-20 04:09:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Your baby could also choke and with his parents not around, that could turn deadly. Also, the milk coul leak into his ears and cause ear infections which, in turn would lead to even more sleepless nights.
And I've been there, husbands swear everything is okay lol. But some things are just not worth chancing. I think 15-20 minutes a night for feeding isn't too much to ask is it?
Please for da baby?
:)
2007-06-20 03:59:36 · answer #5 · answered by Baby on the way!! (due 4-13-10) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, especially if you care about his teeth. Cavities are painful in adults. Can you imagine having a cavity as an infant and no one can understand why your crying and in pain because you can't talk? Maybe he doesn't have teeth now, but if you get him in the habit of wanting a bedtime bottle he'll want it even more when he gets older and it will be harder to wean him. Kids are resilliant. Get him on a healthy bedtime routine and in a short time if YOU stick to the routine he won't need a bedtime bottle. If you're really honest with yourself, isn't that bedtime bottle just easier for you? Give it to him and he'll sleep easier, right? Taking the easy route now may give you problems later...expensive dental problems.
2007-06-20 04:42:01 · answer #6 · answered by TexasLadyBug 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is your baby and is your baby developing teething at this time? If you leave your baby with the bottle while sleeping you should keep eye on the baby until you take the bottle out.
2007-06-20 04:30:08 · answer #7 · answered by JUICY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you see little kids with caps on all of their front teeth, that is called baby bottle mouth. If you send your child to bed with a bottle their teeth soak in sugar all night long and it will rot them out.
2007-06-20 04:28:53 · answer #8 · answered by kat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not OK, because baby falls to sleep with the milk turning to acid during the night, and already starting tooth decay. Even if baby doesn't have teeth right now, it sure would be a hard habit to break later on. I wonder if you could give him/her sugar-free flavored water at bedtime if you have to give the baby a bottle.
2007-06-20 04:04:25 · answer #9 · answered by Red Ant 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Havanah. It's bad for both the ears and the teeth. I used to work in a dental office and you could always tell which toddlers went to bed with a bottle, their teeth were terrible and had problems with all their baby teeth.
2007-06-20 05:01:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋