needing a bottle to fall asleep

Janine - posted on 07/12/2009

There is sugar in teh formula or milk that when left over night on their teeth can start to eat away at their teeth called bottle rot in laymans terms. I used to let my first born fall asleep with his bottle and this is what we went through. He had to get his top 4 teeth pullled out at the age of 2 cause it can eat at their teeth through the gums up into their permanent teeth. Therefore ruining his teeth before they even grow. It was horrible to see him go through this. Needless to say I learned my lesson for my second.

Janine - posted on 07/12/2009

Giving them the bottle just before they go to bed can also be very bad for their teeth. My first born I gave him his bottle and let him fall asleep with it and then I would take it out. Well the sugar in the formula or milk can cause what they call bottle rot on their teeth. It slowly starts to eat away at their baby teeth and can actually affect their permanents later if you let it got to far. When he was 2 I had to take him to the day surgery center and have them pulled so there would not be permanent damage done. It was very bad for him and me and lucky he did not have any speech impediments to go with it. He is 8 and his 4 top front teeth have finaly grown in and they look pretty good so far. Just an FYI of what leaving the bottle at night with them can do :(

Sarah - posted on 07/12/2009

oh and when they do cry leave them about 5 mins or so before going in there then just lay them back down not giving much conversation or anyrthing as this is what they are hoping for then walk out again !! it honestly will only take a couple of days for them to realise that you wont give in and this is how bedtime now is . but the first thing is to take the milk bottle out of the bedroom completly

Sarah - posted on 07/12/2009

well i was doing the sam with my son and rocking him to sleep, i was so fed up with never getting a break and me constantly having to put him to bed with a battle and never knowing how long it would take to get him to bed, i went to a sleep clinic at the nursery where i go to mother and toddler, which is bascilly a health vistior but she gave me sum great advice and now my son goes to bed with ease every nite. the bascic rule is too have a bedtime routine that is the same every nite like bath time then bottle with telly or reading a story then ion the bedroom getting them dressed in the bedroom and NO BOTTLE to be taken in the bedroom ever again lol, then sing them a song and lay them in the cot not looking at them or walk away and let them cry a little and hope this works, but you can slowly edge your way out of the room by the nite, im not very good at explainig myself but you can ask your health visitor about sleep clinic or ask me for a better explaination.

Tana - posted on 07/12/2009

My son still sleeps with a sippy and he's almost 3. It's my fault, and I know that, but every attempt I've made usually starts a screaming war in my sons room (him screaming, and me trying to fix it).

If you can, take away the bottle at nap time, when she falls asleep without it, start taking it away at bed time too. That's what I should have done and regret not doing. The best of luck to you Meagan. I hope it goes well. I only wish I had done it.