she still uses a bottle, whats the big deal?

Paige - posted on 08/02/2009

Hello. I am a pediatric dental assistant turned stay at home mommy. Another main reason to have the baby off of a bottle by the age one, even if it isn't being taken to bed, is due to the shape of the child's mouth. The shape of a bottle nipple is very narrow therefore it can reshape a child's mouth in a negative way. A sippy cup or a cup doesn't cause such issues. That is also why binkys are a bad idea after 6 months as well.

Jacci - posted on 08/02/2009

I definetly dont think that you need to get your baby off their bottle by the time they turn 1! Every baby is different developmentally... watch your baby for signs but you should try to get them off as soon as you can because as they get older their sucking abilities get stronger and they can pull bacteria into their inner ear if they suck too hard, same thing with a pacifier!

Sue - posted on 08/02/2009

Dentists and Doctors will advise you that it is bad for their teeth. I think that is a good enough reason to introduce a sippy.

Christy - posted on 08/02/2009

Talk to your pediatrician. He can explain to you the affects of letting your toddler keep a bottle. Its not that other mothers are judgemental toward the parents who do this, those moms just understand the consequences of doing so. Now days sippy cups start at 6 months. You say not all babies are developmentally ready to use a sippy, you will be surprised at what babies can do if the parents will just take a step back and let the baby explore new things.

Lyndsay - posted on 08/02/2009

My son was 18 months when I took his bottle from him because he was a very fussy eater from the time he turned 1 until about then, so I didn't want him to starve. He's always had juice from a sippy cup (never a bottle!) so that made the transition a little easier when I finally decided just to take away the bottle.

Jessica - posted on 08/02/2009

My daughter was late getting off the bottle and the pacifier, she didn't start the sippy cup until age two. But I didn' know any better. It severely messed up her two front baby teeth. She's now almost nine, her grown up teeth came in fine and perfectly straight. You just have to keep trying several times a day every day to give her a sippy cup. Also, all sippy cups are different. In some the liquid comes out a little easier, and some it will just drip out. So maybe if you try a different brand she might have an easier time learning to use the cup. Try the cups that look like gladware (that look like they can be trown away) thats what my daughter learned on, and then was swiched to a more sturdy cup. I would never judge, all children are different. Good luck!

Xaymara - posted on 08/02/2009

My daughter is 29 months and she still use her bottle. I really don't think is a big deal. As long you teach your kid to drink in a cup, from a straw, you know teach them other options besides the bottle is not a problem. My opinion, as long she is drinking her 32 onz of milk I don't care how she drinks it...

Jackie - posted on 08/02/2009

I ask myself the same question my daughter still uses the bottle & she's 16 months old. She knows how to drink out of a sippy cup but she enjoys her bottle more so I will let her use her bottle for as long as she wants eventually she'll show me signs that she's ready to stop using it.

Sheryl - posted on 08/02/2009

I know what you mean. I whent to have my little girl weighed the other week and the health visitor was talking to me about her eating etc... she asked me if she still used a bottle and I said yes at night only and she looked horrified and told me to get her off it asap! what harm does 1 nighttime feed do really. I know they say that if a child continuously uses a bottle and/or dummy after the age of 1 that it can cause dental problems,so maybe thats why.

Linda - posted on 08/02/2009

I dont think its bad for their teeth if they dont take the bottle to bed with them.

Our little miss had her bottle until she was over 18 months, I found it really helpful that she could have her morning milk while I fed her new brother.

Sarah - posted on 08/02/2009

Honestly i think the child knows when they are ready to get rid of the bottle, my daughter was 8 months when she didn't want her bottle anymore but my son is 3 and he still has his bottle, his been to the dentist and few times and they say his teeth are fine..
i think some mums need to say things about other mums to make them feel like a better mum..
I wouldn't listen to anyone you know whats best for your daughter..

Sarah - posted on 08/01/2009

I agree with you my son and my youngest brother both were premature. My son was on the bottle until he was 27 months old, my brother ws on the bottle until he was 3. My son has major health problems that cause him not to gain weight like most children, he has always been at least 10 to 15 pounds under weight. My brother also had trouble with gaining and keeping weight on. My stepmother and I both had people committing on them being on the bottle for so long, and it was their doctor's that tols us not to take them off the bottle. My daughter ws also born premature and was on the bottle until 18 months old. People need to understand that there are reasons for the child dtill being on the bottle and that a lot of times it is the doctor that says to do it. My son's teeth were not harmed, he has perfect teeth and I know of other people who have and their children on bottles longer than a year.

Shannon - posted on 08/01/2009

I got my son on a sippy asap because he quickly realized if he turned it upside-down and pushed the nipple on any surface the milk would come pouring out and make a big fun mess. You can't do that with a hard-spout sippy. That was my biggest reason.

My second reason was that I didn't want to have to break him of it when he was older and more stubborn. Easier for me, plain and simple. (If anything is lazy - that is! LOL)

When we were little they didn't have sippys like they do now so everyone was on bottles until they were at least 2. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Amanda - posted on 08/01/2009

My daughter is just over a year old. She gets 2 bottles a day. One when she wakes up and one before bed. Otherwise she gets water in a sippy cup, or milk in a sippy cup at dinner time. I'm not in a huge rush to get rid of those 2 bottles, she's only a year old and frankly, I like the cuddle time and so does she. The rest of the day she's so busy it's impossible to get a simple hug from her without her struggling to get back to running around!



I agree with you. A bottle isn't a major issue if it's not being taken to bed with them, and if they aren't toting it around all day. What's the big deal?? The more stressed YOU as a parent get about getting rid of the bottle, the more the child is going to resist, so let nature take it's course is my opinion.

Janelle - posted on 08/01/2009

well you could always try the nuby brand beginner sippy. it looks like a sippy but has a soft sucky top like a bottle. same thing happened to me when my daughter turned one. but i gave her the new nuby sippy and she never missed the bottle. my daughter is now 2 1/2 and i still give her sippys at night but she now uses regular sippys and only gets one at night. the only thing i hate parents do is have kids who have binkys until they're 4. if you can talk and have a binky then its time to get rid of them. its your decision what you do as a parent.

LISA - posted on 08/01/2009

WELL CHRISTINA I APPLOUD U . NOT EVERY BODY IS GIVEN A VERY SPECIAL BABY AND HAS THE OPPERTUNITY TO DO WHT U AS A GOOD MOTHER HAVE BEEN DOING . PEOPLE R ALWAYZ GOING 2 SAY WHT COMES 2 MIND W/ OUT KNOWING WHT IS REALLY GOING ON...AND I THINK A MOTHER ALWAYZ KNOWS THEIR BABY NO MATTER WHT . W/ DEV PROBLEMS OR NOT .. MOTHER KNOWS BEST I THINK . DO U . I HAVE 3 AND THEY ALL CAME OF THE BOTTLE AND CUP AT DIFF TIMES .. IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE BABY.. BLESS

Tonya - posted on 08/01/2009

also these sports bottle ones are just like a bottle nipple but they are shaped like a big kid cup so my daughter loved it. It really boils down to what works for this child and her parents and her drs. Each child is unique and must be handled differently. Most of us are quick too judge but many of us don't know what we would do if we were in the same situation. Most likely we would do the same thing as these parents!! Best of luck!

Tonya - posted on 08/01/2009

I didnt read through all of the reply's so if I'm repeating here I'm sorry ladies. As a mom of 4 children and #5 due. I have experienced taking a bottle away from all but #4 (who is only 5 months old and weaning from the breast). I've used a bottle with them all as well as breastfed. With my last child who was 1 yr old when we discoverd I was expecting again and also has milk and egg allergies, we weaned from breast to bottle. She was already taking a cup with juice, water etc. When the time came to wean from the bottle at about 14 months. I chose to use the Nuby brand. (not trying to promote here ladies just giving fact that worked for me). this brand has a sylicone sippy and they also make a sports bottle, which is just like a bottle nipple only longer and flat instead of rounded on the end. She loved it and wihin a week I had her bottle weaned. She took those for a long time but the milk wasn't pooling around her teeth. I think the whole point of taking the bottle away is too keep milk from decaying the teeth. The sports bottle with the soft sipper spout we used works well. I think you can find these in places like Wal-Mart and Target. It may take this child longer to learn to drink from a sippy cup or sports bottle but the point is they can learn. Even with developmental delays all children are capable of learning. it may take longer and be more frustrating for the parents but it can be done and in the end the child will feel a sense of pride in achievement.

Jessica - posted on 08/01/2009

And I forgot to say that between age 1 and 2 my son sis use a sippy for juice and water, but just a bottle for milk. That's why him drinking the milk from the sippy was an issue for him at first.

Jessica - posted on 08/01/2009

We let our son use a bottle until he was two because he was so attached and refused to drink from a sippy cup. After we made the switch, he took some time before drinking very much milk again since he prefered it in a bottle, but other than that it wasn't too bad. I think what age to do it just depends on how the child does when you introduce the cup whether you should make him take only a cup. Also, my son's teeth are perfectly fine. But he loves brushing and flossing too so he doesn't have dental problems.

Kate - posted on 08/01/2009

You can get sippy cups with soft spouts although they aren't always cheap it is a great way to introduce it. Maybe you could still give her her bottle but also help her drink from her sippy cup occassionally and change it to more and more of the sippy cup over time.

Aubree - posted on 08/01/2009

Oh yeah and the handles come off, so she really doesnt have to use them. I didnt so it was just like drinking from a bottle anyway.

Charlie - posted on 08/01/2009

Good luck Christina , i hope it goes well !!

Aubree - posted on 08/01/2009

Thats perfect! The cups that I started kayden off with are on this link. http://www.gerber.com/Products/NUK_Learn... They are really nice and she didn't have any problem getting the juice out.( doesn't really require alot of sucking) The top is soft just like a nipple so she might like that. I hope this helps and gets some people off your back.

--- - posted on 08/01/2009

I recently found some first years plastic cups with lids that do not have stoppers. they are the cheap wash or toss ones. I gave her one today to try. I filled it with water right to the top so she would not need to tip it much. she chewed on it a bit but really thought it was a water toy as the water just sprinkles out very easily. I will give her one every day with water to see how it goes and she will continue on her bottle until she decides she no longer wants it.

Aubree - posted on 08/01/2009

Oh yeah and everyone needs to read the post Christina wrote, her one year old child has PROBLEMS and is only at the level of a 9 month old! She's not being a bad, lazy mother she's doing what anyone would do with an actually 9 month old.

Aubree - posted on 08/01/2009

If the toddler can't drink out of a sippy or a cup because of problems then there is nothing wrong with that, just as long as they're practicing with the cups. Youre totally right she wouldn't be able to get any kind of drink without the bottle. Oh and bottles don't mess up teeth unless you let your child take them to bed, milk sitting on a babies teeth is bad and since you don't do that then there's nothing to worry about. People say rude things to me too about my daughter, shes 9 1/2 months old but she's much bigger and taller then other babies so people think she's 1+. They ask me all kinds of things like "why isn't she walking?" "why do you still let her have a bottle?" ( she drinks from cups too but we only seem to hear from people when she has the bottle) Sooo if the one year old can't drink from a cut then there is nothing else to do but drink from a bottle but she should be trying the cups so she'll get the hang of it faster.

Tashia Ann - posted on 08/01/2009

..one more thing my daughters teeth are just fine for anyone wondering! an she came off hers at 3!!!

Tashia Ann - posted on 08/01/2009

i hear ya my daughter was 3 when she came off her bottle(for bed an nap) her doc complaned so much but she wasnt ready she used a sippy an everything (her dad passed away) so im thinking thats why she kept it but yea i agree an i think its up to the mom not every one in the world!!!!

Charlie - posted on 08/01/2009

PEOPLE READ CHRISTINA'S POSTS BEFORE PASSING JUDGMENT ON HER , HER CHILD HAS FTT AND CANNOT USE A REGULAR CUP , ITS NOT ABOUT HER CHILDS TEETH IT IS ABOUT HER CHILD GETTING ENOUGH CALORIES .

sorry but some people are pretty rude , before knowing the facts .

Casey - posted on 08/01/2009

iiiiii know. My daughter had a bottle till she was three. She only had it at bed time and naptime, but i would always get people judging that. They're only babies for so long, why rush them out of their comforters and push them? She's four and a half now and it hasn't affected her in anyway! And she has perfect teeth because they were brushed regulary and she only had water and formula in her bottle. She used a cup at meal times, so it wasn't like she was backward in that area. To many PC reasons and too many what you should be doing or feel bad books.

Angela - posted on 08/01/2009

I had a long discussion with my daughter's Doc about this. My little girl is 15 months old and drinks a sippi cup fine except when it comes to milk. She will only drink her milk out of a bottle. Of course it is bad for her teeth but i don't let her fall asleep with it in her mouth and we also brush her teeth twice a day. So her Doc said that it was ok for her to have milk in a bottle twice a day until around 18 months, after that, it's cold turkey. Just don't let them carry it around all day or sleep with it in their mouth and they should be fine. Good Luck.

Tamie - posted on 08/01/2009

I use to volunteer for a program called Help Me Grow. its for young parents and parents who have children with disaiities no matter how small. (They have home visitors that come to your house and help you with things and they can help answer a lot of questions that parents have and if they dont have the answer they usually can find one or help you find one. Not all states have the program though) Anyway when i had my son they advised me to introduce the sippy cup at 6 months to get thm use to it and when they were ready they would just not want the bottle anymore. and to be honest it has worked with both of my children at 10 months they neither one wanted anything to do with their bottles. It all depends on the child.

Justine - posted on 08/01/2009

I don't judge. Some people have babies that don't fight it and other's have some so stubborn that they won't eat or stop crying without the bottle. My daughter hasn't had a bottle since a little past her first, but she still gets her dinky (pacifier) when it's time to go to sleep. Every child is different and some are good at doing things early and other's don't. As long as a parent is not over abusing something for ease and not wanting to deal with the change then I see nothing wrong with it. Besides, tooth rot comes from baby's that have bottles 24/7 and is usually from juice, not milk. I don't see the problem with a bottle at night or a few through the day as long as the parent is slowly trying to incorporate the sippy more often. There is nothing wrong with slow change.

Randa - posted on 08/01/2009

Mainly it is because it is bad for their teeth. However, it is also letting your child grow up. Everything should be learned in steps including going from a bottle to a sippy cup. I don't judge parents for their decisions in raising their children, however, I do have my opinions.

Nicole - posted on 08/01/2009

Ok now that I read most of your new posts, I think you need to delete this and post a new one, you were asking what the big deal was with people letting their one year-olds drink from a bottle, but you failed to mention that your child has eating/developmental delays, this is a entirely different situation and problem.... I think you really need to delete the coversation and ask what you were really trying to ask...how to help my child drink from a sippy cup and how can I try to encourage her to walk even with xyz problems.. I also recommend having your childs liver and intestines checked if she is not gaining weight like she should maybe it is a bowl problem or kidney or liver problem... I really hope everyting works out for your child, God bless you!

Angie - posted on 08/01/2009

Christina,

From what people are posting, I think I would get extremely annoyed if I were you! My daughter just recently got off the bottle and she is alomst 14 months. I breastfed her until 9 months and I felt like she just got off one and started getting a hang of the other. So my husband and I decided it was best for her. Considering your situation, you shouldn't at all be be embarrassed!!!!!! You are doing what is right for your baby...and I'm sorry you have to deal or go through this. Keep doing what you are doing, you take peoples opinions and advice like a grain of salt....If people want to judge just because your trying to not let your child starve, then its shame on them!!!!!!!!!!

Samantha - posted on 08/01/2009

it's bad for their teeth and if my 10 month old daughter startered using a cup at 8 months because i was dedicated to her development i think any mom can

Margaret - posted on 08/01/2009

I had to hear a lot of criticizing from my son's pediatrician. He got pneumonia after he had been broke from the bottle, but when he got it he would only take medicine out of the nipple of the bottle, so we gave it to him that way. After that he only wanted to take a bottle and we couldn't break him from it again until he was 2. My daughter on the other hand has been drinking from a sippy since 4 days before she turned 5 months. Bubby gave her his juice one day while I had my back turned, and she hasn't wanted a bottle since. Every child is different. I know it is bad for their teeth, but keeping up with gettng your child to the dentist will help with this. Pacifiers are just as bad, but a lot of moms who criticize about the bottle still allow their child to suck on the pacifier. People who live in glass houses shod not throw stones. Over look them hun, your child will be ready in their own time, noone can go exactly by the book.

Kim - posted on 08/01/2009

its nice to try and get the child off the bottle and off to a sippy cup but only if theyre ready. my daughter goes back and forth and shes only 11 months old. she loves her sippy cup but loves her bottle too. instead of formula we just put water in it. and same with her sippy cup. it just takes time for babys and sometimes a little push here and there.

Leanne - posted on 08/01/2009

And also if you read some lables on formula tins they go up to 3 yrs old...

So that means there is a demand out there so other babies still need a bottle even if it's at night

Leanne - posted on 08/01/2009

My girl only has water or formula (besides her solids) So having water in a bottle is not harmful, Sometimes cups just too much of a mess, I have try a slippy cup with my girl But she just plays with it.she is 8mths old. So do what you want and what your child is ready to do.

Carrie - posted on 08/01/2009

my son had a dummy till 3 and 3/4, with his dummy in his mouth all day. and morning and night time bottle till then. and his teeth are perfect, he's never had a filling or complained of tooth ache, nothing! my 6 month has a dummy but isn't obsessed by it like my first. some babies want bottles and dummies and others don't. i don't think any of it's a problem

Sarah - posted on 07/31/2009

I am an Early Childhood Educator, recently in an infant room (0-12 months). I was very surprised when I found out they dont give them bottles in the next room, which is 12-18 months. So part of our routine is cups, actual tiny sized real cups. When the children seem ready to try it out, usually around 8 months or so, depending on their abilities. It takes them a while to get the hang of it, they start out by us holding it, then eventually maybe the next week we will use their hands to help us hold the cup. Some refuse to help so we just hold it for them a little longer. Eventually they will want to hold it, the key is trying at a certain time every day, just a little at first, but just keep it a routine. We have repetitive routines to drink from the cup 3 times a day, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. Still having their bottle of formula or milk twice daily. When they are 12 months and are about to move up to the next room, we will give them one morning bottle, and in the afternoon have a drink of milk from the cup for one week, then the next week, just the cup. This eases them into no bottles next door. Now it is up to the parents if they give them a bottle at home still, which a few of them still do for a short while. But i thought it was crazy when I first started, my child is 10 now, so it wasnt as big of a deal then, 2 was usually the cut of then. But now I am just about to have my second child and I feel very prepared to indtroduce the cup alot earlier, I dont even know if i will use a sippie cup, maybe just when we go out or something, I'll see when it comes time. Hope this helps a little, good luck on your journey. Whatever you choose will be fine.

Jessica - posted on 07/31/2009

my son is 23 months and he hasnt had a bottle in a month and before that he only had a bottle at night for lke 3 months. its bad for there teeth, and i think with a sipping cup it makes them feel like a big kid. i mean by this time they start wanting to do everything we do so why not start teaching and treating them like a big kid.

Sheila - posted on 07/31/2009

I had my 1st son off the bottle when he 11months. It was for the simple fact that its bad for their teeth. With my son now he is 10 months I'm starting the sippy cup...I should say I started when he was 8mos but he wasn't quite ready. He will drink from it because he sees his brother drinking from his cup.The key is just don't give up. It may be hard because the child may not take it or they show no interest but the more and more you try the better it will be. I learned that when I had my 1st son. Everyone is different on the parent their child.. the most important thing do what is best for her,if giving her a bottle is soothing her to where she is drinking then do it. if you were giving her juice in the bottle all day then yes that is a problem...good luck.

Allegra - posted on 07/31/2009

...one more thing, when we were breaking our son he got his milk in the sippy cup and water in the bottle, he LOVES milk so that really helped him and it avoiding the dental issue that so many on here have talked about.

Allegra - posted on 07/31/2009

I think that people are too obsessed with the issue. I had other moms who actually made fun of my son because at 11 months he was still using his bottle. Kids to things on their own time and i get so sick of people thinking that they can judge one child by another. We were working on breaking him from the bottle but then we had to fly out of state unexpectedly for a death in the family and they say its not good to take their comfort item from them when they are going to be doing something that takes them out of their element so I didn't force the bottle issue. Then only 2 months after that (my son was then 17months) he came down with pnemonia and was hospitalized and he was using a sippy cup more but that happened and he wanted his bottle so that's what he got. By the time he was 1 1/2 he was completely broken from the bottle and only using a sippy cup. I don't think that it was too late of an age, it's what worked best for my son and that's all I cared about. Like I said every child is different and as long as they're not still on the bottle for years I don't really see what the big deal is...and for the record, my son's teeth weren't affected and our pediatrician wasn't too concerned with it.

Heather - posted on 07/31/2009

Wow! So this is the first posting I've read since just joining and I'm not sure I really want to be on here. I love that people are so critical, I'm assuming they do everything perfect to a T and their kids are all just angels and did everything according to the books. As mothers aren't we supposed to be supportive of each other and not so judgmental? Honestly Christina, talk to your dr, they are trained professionals and they know your child and their needs. Good luck to you! I hope that she overcomes her obstacles!

Mel - posted on 07/31/2009

could that not just mean low muscle tone? my LO has never had trouble holding or tipping a cup however she was about 9 month level also she sounds like shes about at the same level as your girl she started crawling properly at 14 and a half months and can now pull herself up and walk along the couch as well. sometimes its just being under weight that hinders them being able to do things and with the crawling and sitting it takes under weight babies longer becuase they dont have enough strength or weight on thier butt/tummy to do those things. im just wondering if they have explored all possibilities with tests that is it all and quite possibly (i havent seen her of course) but it could be something very minor that could correct itself.