Researchers have found that some encouragement from a doctor during the 9 month checkup could be key to helping parents start to wean their child off of the bottle.
Dr. Jonathon Maguire of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada led researchers in a study where they followed the cases of 201 kids till they were 2. The kids were divided into two groups where the parents of one group were advised about the importance of weaning during the 9-month check-up while the other group was given normal nutritional advice by their doctors. After a two-year period the group that had been given ‘intervention’ advice was found to have just 15 percent of babies who were using bottles compared to 40 percent bottle-fed babies in the other group.
The process of weaning involves removing the bottle one meal at a time and avoiding using it in bed.
Says Dr. Maguire, “We know that children who are using the bottle beyond two years of age are at a higher risk of iron deficiency, at risk of school problems and behavioural issues, and in rare cases, stroke. We know that children who are using the bottle in a prolonged-fashion are at a high risk of (being) overweight, and obesity. We know that they are at a higher risk of dental problems like cavities.”
“So you put all of these factors together, you say, ‘Wow, the risks really mount as the child gets older.’ So clearly there comes a point in time when using a bottle is not good for you.”
The American guideline for weaning babies from their bottles is 15 months, but the doctor says that many parents are not aware of this and they continue to give bottles to their kids. Experts believe that when the infant sleeps with their bottle filled with juice or milk, for a prolonged period of time, it may lead to the progressive destruction of the bone or teeth known as ‘baby bottle tooth decay’ or ‘nursing bottle caries’. This process usually happens in the age between 1 and 3 years and the decay develops rapidly causing severe pain and infection according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.
This is why it is important for parents to stop bottle feeding at the appropriate time according to Dr. Maguire as it is interfering with the health of their children. Nine months is the time as the baby is already getting nutrients from solid foods. The older a child gets, the harder it becomes to modify his habits warns the doctor. – Atula, Staff Writer
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I don’t see why babies should be weaned from bottle, it’s not because your child takes a bottle a day that she necessarily takes it to bed or doesn’t brush her teeth right after. My 4 year old still takes a bottle in the morning before breakfast and does not have any of the problems described in the article.