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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give nearly 3 yo drink in a (baby) bottle?

46 replies

TheThenandnow · 25/08/2023 11:00

My DS really doesn’t drink anything like enough. Yesterday I couldn’t find his cup and gave him water in a bottle and he downed it. I’m wondering if I should just do this from now on?

OP posts:
3dogsandarabbit · 25/08/2023 11:03

Why not try a child's drinking bottle?

KezzaMucklowe · 25/08/2023 11:03

It's supposed to be bad for their teeth isn't it op ?
My dc are 13 now so all that information I used to know has disappeared.
Personally, unless he was ill snd desperately needed fluids I would have persevered with cups.

Nanny0gg · 25/08/2023 11:03

KezzaMucklowe · 25/08/2023 11:03

It's supposed to be bad for their teeth isn't it op ?
My dc are 13 now so all that information I used to know has disappeared.
Personally, unless he was ill snd desperately needed fluids I would have persevered with cups.

It was water...

Nanny0gg · 25/08/2023 11:03

TheThenandnow · 25/08/2023 11:00

My DS really doesn’t drink anything like enough. Yesterday I couldn’t find his cup and gave him water in a bottle and he downed it. I’m wondering if I should just do this from now on?

Water bottle with a straw?

Wrongsideofpennines · 25/08/2023 11:04

I don't think it's ideal for mouth development, tongue movement, speech etc. That's why weaning from a dummy is recommended by about a year old.

Maybe try some different spouted bottles.

ImABox · 25/08/2023 11:05

Adults drink from water bottles but we get our noses out of joint at toddlers and small children not using cups! Get whatever bottle works for him to get fluids in. Job done

DuploTrain · 25/08/2023 11:07

I am curious about why your instinct was to use a baby bottle and not a glass / mug / any other container.

My 2 yo is very attached to his beaker but we’re trying to break the habit. We’ve have some little enamel mugs which he likes, or otherwise we use espresso cups.

KezzaMucklowe · 25/08/2023 11:09

Nanny0gg · 25/08/2023 11:03

It was water...

Show quote history

Does that make a difference ? Like I said the pre school years information has completely slipped my mind. It's all a bit of a fig.

KezzaMucklowe · 25/08/2023 11:09

Fog

SoftSheen · 25/08/2023 11:10

3 years old is too old for a baby's bottle with a teat. At this age, you can give a normal (small) glass of water for meals at a table, and a child's water bottle for out and about.

SoftSheen · 25/08/2023 11:11

ImABox · 25/08/2023 11:05

Adults drink from water bottles but we get our noses out of joint at toddlers and small children not using cups! Get whatever bottle works for him to get fluids in. Job done

A water bottle is fine, but a 3 year old doesn't need a bottle with a teat...

TheBarbieEffect · 25/08/2023 11:11

SoftSheen · 25/08/2023 11:10

3 years old is too old for a baby's bottle with a teat. At this age, you can give a normal (small) glass of water for meals at a table, and a child's water bottle for out and about.

This. It’s bad for their oral development.

Thesearmsofmine · 25/08/2023 11:11

I wouldn’t be encouraging use of a baby bottle no. Why didn’t you give him a glass with some water in if you couldn’t find his cup? Surely that would be the obvious thing, maybe with a straw.

KezzaMucklowe · 25/08/2023 11:12

Wrongsideofpennines · 25/08/2023 11:04

I don't think it's ideal for mouth development, tongue movement, speech etc. That's why weaning from a dummy is recommended by about a year old.

Maybe try some different spouted bottles.

Possibly this is what I was half remember ering.
A pp mentioned other bottles with straws etc. Thar might be worth a try.

Original poster
TheThenandnow · 25/08/2023 11:13

@DuploTrain because he’d throw it on the floor and probably smash it.

Not sure re it being bad for teeth - hope not, but honestly he will go several hours and refuse any fluids at all which is a worry.

OP posts:
Reugny · 25/08/2023 11:15

3dogsandarabbit · 25/08/2023 11:03

Why not try a child's drinking bottle?

This.

Get him a few and get him to pick the colours. Children's sized water bottles are on sale now in a few supermarkets as it is the end of summer.

Mummy08m · 25/08/2023 11:16

Yanbu OP. My dd still likes drinking out of a lidded sippy cup and she's just turned 3. She can drink from an open cup, and sometimes does like at the dining table, but if she's in bed or on the sofa and if it's milk or juice she's more relaxed knowing she can't spill it.

People get a bit worked up about teeth, but I was still drinking formula from a baby bottle aged 3 (seen photos to prove it) and I've never had a cavity or needed braces, my whole life. I just don't eat sweets much which I think is a way bigger effect than cup vs bottle.

Dummies for toddlers are a different thing, they're bad because they inhibit speech development (kids can't prattle away if they're effectively muzzled).

ImABox · 25/08/2023 11:16

She didn’t say teat with a bottle, I understand about the oral développement issue that’s why I said get any water bottle he’ll use, not a babies bottle with teat. But using it as a one off for a few days in a fluid refuser until she buys a bottle without a test that gel use isn’t an issue.

Ive seen so many parents drink from a water bottle and run around crazy getting their kid to drink from a cup when they’re drinking from a bottle

YourNameGoesHere · 25/08/2023 11:16

A bottle with a teat at that age is really poor for his teeth just like a dummy would be. Why not take him shopping for a water bottle with a favorite character on it to encourage him to drink more.

Hufflepods · 25/08/2023 11:17

TheThenandnow · 25/08/2023 11:13

@DuploTrain because he’d throw it on the floor and probably smash it.

Not sure re it being bad for teeth - hope not, but honestly he will go several hours and refuse any fluids at all which is a worry.

That doesn’t sound abnormal, most kids and adults go hours in between drinks.

2weekstowait · 25/08/2023 11:18

Get him to choose his own proper drinking bottle from the shop?

I wouldn't want to use a baby's bottle, people used to say it could make their teeth stick out but I'm not sure if that's true or not!

Original poster
TheThenandnow · 25/08/2023 11:19

So (lol) have tried just about every drinking contraption on the market. Child’s bottles, sports bottles, etc. no go. Just doesn’t drink. Bone dry nappies. It drives me mad as it’ll be a hot day, he’s bright red and running around and won’t drink. I’m sure he’d have a fruit shoot or similar but don’t really want to go down that route.

OP posts:
Hufflepods · 25/08/2023 11:19

@ImABox Ive seen so many parents drink from a water bottle and run around crazy getting their kid to drink from a cup when they’re drinking from a bottle

It’s quite obvious we see talking about a baby bottle with a teat though. I can’t say I’ve ever seen an adult drinking from a baby bottle.
A straw bottle is not comparable to an older toddler drinking from a baby bottle in terms of oral development.

YourNameGoesHere · 25/08/2023 11:20

TheThenandnow · 25/08/2023 11:19

So (lol) have tried just about every drinking contraption on the market. Child’s bottles, sports bottles, etc. no go. Just doesn’t drink. Bone dry nappies. It drives me mad as it’ll be a hot day, he’s bright red and running around and won’t drink. I’m sure he’d have a fruit shoot or similar but don’t really want to go down that route.

If he will drink a fruit shoot then wash one out and fill it with water?

dementedpixie · 25/08/2023 11:21

Give him a sports bottle rather than a baby bottle with teat. You can get lidded cups with straws too