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AIBU?

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AIBU to think DS and SIL shouldn’t be commenting on DS’s bottle?

215 replies

AmpleFish · 20/10/2026 21:05

title should say DB rather than DS!

DS (just turned 4) has always taken a bottle of milk to bed and had one in the morning when he wakes. We brush his teeth afterwards and his dentist hasn’t mentioned it so assuming all is fine.
This weekend my brother came down to visit from Scotland. He and SIL made repeated comments to me and DH about how DS was too old to be having a bottle.
AIBU to think he should stay in his lane? Particularly when he and SIL have a 2.5 and 3.5 year old and neither are potty trained! I think they need to take some of their own medicine before commenting on others!

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 20/10/2026 21:07

Yes he is too old for a bottle
And 3.5 yer old should be going though potty trg

sittingonabeach · 20/10/2026 21:08

Is he going to go to school saying he has a baby bottle?

AmpleFish · 20/10/2026 21:10

sittingonabeach · 20/10/2026 21:08

Is he going to go to school saying he has a baby bottle?

He’s got nearly a year until school and he only has it at night!

OP posts:
tealandteal · 20/10/2026 21:10

Well 3.5 is late to potty train but not that far outside the realm of normal, 4 is very old to be having two bottles of milk. My DS is also 4 and loves milk but he has a cup of milk in the morning. Does your DS need it in the bottle?

Babayagahaha · 20/10/2026 21:11

YABU re the bottle.

They ABU not training a 3.5yo

ScotsLass87 · 20/10/2026 21:11

A bottle isn’t good for his teeth, could he not just have the milk in a normal cup?

SiberFox · 20/10/2026 21:11

Both are unusual situations though, a 4yo with a bottle and a 3.5yo not potty trained. My daughter has been really attached to her bedtime bottle as well but accepted milk from a cup after some short transition

sittingonabeach · 20/10/2026 21:11

You said he has one in the morning too. Why haven’t you weaned him off them?

Babayagahaha · 20/10/2026 21:12

Why does he have so much milk? Does he not eat well?

Oreosareawful · 20/10/2026 21:12

You’re as bad as each other. Ditch the bottle, he’s four!

MyballsareSandy2015 · 20/10/2026 21:12

Why though? What’s the benefit, it’s just a habit. Lots of things with small children are habits and it’s up to us parents to break the habit in line with their development.

ThatLoudCat · 20/10/2026 21:12

Why can't he have a cup? My almost two year old has a straw cup of milk before bed.

Yabu about the bottle. They're bu about the not potty training.

itsgettingweird · 20/10/2026 21:14

You both should change lanes.

4yo needs to use a cup.

3.5yo needs to be potty trained.

LampLightz · 20/10/2026 21:14

We brush his teeth afterwards and his dentist hasn’t mentioned it so assuming all is fine.

Are you waiting for damage to occur then?

I mean by the time the dentist says anything it’ll be too late 🤷‍♀️

Mossyfox · 20/10/2026 21:14

He is far far too old for a bottle. Some children are ar school at the age of 4.

notanothernamesurely · 20/10/2026 21:15

Yep. None of their business. As bad parenting decisions go this is sooooo minor. Processed food is much worse but how many parents give their kids that every day but somehow bottles and dummies are hugely frowned on.

Also …..: I note you didn’t ask our opinion in your child having the bottle, just people commenting on it. Which I agree - none of their business.

faithfultoGeorgeMichael · 20/10/2026 21:15

Whilst they're staying DB could ween your DC off bottle and you could potty train 3.5yo, all sorted 😂

Londonrach1 · 20/10/2026 21:16

A four year old shouldn't be drinking from a bottle and 3.5 year old should be potty trained. Both parents need to parent.

Floppyearedlab · 20/10/2026 21:18

Londonrach1 · 20/10/2026 21:16

A four year old shouldn't be drinking from a bottle and 3.5 year old should be potty trained. Both parents need to parent.

This. Two clear examples of lazy non parenting.

AmpleFish · 20/10/2026 21:19

tealandteal · 20/10/2026 21:10

Well 3.5 is late to potty train but not that far outside the realm of normal, 4 is very old to be having two bottles of milk. My DS is also 4 and loves milk but he has a cup of milk in the morning. Does your DS need it in the bottle?

Not at all, I guess it’s just a comfort thing for him

OP posts:
AmpleFish · 20/10/2026 21:20

sittingonabeach · 20/10/2026 21:11

You said he has one in the morning too. Why haven’t you weaned him off them?

No reason I just thought it was a relatively harmless thing to keep so let him have it

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 20/10/2026 21:20

AmpleFish · 20/10/2026 21:10

He’s got nearly a year until school and he only has it at night!

You said he has it morning and night. Swap it out for a cup - much better for their teeth development

PinkWaffleMaker · 20/10/2026 21:23

4 is far too old for a bottle.

Even if there’s no obvious tooth decay it’s bad for the overall alignment and development of his jaw.

CurledHairAndRoses · 20/10/2026 21:23

Hankunamatata · 20/10/2026 21:07

Yes he is too old for a bottle
And 3.5 yer old should be going though potty trg

A three year old should already be potty trained. I was so worried mine wouldn't be ready for nursery at three, so I was determined, and set about reading what I needed to do.

Change your 4 year old to a sip type cup perhaps ?

https://www.boots.com/paw-patrol-chevron-400ml-polypropylene-dome-bottle-10374153

SillyG · 20/10/2026 21:25

You and your DB are lazy parents!
Get rid of that bottle, for goodness sake!

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