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Parenting

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Original poster

Toddler still has bottle of milk before bed

71 replies

pastasaucee · 06/09/2021 20:16

My 17 month old still has one bottle of formula a day, which he drinks in his bedroom right before bed. It seems to help him wind down and relax before going into his cot.

I’m worried though that he’s too old for bottles and also that it could be damaging his teeth. I don’t brush them after milk as you’re meant to wait 20 minutes apparently, and that would completely disrupt his bedtime routine. Even brushing straight after milk wouldn’t work as he hates having them brushed and would be upset and agitated right before bed, which is not ideal. I’m so reluctant to change things up as he goes down really well like this, but I know I have to for the sake of his teeth more than anything.

Does anyone have any advice on what I can do and how?

OP posts:

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lking679 · 06/09/2021 21:08

No I don’t wait particularly we brush basically straight away.

scrivette · 06/09/2021 21:08

I still sometimes have warm milk before bed and so do DC so it's not something you need to stop.

Could you have milk then story/clean teeth/bed? I didn't know about the 20 minute thing, I just thought you shouldn't do it immediately.

Susannahmoody · 06/09/2021 21:09

This is such a non issue. Just let him have the formula. You can phase it out eventually

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Elisemum · 06/09/2021 21:10

We always brush teeth after the formula bottle, we don’t wait 20 mins though, first time I hear that. at 2,5 they are just babies, let them have milk if like want to! Although my son won’t touch cows milk in the bottle he still eats muesli with cows milk, yoghurts etc

Skyla2005 · 06/09/2021 21:12

@pastasaucee

That’s the other thing - I tried to switch him onto cow’s milk and he just won’t take it!

Just gradually mix it with the formula a table spoon each night he shouldn't notice the change I honestly wouldn't worry about the bottle at night clean his teeth first thing he will be fine

NatriumChloride · 06/09/2021 21:12

You have to brush his teeth after his bottle. Start bringing the bottle earlier in his bedtime routine, then brush his teeth.

And why are you worried at confusion between a breaker and bottle??

Original poster

pastasaucee · 06/09/2021 21:20

This is such a non issue. Just let him have the formula. You can phase it out eventually

@Susannahmoody well it’s not a non issue if it’s causing his teeth to decay!

And why are you worried at confusion between a breaker and bottle??

@NatriumChloride He will only take milk from a bottle and doesn’t drink it when it’s given in a cup. I think he strongly associates a cup with water and bottle with milk!

at 2,5 they are just babies

Just to clarify, he’s 17 months, not 2.5.

OP posts:

TeachesOfPeaches · 06/09/2021 21:21

I'm amazed you're still paying out for formula and can be arsed with bottle washing! Warm up some normal milk, if he doesn't take it then he might self wean.

Susannahmoody · 06/09/2021 21:23

But I don't think it will? Just brush them afterwards... It's fine.

Original poster

pastasaucee · 06/09/2021 21:23

Warm up some normal milk, if he doesn't take it then he might self wean.

I want him to drink milk though? And if he won’t have cow’s milk then I’m happy to stick with formula.

OP posts:

CorpusCallosum · 06/09/2021 21:25

One bottle a day is highly unlikely to have an impact on his teeth. Especially if you're regularly brushing his teeth twice a day (albeit before bedtime milk).

Stop the bottle when you think he's ready. By 17m he'll also be fine to be slightly low on calcium for a few days while he adjusts to having milk in a cup instead - if you're that worried just make sure he has cereal every morning for a week till he's used to it.

Overall, just relax. He'll be fine whatever you do!

CornishGem1975 · 06/09/2021 21:25

My 19 month old still has about 6 bottles of (cows) milk in a 24 hour period. He goes crazy for the stuff. I need to drop the bottle and move to a cup but I'm not worried if he wants to continue. It wouldn't bother me if it was formula either. Don't worry about what is right or wrong or what other people are doing. Do what is right for you.

butterry · 06/09/2021 21:26

Is it just for comfort or is it hunger too? Our nanny switched to giving some porridge and a last drink about an hour before bed, brush teeth 45 mins then into bed.

Ohpulltheotherone · 06/09/2021 21:34

God this is making me feel so much better about my 3 year olds bottle of milk before bed

Always brush teeth and actually going to bring it forward now we’re potty training

Original poster

pastasaucee · 06/09/2021 21:35

One bottle a day is highly unlikely to have an impact on his teeth. Especially if you're regularly brushing his teeth twice a day (albeit before bedtime milk).

@CorpusCallosum everything I’ve read suggests that teeth need to be brushed after the bedtime bottle though!

Is it just for comfort or is it hunger too?

Just comfort I think. It seems to help him wind down and relax.

OP posts:

WoolyMammoth55 · 06/09/2021 21:38

I've got a 4 yo over here who has a bedtime bottle with no tooth brush after (admittedly cows milk but still...)

He's seen a dentist twice now who has been nothing complimentary about his teeth, absolutely no problem.

And he sleeps like an angel (admittedly in a nappy still but hey ho). For us it's a no-brainer!

MotherOfCrocodiles · 06/09/2021 21:48

Cows milk is not better for him. It's just cheaper. Nutritionally the best is newborn formula.

My mum and mil both have milk before bed in their 70s. They are even potty trained too! There is no maximum age for tbedtime milk!

Also controversial but if they drink it up quickly, which older toddlers do, I don't think the bottle is so bad.

It would be a good idea to brush teeth after the milk. We moved milk and then teeth to downstairs which seems to help.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 06/09/2021 22:32

A bowl of porridge before bed will fill him up enough and get him the calcium he needs.
Then once you’ve bathed and put him in pyjamas it’ll have been 20 mins and time for teeth brushing.
You sound pretty determined so you just got to crack on now.
I think you’re doing the right thing.

YukoandHiro · 06/09/2021 22:39

I breastfed my eldest til 32 months. Not quite the same due to the decay factor, but basically there's nothing abnormal about this - please try not to stress

HungryHippo11 · 07/09/2021 01:54

Change the routine so he has the bottle earlier.
So rather than bath-teeth-book-bottle, make 9t bottle-bath- teeth-book. Maybe have the bottle downstairs on the sofa rather than in bed to start to break the association. He will be a bit confused to start with will soon learn the change of routine.

Original poster

pastasaucee · 07/09/2021 06:46

I breastfed my eldest til 32 months. Not quite the same due to the decay factor, but basically there's nothing abnormal about this - please try not to stress

@YukoandHiro thanks - it’s just the teeth thing that worries me!

OP posts:

ItsMondayMorning · 07/09/2021 08:15

Just brush his teeth after the milk! 🤷‍♀️

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/09/2021 08:34

Tbh it seems bizarre that you are so concerned about brushing 19mins prior to peak time so your solution is don’t brush at all- just brush them after and bed- slowly make that time longer or bring the bottle earlier. Once you’ve cut the bottle to bed connection he may just drop the bottle. Once I put the milk in a cup my LO didn’t want it and didn’t care to not have milk anymore

hifiive · 07/09/2021 08:40

@ItsMondayMorning

I brush her teeth straight after the bottle of cows milk. Didn't know you had to wait 20 minutes?? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ But is cows milk better for teeth than formula?

Not a dentist it's, but I'd imagine it's better to brush straight away, than not at all - if that's what you meant in the OP. Can't imagine leaving cows milk in my kids mouth overnight, I couldn't sleep at the thought

JazzerMcCreary · 07/09/2021 08:44

DS is 3 and still has milk at bedtime. Albeit in a leakproof toddler cup, rather than a bottle with a teat (transitioned at about your son’s age). His teeth are great. I know it’s not ideal but it’s also incredibly common. It’s becoming less and less frequent now so pretty sure he won’t still be having bedtime milk at university. I can’t get worked up about it.

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