Is it OK to keep a bedtime bottle at age four?

[DearDog96]

In a recent post about my MIL’s comment towards DD it was highlighted that I needed to get her out of nappies, off the dummy and going to bed without her bottle. The dummy I took away straight away and we’ve been doing well since, and nappies we’re going to try this weekend. With a baby on the way in a few months time I’m inclined to leave the bottle for now as it’s only once a day and it’s her comfort before bed, plus I feel like I’ve rocked the boat enough already! What’s everyone’s thoughts? Did any of your kids keep the night bottle at 4+?

Isn't that pretty bad for teeth? If you wouldn't breastfeed at that age (I know some do but its unusual) then I wouldn't do bottles.
Milk before bed / teeth brushing is fine.

Not read your other thread so is nappies all the time or night time? If night time then id not make all the changes at once, spread it out a bit

She shouldn’t be having a bottle at all at 4. Why is she still in nappies?

Do you brush her teeth after the bottle? You need to.

All mine stopped having bottles at one which is the recommended age.

No. Bottles are supposed to stop when they turn one but some people continue for a few more months.

Took the bottle away at 2 for all of mine.

No, it’s not

I read your other thread and well done so far! Sounds like you are really getting on top of things and I hope potty training goes well this weekend (my advice would be to not put her back in nappies no matter what).

Bottle of milk is rubbish for their teeth so while I wouldn’t rush to get rid of it when potty training, I would be treating it as a second priority tbh. Even just a baby bottle with water instead of milk will be much better for her.

I put my two on to cups at age 1! And 4 is very late for nappies.

That is a lot of changes at once. Id do it slowly and expect some regressions when the baby comes.

It’s only once a day; it’s fine. I know a lot of children who took a long time to drop the bedtime bottle!

Daytime nappies first, if not already dry in the day, and nighttime shortly afterwards. Replace the bottle with a cup of milk.

Mine was mainly breastfed but did have occasionally BM in bottles if I was out, but never at bedtime is so bad for their teeth unless you brush after which I think defeats the reason bothers are given at bedtime. That's bad enough when they barely have teeth let alone at 4. I think it's quite worrying you have kept your 4 year old infantilised in this way

Did any of your kids keep the night bottle at 4+?

No. DD was on sippy cups at 12 months.

My four year old would live on nothing but milk if he was allowed. He has moved on from a bottle to a mug of milk about an hour before bed then teeth brushed and off to sleep. I expect this to be his routine even when he’s an old man 😄

They will be dry at night when hormones kicks in

bottles should stop at one

what has dentist said - as the milk will decay teeth due to sucked - esp front teeth

Did any of your kids keep the night bottle at 4+?

Yes. Both of my DS did. DS1 was in nappies at night time still on starting school ...and would only poo in them and not the toilet till approx age 5yrs.

They are both adults now and haven't suffered at all due to my slack parenting.

My son had his bottle longer than recommended, his bottle was his comforter too, but he was off it by age 3 at the latest. His teeth were brushed after, it wasn't used as an aid to get him to sleep, he just loved milk. With regards to nappies, you need to work on that, no child should be in day time nappies when at school (I assume she starts this year) unless there is SEN. I wouldn't worry so much about nighttime nappies as that will happen naturally, it can't be trained .

I would prioritise getting her off the nappies first, and then removing the bottle.

Op is talking about day time nappies!

It’s supposed to be very bad for teeth.

Mine had stopped bottles at a year so I’d say you need to stop it now .

I read your other thread OP

Well done on taking action

While I understand that you may feel staggering things is best so less overwhelming, perhaps think about the timeline so the new routine is well established before the baby arrives, so your 4 yr old doesn't think it is linked and resent the baby a bit

Good luck

The bottles should have stopped at one.
Feeding to sleep is a bad habit, lying down to have a bottle of bad for ears, using a bottle isn't good for teeth, prepare development and oral skills. This is worse if a dummy is also used.

That said I haven't read your other thread and agree with previous posters that you should probably not make all changes at the same time so you may want to space it out a little.

Maybe transition to a cup with a straw and see how that works.

Too old for a bottle, sorry!