Milk in cot throughout night

[boweno]

our son is 18m old, breastfed til 12m, and so he's always been used to going to sleep with milk. Now he likes a bottle of cows milk to go to sleep with. I know best practice is to give milk, brush teeth, read a book then bed (as having a bottle during the night can damage teeth long term) but he won't drink the milk until he's in bed!
I guess i'm looking for reassurance that we're not ruining his teeth, as this works so well for us.
During the day he only drinks milk and water (ie no fruit juice) although he does get smoothie sometimes.
Would be grateful for any experience/tips
thanks

My DD liked a bedtime bottle of milk for a long time when she was a toddler. She's 11 now with no fillings. Of course, she may just have been lucky.

personally (as a person with bad teeth and thus a paranoia about her kids teeth), i would give it to him in bed while i read a story, then brush teeth!

thank you ladies

Does your family have a history of bad teeth? If yes, then stop doing this. He can live without his bedtime milk. If your family all gets to 40 with no fillings, then go ahead and risk it.