Are Bottles & Sippy Cups OK For My Child?

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Posted Feb 6, 2015 · Add Comment

There’s no question those first few months of parenthood go by like a blur. Especially for new parents, there are so many questions and uncertainties along the way and before you know it, your infant has grown into a young child.

Your Groton, MA pediatric dentist office is one of the most important resources for moms and dads. It’s where parents can rest assured that their kids will receive the best in pediatric dental care. For parents questioning the proper use of bottles and sippy cups, we have answers.

I’ve heard that a nursing bottle can cause cavities! When should I take my child off the bottle?

Your child should stop using a bottle when he or she is old enough to hold a cup, which is typically around one year of age. After this age, your child should not sleep with a bottle. This may lead to:

Dental decay
Increased incidence of ear infections
Prolonged use of the bottle

My baby’s not on the bottle. Can they drink from a sippy cup?

Sippy cups should be used as a training tool from the bottle to a cup and should be discontinued by the first birthday. If your child uses a sippy cup throughout the day, fill the sippy cup with water only (except at mealtimes). By filling the sippy cup with liquids that contain sugar (including milk, fruit juice, sports drinks, etc.) and allowing a child to drink from it throughout the day, it soaks the child’s teeth in sugars and cavity-causing bacteria.

We proudly see happy smiles throughout the Central Massachusetts towns of Acton, Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, Lunenberg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, Westford and Southern New Hampshire towns of Brookline and Hollis. Contact us with your questions.