Is it okay for your baby to sleep with a bottle?

Many parents put their baby to sleep with a bottle of milk, seen as a means to help ease them into a gentle sleep. This, however, is by no means the best way to put your baby to sleep and it can in fact be the cause of detrimental problems to your child. One of the main concerns is that it can lead to tooth decay, and there are many children who have ended up in need of surgery to fix their teeth which have become rotten. There is also the likelihood that this can lead to an ear infection, as well as later problems when you take away the bottle and try to get your child to sleep on their own.

If you do want to give your baby a bottle of milk, try to ensure that this is done before they are put to bed. A good bedtime routine must be established where teeth are cleaned instead of leaving your child with a bottle of milk, which will eat at their teeth throughout the night. A well established bedtime routine may consist of the following:

• A warm bath to gently relax your baby
• A bedtime story to spend some quality time with your baby
• A lullaby to softly soothe your baby to sleep
• A goodnight cuddle

Tips to get your baby off to sleep without the bottle

• Try to cut down the amount of milk in the bottle on each feed at night gradually until they no longer require it.
• Reduce the of ounces of milk your baby drinks at night by diluting feeds with water until they no longer require it.
• Establish a good bedtime routine as described above.

Guide to Sleeping for Mother and Baby:

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• Sleeping for Mother and Baby
• Children’s sleep and nightmares
• Night Terrors
• Buying bedding & a cot
• Your Baby’s Breathing while Sleeping
• Children and Sleep
• Understanding Babies Sleep

• Is it okay for your baby to sleep with a bottle?
• Co-Sleeping with Your Baby
• The Ferber Method
• Infant’s Sleep Patterns
• Sleep for twins
• Keeping your baby cool during sleep
• Sleep myths

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