Do you put your baby to bed with a bottle?

Unfortunately, many parents do. Not only does sucking on a bottle when propped or lying down increase the possibility of ear infections, but sugars in milk deposit on gums, this can cause a reaction with emerging teeth that leads to the erosion of the delicate coating of protective enamel and thus to the destruction of the tooth. This is sometimes called 'baby bottle tooth decay.

Some babies with 'bottle decay' have had teeth emerge that are already decayed.  This is the result of prolonged exposure from the bottle being left with an child. Newborn babies only need breast milk or formula in their bottles(or boiled and cooled water on advice of your health professional) . They do not need juice or any other foods or liquids unless advised by your doctor.

Leaving your baby alone with a bottle or propping a bottle up can also cause choking and suffocation - a newborn baby may not have the strength to move the nipple out of his or her mouth if choking.

Propping a baby up or leaving them to drink their bottle alone, deprives the baby of important cuddling and human contact. This contact is essential for bonding.

Hold your baby during feedings

Hold your baby during feedings in the cradle of your arm, partially upright. This makes your baby feel secure, helps you to read baby’s cues, and helps to prevent the baby from choking during feeding. When the baby’s head is a little higher than the rest of the body this prevents milk from backing up in the inner ear and causing an ear infection. Having the baby's head a little higher than the rest of the body can also help with reflux. Tip the bottle so that milk fills the nipple and air does not get in - to avoid your baby sucking in air and getting gas.

By Dr. Olson Huff