Weaning off breast and bottle

Question

if you can breast feed a baby for a year and beyond why do health experts recommend trying to give up the bottle by the first birthday. surely bottle fed babies need the comfort of sucking too

Answer 1

breast milk is full of naturaly stuff, it changes as the baby/child grows. feeding a child this way laos has health benafits for mum. the breast is soft in the mouth unlike some teats so any dental or gum distortion is reduced.. it is also a just in case thing by the health departments. some parents will feed sugary drinks to their kids in a bottle with teat which is not healthy for the child..

I'd guess it was for this reason..

also cow milk is fully digestable by 12 months so the need for formula is reduced and a child over the age of 1 can drink from a feed cup if not a baker.....

Comfort suckling.. they have their thumbs? also a dental issue but natural  

Answer 2

replace one feed with a bottle of expressed milk so-on-so-forth,babies use different muscles in there mouth when they feed off breast to when they do to bottle....once they realise they dont have to do as much work with a bottle they will prob take easily to a bottle..im currenttly weaning my son onto soilids after 3 days when i put the spoon infront of him he opend his mouth its hard work but its fun and rewarding good look

Answer 3

Possibly one reason is because the sucking is different.

Suckling at the breast helps the jaw muscle develop, this in turn helps with speech.

Suckling on a bottle is not the same.

EDIT - haha, I completely forgot about cavities, see what happens when I nurse and answer questions at the same time!

Answer 4

Once children have teeth, using bottles, especially at bedtime, can lead to cavities. If your child drinks anything other than water after you have brushed his teeth before bed, you should brush his teeth again. Sugars from milk, formula or juice left in the mouth while sleeping can cause cavities.

Yes it is true that children have a strong desire to suck, some, up until the age of 3. When your child has a cold or cough, he may ask for a bottle because it is comforting and familiar to him. Try to be flexible.  It is also common for a toddler to be reluctant to give up the last bottle-feeding before bedtime. Toddlers like routines, and the bedtime bottle is often part of a soothing bedtime ritual that includes cuddling with mom or dad. Don't be surprised if it takes several months to wean your child completely off the bottle.