Child Drinking Milk From A Baby Bottle....At Almost 5 Years Old  

Hi lelin1123,

Oh he is being 'babied' alright!....but I think it's going too far and is not in his best interests, but then, I'm not his mum. Nope, I haven't said anything to my sister, I don't think she'd take it well. She has more kids than me, BUT, I have worked with children from babies to teenage years for 7 years and have seen alot of children been spoilt rotten, and this didn't do them any good at all. Giving in all the time is not love. I was kind of hoping that the nurse would've frowned upon it, and it would have kind of started the ball rolling as my sister would have commented to me about the nurse saying something like that, and what did I think. I don't want to upset her or claim to be the 'know-it-all'....I'm not, but I can see this from another perspective. I don't think she's doing him any favours in the long run, and he starts school this September. He needs to be weaned off that bottle!

That was very grown up of your grand-daughter and it was rather cute of her to give up her 'bobo' all by herself
Thanks for sharing,

Fiona.

Hi aditya369,

Yes I tend to agree about not taking away the bottle at the same time as the operation - that's enough upset and I'd say he looks for the bottle as a comforter, though he does carry round a comforter towel with him. I'm afraid I have to disagree about the effect a bottle has on the teeth and speech development, as taking a bottle to bed only promotes tooth decay, and the constant sipping/sucking on the teat can inhibit oral-motor muscle development,speech and articulation development.

Here is just one source:
http://www.dentalgentleca...

I also am a firm believer in parents influencing their children, and not the other way round.

Fiona.

hi fmpisces,
yes, i also agree your opinion regarding tooth decay and taking the bottle to bed, well here's one thing, does your sister let him keep his bottle in his mouth all night? if yes, then ask her to take it out of his mouth after he falls asleep, and i have seen this webpage and i have a remedy also, during the day time if the kid is given some gum to chew on or any fruit like apple, pear or carrot, any of these will help him to develop healthy secondary teeth and they will also develop his molars to a good level. eating gum has sets his teeth in the right order also. . but theres one thing as he has this habit for long, after drinking from the bottle he must be given something to eat. as he had his recent operation, chocolate or ice-cream can replace his bottle.

and parents do influence children, the behavior of any kid is the result of the treatment he receives from his parents, but it is for the kids to choose weather to accept the influence of their parents or not, this might not choose now but the choosing is after they grow into teens.

To be honest aditya369,
I don't know if he keeps the bottle by him all night or if my sister removes it. I don't know if she gives him chewing gum but I do know that he'd rather eat sweets thatn fruit. I don't think her kids eat that much healthy stuff, they are quite fussy eaters.Thank you for your suggestions

Hi cream97,

I think that most paediatricians advise bottle weaning around 12 months old.I have looked it up on Google and this seems to be the general concensus amongst the sites I have come across. I think he should have been off the bottle years ago, if he were my child he would be.

Fiona.

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I agree with you both. A child should be off of the bottle by one years old. Which is 12 months old. I did not let my child go past this time. I would start to let them learn how to hold a cup so that they can drink from their sippy cup.

Hi sid556,

I agree wholeheartedly with you. I do think that it's down to not wanting to put up a fight with him. I have to ask myself, who is the parent here? It cannot surely be an 'Irish mentality', I just refuse to believe that because I frequent an Irish parenting forum and have come across similar discussions to mine on there before. Same as for pacifiers, most parents rather wean their children off them at most 2 years old. So I was astonished when the nurse more or less called my nephew a baby. I am all for showing love and protection, but mollycoddling is not going to do him any favours in the long run. You're right; he could be an easy target for bullying as he's too soft.

Fiona.

I'm actually pretty irish and it is not an irish thing for sure. It is a lazy thing. In the end it all works out but it is more painful to the child if it is dragged out to this extent. Most schools will not take kids if they are still on the bottle or in diapers. I have 4 girls that are grown now. Kids are pretty smart. You are your child's best teacher or should be. Kids should know all the basics by the time they start school at age 5 or 6. seriously they should. There is actually an essay done on this subject called Everything I needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten. Look it up and send a copy to your sister. Your nephew is behind.

Just looked it up...and tried to copy and paste. It's called "all I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten. Its a cool read. check it out.

Hi sid556,

Is this it:

http://www.peace.ca/kindergarten.htm

It's nice.

Yep. That is it. I think your sister is holding him back a lot.

Hi bulastika,

Personally I'd be more inclined to say that two years old is old enough to finish with a bottle, but three is far better than at five.

Fiona.

Hi crys7881,

Well I think that's where the issue lies - with my sister. She won't put her foot down and it's not just for that. He started playschool a few months back and dictates to his mother 'when' he is going. She allows it, so it's not helping.

I'd be the first to put my hand up and say that I am strict - to a certain extent anyway, out of love and for wanting the best for my children. They are children, and children need guidance from the adults most prominent in their lives. When they grow up, there'll still be some influential or of 'superiority' to them; a teacher, a boss etc. etc. There will always be rules and regulations to conform to and therefore I don't allow my children to dictate to me, as life is simply not like that. Oh, I know it's all too easy to give in, not listen to the whining for a quiet life. But I agree with you; I'd rather listen to a few days whining than let my child take part in something that's not good for him.

Fiona.

Hi blue65packer,

I agree with you too, I really start to think 'why'?, when I see a child of 4 or 5, even older, with a bottle or soother in their mouth. I think that it's wrong on every level. I do wonder why the parents haven't taken it away....don't they realise that it's not appropriate for their child any more?

Fiona.

Hi Oshy,

Oh mollycoddling it is. I know he's the youngest, but it's just not right! I wanted to say something but I held back. We don't see each other as often as it is. It may not be taken well if I give 'advice'.

Fiona.

Hi qamarep,

I wanted to say something to my sister, but was worried that it may not be intercepted the way I mean it. I also thought that she may not be very accepting of it.That's why I haven't said anything.

Fiona.

Hi Sreekala,

I haven't said anything to her because I don't know if she'll be accepting of it or not. She's a little 'small-minded' at times....and can find it hard to see the 'bigger picture'.I would quite happily say something, very tactfully, if she were to broach the subject with me. I don't think she will though as she seems quite happy babying her youngest son. He won't thank her for it in the long run. I think it's awful to see a big child with a soother or baby bottle as well.

Fiona.