What the experts say...
Please contact us for further details or copies of the research.
- Oral health experts at NSW Health and Queensland Health recommend teaching a baby to drink from a cup from 6 months old and say that babies who continue to use a bottle after 12 months are more likely to get tooth decay, ear infections (from lying down while drinking) and iron deficiency (from too much milk and not enough variety in their diet).
Drink from a cup.pdf and Preventing infant tooth decay.pdf
- The Australian Dental Association says babies should stop drinking from a bottle by nine moths to avoid Early Childhood Caries - tooth decay which can have a devastating effect on milk teeth and lead to fillings or teeth being removed under general anaesthetic.
www.ada.org.au/babiesandinfants.aspx
- The UK Department of Health says cups should be introduced from six months old and bottles should be 'actively discouraged' from one.
'Weaning & the Weaning Diet' Department of Health, London HMSO*
- The British Dietetic Association, found links between iron deficiency anaemia and prolonged use of bottle feeding. Iron is only found in small quantities in milk. But lean red meat is a particularly good source of dietary iron, which is why it is important to develop good chewing skills. Iron deficiency anemia has been associated with poor weight gain, poor appetite, recurrent mild infections and behavioral problems. Toddlers who sip on drinks throughout the day, can also be reluctant to eat at mealtimes.
'Change to cup' an audit to determine parental awareness and practices in changing from bottle to cup' Avery and Baxter 2001*
- UK's National Oral Health Promotion Group found non-spill cups encouraged sipping drinks throughout the day and long-term use of trainer cups may lead to tooth decay if sweetened drinks are added. It warned that a child who moves from a bottle to cup with a teat or spout is still sucking and has not learnt to 'drink'. Speech therapists believe the strong sucking action may delay the normal development of the tongue and jaw muscles leading to possible speech difficulties.
'The use of no-spill design feeder/trainer cups' April 2003*
