Growth and Development Q 4
The mother of a three (3)-year-old is concerned because her child still is insisting on a bottle at nap time and bedtime. Which of the following is the most appropriate suggestion to the mother?
A. Do not allow the child to have the bottle
B. Allow the bottle during naps but not at bedtime
C. Allow the bottle if it contains juice
D. Allow the bottle if it contains water
Correct Answer: D. Allow the bottle if it contains water
It is recommended that parents should wean their children off the bottle at 15-18 months of age. But If a bottle is still attached to the child at 3 years of age during naptime or bedtime, it should contain only water to prevent the risk of dental caries.
Option A: Generally, the last bottle to stop should be the nighttime bottle. That bottle tends to be a part of the bedtime routine and is the one that most provides comfort to babies. If you keep getting asked for a bottle, find out what the child really needs or wants and offer that instead.
Option B: As the parent weans the baby from the bottle, try diluting the milk in the bottle with water. For the first few days, fill half of it with water and half of it with milk. Then slowly add more water until the entire bottle is water. By that time, it’s likely that the child will lose interest and be asking for the milk that comes in a cup.
Option C: A toddler should never be allowed to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, juice, soda, or sweetened water because frequent and long exposure to drinks containing sugar may cause tooth decay and cavities.