Prolonged bottle use negatively impacts jawbone and tooth development. Most dental malocclusions seen in oral clinics are linked to extended pacifier use. Additionally, persistent sucking compresses the upper palate and tongue, pushing teeth backward during development.
After age one, a critical period for dental development and language acquisition, continued bottle use may cause speech articulation issues. Therefore, parents are advised to gradually train their child to drink from a cup starting around 10 months old until bottle weaning is complete.
1. Gradually phase out the bottle. Initially, replace the bottle with a sippy cup to ease the transition. This prevents emotional distress from abrupt weaning, which can lead to feeding difficulties or insufficient intake. Offer encouragement like, "You're growing up—time for a big kid cup!"
2. Transition from sippy cup to regular cup. Limit sippy cup use to no longer than two months. After two months, if the baby still struggles with a regular cup, switch to a straw cup. Using a straw encourages the tongue to extend forward, helping the tongue and teeth align properly.
3. If bottle-feeding is necessary, gradually dilute the milk to help the child notice the taste change until they voluntarily give up the bottle.
4. After age one, begin practicing with a cup. Plastic cups with handles are suitable. By age two, most children can drink independently.