Babies off bottle at 9 months

There is an article on CNN about how to wean a baby from a bottle at 9 months. Some doctors say if you wait longer than 9 months, it is much harder to get rid of the bottle. Luckily, I don't have that issue. But I do have another issue. He sucks his thumb! Yikes! I am hoping I don't have to wean him from that! I have heard a lot of moms talk about how they can't get their 2-year old to stop taking the bottle. It is soothing to them. I guess if a 9 month old will take a sippy cup, it's a good idea. What do you think?

The study appears in Monday's edition of the journal Pediatrics.

From CNN:
Dr. Jonathon Maguire of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada and his colleagues followed 201 children until they were 2 years old and found a 60 percent reduction in prolonged bottle use when doctors made a point of raising the subject at the 9-month checkup.

Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is not easy to repair, according to Dr. Martha Ann Keels, a pediatric dentist and surgeon at Duke University. It can require putting a very young child under general anesthesia, at a cost of thousands of dollars. In many cases, that's the only way to keep the baby still enough to drill out cavities, says Keels, who's also a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Parents may give their babies a bottle in bed because it soothes and helps the little one (as well as parents) get some sleep. Breastfeeding moms may allow their babies to suckle throughout the night for the same reason.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

What if you could look younger? Soderstrom Skin Institute was one of the first medical facilities to offer laser services in Central Illinois 20 years ago and today provides one of the most comprehensive laser treatment programs available. Call 674-7546 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION today!