PARENTS and carers should avoid putting toddlers to bed with a bottle, with new Australian research linking the practice to childhood obesity and dental decay.
A study published recently in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health found that toddlers who were bottle fed to sleep were nearly twice as likely to develop tooth decay and have excess weight in early childhood.
The research, led by the University of Sydney, analysed data from more than 700 toddlers involved in Western Sydney University’s Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids study. The study revealed that over 30 per cent of children were still being bottle fed to sleep at age two, increasing their risk of obesity.
Those still using a bottle at age three had nearly twice as many teeth affected by cavities.
Lead author Heilok Cheng, a PhD candidate at the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, said many parents were unaware of the risks.
“Australian guidelines recommend introducing cups at six months and stopping bottles at 12 months,” Cheng said. “Bottle feeding in bed is not recommended at any age.”
Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, said the findings reinforced the need for stronger government action on childhood obesity.
“Obesity has overtaken tobacco as the biggest cause of preventable disease burden,” he said. “We need better regulation of toddler food labelling and formula marketing.”
Prof Slevin also called for universal dental care under Medicare, arguing early intervention was critical in preventing childhood tooth decay.