Is it Bad for Baby to Sleep with a Bottle?

 By: Evelyne Martel

As I sought to answer this question, I found that the answer of "No" seemed to be everywhere but the "Why" was rather lacking. Article after article stated that children should not be put to sleep with a bottle, but all these mentions were 2 to 3 lines in passing while discussing other parenting topics. So I thought I'd compile a few articles to get a clearer understanding of why babies should not be put to sleep with a bottle.

The Baby Center states that "giving your baby a bottle of milk in his cot can be an easy way to get him to sleep. However, leaving a bottle in your sleeping baby's mouth isn't a good idea for several reasons. It can lead your baby to expect more bottles at night and can cause tooth decay. Letting your baby drink his bottle lying down can also increase his risk of ear infections

So, what is tooth decay and how can it be prevented? The Parent Fact Sheet on Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, from Rotunda Hospital, has this to say about tooth decay. "Baby bottle tooth decay, also known as early childhood caries, is when cavities or decay form in baby teeth. Decay develops when a child's teeth and gums are in prolonged contact with almost any liquid other than water - such as formula, milk (including breast milk), juice, soft drinks, sugared water, etc. This happens because the sugars found in those liquids (natural or added) are changed to acid by germs in the mouth. The acid then starts to dissolve the teeth, especially the upper front teeth, causing them to decay. The longer those liquids are in contact with the teeth and gums, the more acid the bacteria produce and the more damaged the teeth become. The damage can be very severe but it is entirely preventable.

To prevent tooth decay, avoid letting your baby sleep with a bottle of formula or your breast in her mouth. The constant source of natural sugar provides food for the acid producing germs and can be very damaging to his/her developing teeth. After feeding, remove the bottle or take her off of the breast. They should not remain in her mouth while she sleeps. In addition only give your baby a bottle during meals. Do not use the bottle as a pacifier or allow your child to walk around with it. This puts her at risk for baby bottle tooth decay, as the germs love the constant source of natural sugars. She also risks injury if she falls while sucking on the bottle."

Ok that seems fairly intuitive. We do after all brush our own teeth before bed to prevent cavities. Now what about the second claim that taking a bottle to bed might cause ear infections? This one seems to me a bit more farfetched. Well here is what expert Robin O'Brian has to say about ear infections.

 

"Ear infection from feeding usually comes about by milk flowing into the baby's ear, where the warmth of the ear combined with the wetness and sugar of the milk provide a perfect breeding ground for germs. This is true for both breast milk and formula milk. However the mother's nipple is wonderfully designed, so that milk will only flow when the baby sucks. Thus, there is less chance of breast milk running down into the child's ear during feeding. Bottle nipples, however, aren't so well designed, and it is quite easy for milk to leak out of the nipple even when the child has stopped sucking. This is what makes ear infections more prevalent in formula fed babies rather than those fed on breast milk; it has nothing to do with the milk but everything to do with the mechanics.

 

Therefore, if you are feeding your baby formula milk you must pay a little more attention to prevent ear infection. First thing to be aware of is that formula milk, unlike breast milk, is a foreign substance and usually contains higher level of sugar; remember warmth, dampness and sugar are what germs thrive on. Also, even when feeding baby in a sitting position, it is still possible for milk to find its way into the baby's ear, so get a look out for this. Most importantly, never leave the bottle in the baby's mouth over long periods of time, allowing the baby to feed itself. This is a practice that is often done by some mothers when putting baby to bed. You're your baby is unsupervised; it is quite easy for milk to enter the ear."

 

Finally, here are some great tips about how to hold baby during feeding.

1. You may be comfortable feeding your baby while sitting in a rocking chair or an armchair. Put a pillow under your arm for support. Gently wrap your arm around your baby's upper body, supporting his head with your arm. Be sure your baby's upper body is higher than his lower body. This will help prevent ear infections.
2. You may need to help your baby open his mouth to grasp the nipple. Do this by stroking the nipple against his cheek near his mouth. To stop your baby from swallowing air, hold the bottle so that liquid fills the bottle neck and covers the nipple.
3. Look into your baby's eyes, talk to, and smile at him during feedings. He will learn to look forward to having your full attention during this special time.
4. Do not prop a bottle in your baby's mouth. Your baby could choke on the nipple, or on the formula or breast milk.
5. Do not let your baby lie down feeding himself with a bottle. Your baby may choke and not have anyone to help him. Your baby is also at a higher risk of getting an ear infection if he is lying flat on his back while drinking. The liquid may flow into his middle ear and cause an infection.
6. Do not let your baby sleep with a bottle. If your baby falls asleep while drinking, liquid will pool around his teeth, and may cause tooth decay and cavities. Teeth with cavities will be painful and may break off.