PARENTS and carers should avoid using a bottle to put toddlers to sleep, experts have warned, after new research linked the practice to dental cavities and overweight in early childhood.
Using data from over 700 toddlers, researchers analysed survey results from mothers, child dental checks and body measurements, as well as other factors that could affect dental hygiene and weight.
They found that more than 30% of children were still bottle fed to sleep at two years old, and were twice as likely to be overweight, while those still bottle fed at three years old had almost twice as many teeth affected by tooth decay.
Parents are advised to introduce cups at six months of age, stop using baby bottles at 12 months, and not to bottle feed to sleep at any age.
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