Bottle feeding toddlers to sleep linked to dental decay and excess weight
Parents and carers should avoid using a bottle to put toddlers to sleep, say experts, after new research reveals the practice is linked to dental cavities and overweight in early childhood.
The research, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, (opens in a new window) was led by the University of Sydney, using data from over 700 toddlers involved in Western Sydney University’s Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids (HSHK) study – a cohort study that followed children from birth.
Researchers analysed the results of a survey of mothers, as well as dental checks and body measurements and considered other factors that could influence dental hygiene and weight.
The authors found that:
- More than 30 percent of children were still bottle fed to sleep at two years old;
- Children who were bottle fed to sleep at two years old were almost twice as likely to have overweight in early childhood;
- Children who were bottle fed to sleep at three years old had nearly twice as many teeth affected by tooth decay in early childhood.
University of Sydney lead author, and PhD candidate in the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Heilok Cheng, says that parents and carers want to do the right thing but may not be aware of the health risks of bottle feeding before naps and at bedtime.
“Australian recommendations advise parents to start introducing cups at 6 months of age and stop using baby bottles at 12 months. Bottle feeding in bed is not recommended at any age. Our research now provides a much more robust evidence base for that advice.
“Common toddler drinks, including cow’s milk and formula, often contain either natural or added sugars, increasing the risk of tooth decay. When a bottle is offered at bedtime it’s often being used by carers to calm an unsettled child or encourage the child to drift off to sleep. Because the bottle isn’t being offered in response to hunger, it can lead to overfeeding, putting children at risk of unhealthy weight gain.
“We need to do more to support families and help them avoid getting into the habit of putting a child or baby to bed with a bottle, so that our future generations are set up with a healthy future from the start.”
The findings offer a timely reminder of why governments should take comprehensive action to help reduce childhood obesity, as well as the potential benefits of introducing universal dental care.
The Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids (HSHK) Cohort study is led by Associate Professor Amit Arora from Western Sydney University in collaboration with Sydney Local Health District, South Western Sydney Local Health District, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of Technology Sydney, and Curtin University.
The HSHK study is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, NSW Health, Australian Dental Research Foundation, and Oral Health Foundation.
'Bottle feeding to sleep beyond 12 months is associated with higher risk of tooth decay and overweight in Australian children: Findings from the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids cohort study' (opens in a new window) was published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
ENDS
21 March 2025
Photo credit: Jaye Haych on Unsplash
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