Doctors Explain Dangers of Prolonged Bottle Use

Well-Worth 5 Minutes

Doctors Explain Dangers of Prolonged Bottle Use

Helping protect children from tooth decay, iron deficiency and obesity is all within the hands of willing and capable physicians, according to a study published in the July 12, 2010 edition of Pediatrics.

Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children found that family doctors and pediatricians who, at 9-month well-baby visits offered a brief discussion of the dangers of prolonged bottle use, experienced a 60 percent drop in the number of children still using bottles at 3 years old.

That, according to Jonathon Maguire, M.D., a pediatrician at St. Michael’s and the lead author of the study, was a profound return on investment for 5 minutes of education.

Most of the babies whose parents received the advice stopped using the bottle by their first birthday, compared to 16 months for babies whose parents received no instruction, Dr. Maguire said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends complete bottle weaning for healthy children by 15 months, but many doctors and parents are unaware of this, Dr. Maguire said. Many parents continue bottle feeding well past that time, even until their children are 3 or 4 years old.

“This shows it’s possible for health professionals to positively influence the health behaviour of young children before they develop unhealthy habits and will hopefully lead to healthier children and healthier adults that they become.”