Some mothers are unable to breastfeed directly for many reasons, such as returning to work or health considerations. As a result, some babies are fed by bottle, either with expressed breast milk or formula milk. Using a bottle to feed them can help to ensure they still receive the nutrients needed for growth and development.

Even so, the convenience of bottle-feeding can come with specific risks for infants.

 

These risks below can increase when babies drink milk from a bottle while they are lying in bed. The comfort of this position often makes babies fall asleep while they are feeding. It may look adorable and they can settle quickly while they are drinking milk, but be mindful of the following risks of feeding with bottles:

 

Babies have very small airways, so they are prone to choking, especially if they drink while they are lying down. In this position, milk can flow faster than the duration of the baby swallowing down the milk. For safety, hold and support your baby during every feeding session. This position allows you to respond immediately to clear the airway if your baby starts to cough or choke.

 

Bedtime bottle-feeding can leave milk pooling in their mouth as your baby sleeps. Any liquid can collect around emerging teeth. Even before they have full teeths eruption, sugar that remains in the mouth increases the risk of tooth decay. These sugars can break down into acids that erode enamel and cause damage.

 

Babies who drink from a bottle in bed have an increased risk of ear infections. A flat, lying position allows fluid to move more easily into the middle ear.

 

Bottle-feeding can make it easier for babies to fall asleep, but it can also create an issue where when they sleep, they will begin to rely on a nipple or pacifier to drift off. Over time, this habit is difficult to break and can complicate weaning.

 

 

Given these risks, introduce a training cup to help your baby practice drinking from a cup. Training cups are designed to support the transition from bottle to cup.

Most babies can start using a training cup at about 6 months of age, along with the introduction of solid foods. Some babies can try one earlier, around 3–4 months old. You can fill a training cup with milk or water to help rinse the mouth after meals, which can increase protection against tooth decay.

After your baby learns to drink milk from a training cup, mouth–hand coordination improves. At that point, your baby becomes more comfortable with the cup and less dependent on the bottle.

 

Experts often recommend a complete switch from bottle to training cup by 1 year of age. This approach helps with weaning and reduces reliance on a bottle for sleep. Before age 2, you can transition to an open cup, because most nutrition will come from solid foods rather than breast milk or formula milk.