Can I give my child a sippy cup to help them sleep at night?
A. Don’t nurse your child to sleep or leave a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or sweetened liquid in bed. Any unswallowed liquid in the mouth promotes bacteria growth, which produce acids that attack the teeth. You can protect your child from severe tooth decay by putting him to bed with a pacifier or water. Here are some practical tips to prevent tooth decay associated with bottles: •Encourage your child to drink from a cup around the time of his first birthday. •Don’t let your child fall asleep with a bottle. •Avoid at-will nighttime breast feeding after the teeth begin to erupt. Avoid giving your child juice in a bottle. When you give your child juice, make sure it’s in a cup.
