[Jess1983]

DD is nearly 11 months. Our bed routine is bath time, sometimes a story, a bottle then bed. Lately she's been hard to settle even though she's tired. We used to feed her downstairs on the couch then take her up to bed. But we're thinking there's too many distractions (tv, toys, us!) so we've moved bottle time upstairs to her room. A couple of times DH and I have lay her in the cot and fed her the bottle there (we hold it for her and take it when she's done). When she's finished she usually just rolls over and goes to sleep. Just wondering if this ok? And if it's not, why? Or should we keep feeding her in our arms and transfer her to the cot when she's done and persist with the patting and shushing to settle her.She's also starting child care next week so I'm worried this will affect her settling at bed time. Any advice would be appreciated!TIA

[Miss Kiwi]

I can't see why this would be an issue as you aren't actually feeding to sleep. She is awake when finished and then falls asleep on her own. If she was actually falling asleep while drinking the bottle then I would say that night not be the best idea.

[Meplusmoo]

I have been doing this the last few nights with my 5 month old DD as she also doesn't settle well if I do it any other way. But once the bottles finished I pull it out and before she can cry the dummy is in. This doesn't work if I'm holding her as she wants to be up right in my arms and looking around.

I don't see a problem with it really. I am big against leaving a bottle in the cot for them to have when they feel like or even them holding it and you walking away. But if you're holding it and taking it as soon as she is finished I think it's fine.

[lucky 2]

If you look at formula/bottle feeding as a substitute for the breast (which it is) then it would be better to get your baby up and cuddle her close when she is having a bottle, just as you would if she is breast feeding. There might also be physical reasons to avoid this practice but this is just one thing to consider.
All the best.

[KRT]

Does she have teeth? I try to BF DS, then brush teeth, then bed.

It doesn't sound like you're likely to be setting up a sleep association problem, and it sounds nice and peaceful for all of you. I'd just want to think a little about her teeth and that part of the routine. Maybe it's not something to do every night.

[Stan the Fan Man]

In terms of sleep routines I don't think it's a problem if it works for you, but it's not great for teeth- lots of sugar (from the lactose) in milk which then stays in the mouth if you don't brush their teeth straight after. This can lead to early childhood caries/milk cavities.

It's harder to break the association as your LO gets older, it seems, so maybe for that reason try to do so at some point?

[Jess1983]

Thanks!
Yes she has two teeth and I hadn't thought about that.

[Phascogale]

In terms of sleep routines I don't think it's a problem if it works for you, but it's not great for teeth- lots of sugar (from the lactose) in milk which then stays in the mouth if you don't brush their teeth straight after. This can lead to early childhood caries/milk cavities.

That is a very good point. It's not just the lactose that's the issue but rather the fructose and sucrose that you will find is in there as well (it will be hidden and in things like corn syrup - so you will have no idea).

The issue with bottle feeding is that the milk will pool around the teeth and stay there.

Does she have teeth? I try to BF DS, then brush teeth, then bed.

If you breastfeed this is much less of an issue because the milk is deposited at the back of the mouth and misses the teeth.

Also there was a study done (haven't got time to look it up) and with breastfeeding, if the teeth are clean then there is very low risk of caries in feeding to sleep as the lactose isn't an issue ie brush teeth before bed and nothing else but you can bf afterwards (and overnight). The problem is other foods (with all sorts of other sugars in them) and then breastfeeding to sleep without brushing first.