Toddlers and preschoolers using bottles and pacifiers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what I can't stand? People who aren't me. Because I do everything perfectly and never, ever take any kind of shortcut or compromise with my kid. Given how great a mom (and person) I am and all the fabulous things I do for my children (and the world) it's amazing that I even have time to think about how other people should be more like me, but I manage to fit it in to my busy schedule.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

[Anonymous]

I think the first few posts and then all the subsequent posts slamming the use of a pacifier and bottle are from the same person. Most posters on this site could care less what other moms do, esp. on topics of greater significance. I find it hard to believe that all of a sudden , they give a cr*p about bottles and pacifiers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I agree, I think it's really ridiculous, especially the bottles because of the risk of cavities.

bottles do not cause cavities. Not brushing your childs teeth causes cavities. Baby bottle syndrom is caused by a bottle full of milk, or formula that a child sleeps with. A bottle of water will not cause damage to a childs teeth, may even help protect from cavities if there is fluoride in the water. Who cares how long a child needs their paci or bottle. Do what you want with your child and mind your own damn business

Dude, stop making excuses and rationalizations and be a parent. Your child is not going to offer to give up his bottle.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised no one has brought up yet the most important thing about all of this: NO BABY should EVER have a bottle, period. How about that for a judgemental viewpoint?! Bottles contain subpar sustenance, and they teach the baby an inferior way of suckling which in turn hinders the growth of their jaw and facial musculo-skeletal structures. It's true, just ask La Leche League. There's also people who believe that no child should EVER have a pacifier, either, as it can interfere with breastfeeding.

OP, get off your high horse. There's a hundred other opinions (and valid ones, at that) besides yours, which include strong views in both directions from yours.

[Anonymous]

To take a break from snipping back and forth, can I ask an honest question? I may sound like an idiot, but this has gotten me to wondering why extended nursing is so PC and delayed bottle weaning is so abhorred? I nurse my 1 year old and would most likely have stopped if she wouldn't be very, very upset about it. I'm sure people whose children still use bottles past 1 do so for the same reason. Just wondering out loud...

[Anonymous]

I still can't understand why anyone cares what other people's kids do with regard to bottles or pacis, let alone why these choices inspire words like "disgusting." Why the visceral reaction? I think your time would be better spent examining why you care so much what other people do. How can you possible justify being so judgmental? I think it's sad, and pathetic--and I speak as someone who has no dog in this fight. DC doesn't walk around with bottles or pacis, but when I see older kids with them, I assume their parents have their reasons. Truly, how does it affect me? It doesn't. And it doesn't affect you either when you see a kid wandering the supermarket with a bottle. I think people who spend time worrying about the choices of others do so because they are deeply insecure about their own. That goes for you, especially, mommy who wants all kids toilet trained at 2.

[maynie]

Anonymous wrote:I still can't understand why anyone cares what other people's kids do with regard to bottles or pacis, let alone why these choices inspire words like "disgusting." Why the visceral reaction? I think your time would be better spent examining why you care so much what other people do. How can you possible justify being so judgmental? I think it's sad, and pathetic--and I speak as someone who has no dog in this fight. DC doesn't walk around with bottles or pacis, but when I see older kids with them, I assume their parents have their reasons. Truly, how does it affect me? It doesn't. And it doesn't affect you either when you see a kid wandering the supermarket with a bottle. I think people who spend time worrying about the choices of others do so because they are deeply insecure about their own. That goes for you, especially, mommy who wants all kids toilet trained at 2.

This is exactly what I was thinking.

[Anonymous]

You know, I really like the 10:14 post. DS is 11 months, and I have noticed that when I see him sitting on the floor holding his bottle I have an inexplicable negative reaction -- and I don't know where it comes from. I can't think of any rational reason. We still nurse, and will til he signals he is ready to wean, and I have no weird feelings about this, so I also found the post that pointed out the double-standard about what is fashionable now to be interesting. DS will probably happily move to a sippy cup for his milk and we'll probably start that now because knowing him, it won't be a struggle for him -- he is ready, has facility with the sippy for water, and has always been easy about breast vs bottle etc. (An easy sleeper however he is NOT. Sigh.) But if he were not ready (either physically or in terms of what his security needs were) I wouldn't want my own discomfort to take over the decision about whether to continue using bottles. It was just so surprising to me that I felt that little "yuck" seeing him sitting with his bottle when I otherwise feel like such a hippy dippy mommy. I guess it's not so easy to avoid absorbing cultural messages.

[Anonymous]

This is the meanest, most judgemental thread that I've read on DCUM in a long time. Boo!

[madymama]

Not every parent does thing the same and not every pediatrician thinks or recommends the same. I think there are basics in terms of health and such but judging others on how they parent when it is obvious they love and care for their children is excessive and a bit ignorant too...

What a pediatrician will tell you here is very different than what a pediatrician will tell you n Europe. We are just back from Europe and babies as young as 6 months old there eat fish, yogurts and other things that wold not be recommended here.

Tooth decay comes when a child is allowed to suckle on the bottle for ages because the milk (which contains sugar) lingers in the mouth... It is a different story if te child drinks and is done with it...

Anyway, only my two cents... Remember that there isn't only one way to do things and that other parents may good parents too, even if they do not do it your way.

[Anonymous]

I think the fact that the OP is concerned with how Posh Spice or Katie Cruise raise their children is a problem. I am sure if you look close enough at your own family you will find imperfections. How about we worry about our own shortcomings instead of focusing on others. This board is a medium for giving eachother advice not (out of nowhere) slamming people for what you consider unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

while this may or may not be true I think that many of these things-pacis, bottles, toilet training etc are often difficult milestones and perhaps parents who allow them past whatever is acceptable are looked upon as lazy. It is easier to leave things alone, not rock the boat so to speak as opposed to putting in the effort in transitoning the child to the next "level"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the meanest, most judgemental thread that I've read on DCUM in a long time. Boo!

I have been visiting this site for a few weeks now - it cracks me up! There are so many self-righteous people out there...........I think its a handful of people who are addicted to this site and love venting on it because they have nothing better to do and/or have a lot of pent-up resentment and hostility toward other mothers, etc. I have to say I am very entertained. But I do feel sorry for the few that come on looking for advice or support and get flamed or ridiculed.

[Anonymous]

Okay - so here is some advice. TAKE the paci and the bottle away when your DC is old enough to self-soothe and drink from a sippy cup. YOU are the parent and you are responsible for teaching your child independence and confidence. I really don't care what you do with your kid, but if I see a 3 or 4yo in public with a paci or bottle, my opinion is that it DOES look ridiculous. You want people with this opinion to not worry about what your DC is doing, so why are you so worried about others opinion on your DC?

[Anonymous]

I really don't care what you do with your kid, but if I see a 3 or 4yo in public with a paci or bottle, my opinion is that it DOES look ridiculous.

I am the PP with the DC who has food allergies that still drinks from the bottle. Perhaps it is b/c I have so many additional things to consider in a day to keep my son healthy and safe then most people, but really....who gives a crap if other people don't act exactly as YOU believe is right?

Come on.....the group think mentality on this board is so way out of control. I really think all of the judgmental people on this board need something more productive to focus on.