New Australian research has reinforced the risks of putting toddlers to sleep with a bottle, linking the habit to tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain in early childhood.

Published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the study analysed data from over 700 toddlers as part of Western Sydney University’s Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids (HSHK) study. The findings highlight why parents and caregivers should transition away from bedtime bottle feeding.

Key Findings:

• More than 30% of toddlers were still being bottle-fed to sleep at age two.
• Toddlers who were bottle-fed to sleep at age two were nearly twice as likely to be overweight in early childhood.
• At age three, toddlers who continued bedtime bottle feeding had almost twice as many decayed teeth compared to those who didn’t.

Experts say that while parents often use a bottle to soothe their child at bedtime, they may not realise the long-term health risks.

Heilok Cheng, lead author and PhD candidate at the University of Sydney’s Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, explains:

“Australian recommendations advise parents to start introducing cups at 6 months of age and stop using baby bottles at 12 months. Bottle feeding in bed is not recommended at any age. Our research now provides a much more robust evidence base for that advice.”

Many common toddler drinks, such as milk and formula, contain natural or added sugars. When given at bedtime, these sugars can linger on the teeth, increasing the risk of cavities. Additionally, bottle feeding before sleep is often used as a comfort tool rather than a response to hunger, which can contribute to overeating and weight gain.

“We need to do more to support families and help them avoid getting into the habit of putting a child or baby to bed with a bottle, so that our future generations are set up with a healthy future from the start.”

Public health experts say this research highlights the need for broader efforts to combat childhood obesity and improve access to dental care.

Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, emphasises the urgency of the issue:

“Recently obesity has overtaken tobacco as Australia’s biggest cause of preventable disease burden. Around one in four Australian children have overweight and obesity in this country is a slow-moving public health crisis.

“We need the next Federal Government to take comprehensive action to help all Australians maintain a healthy weight. This includes better regulation of toddler food labels and formula marketing to help parents make informed choices.

“With many children at risk of dental cavities, we are also asking the next Government to include dental care in Medicare – so that all Australians, no matter their background, can all afford a healthy smile. It’s important that all children can see a dentist early to identify and treat tooth decay as soon as possible, before it gets worse.”

What Parents Can Do

• To help protect your child’s dental and overall health, experts recommend:
  Transitioning to a cup by 12 monthsto phase out bottle use.
  Avoiding bottles at bedtime—if your child needs comfort, try other soothing routines like cuddling, reading, or gentle music.
  Encouraging water after brushing instead of milk or formula to prevent sugar from staying on the teeth overnight.
  Booking regular dental check-ups early on to catch any signs of decay before they worsen.

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