Question: Do you think it is good for a baby (about ten months old) to begin eating regular food and not take a bottle?
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Transition to baby food and cereal usually occurs gradually, once the child is at least three months old. Since regular food is too hard for babies to digest, once your baby is over six months, you may choose to puree food and introduce each food slowly, looking for any intolerance. There is no hard and fast rule on food introduction. We usually wait until children are over 12 months old before substituting regular food.
I don’t think babies should get bottles of milk at night. Juices and milk at night are a major cause of severe dental caries in young children. If you must use a bottle at night, use plain water.
Do not give regular milk to children under one year of age. Regular milk (not reduced fat or fat free) may be given to children older than one year. Reduced fat milk (also called “two percent”) may not be used until the child is over two years of age since children need the added fat for normal growth and development.
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