3 common things every parent should stop doing

It is common to see 2 to 3-year-olds still being put to sleep with a bottle of milk. Especially at bedtime.

What most parents don’t know is that prolonged bottle feeding can lead to poorly aligned teeth. Worse, aggressive tooth decay for your babies.

Studies have also shown that bottle-fed toddlers are at a higher risk of developing obesity. It may also affect their interest in solid food as they would be conditioned to suck rather than chew.

It is much better to transition them from bottle to cup feeding early on. Typically between 12 to 18 months. Any delay often makes the transition more difficult for your child.

It’s normal to experience some resistance from your child during the transition but be assured that with consistency and encouragement, your child will be weaned off the bottle in no time.

I’m sure you see this often. Children laser-focused on the TV or iPad while being spoon-fed by a parent.

Children can be easily distracted. They’re in a phase in life where they are curious about almost everything. However, being distracted during mealtime can result in a child having poor appreciation and disinterest in their meals.

Generally, most babies can feed themselves with their fingers by 12 months old, and hold a spoon by 15 to 18 months.

Self-feeding by 18 to 24 months should be actively encouraged. It helps them develop fine motor skills while also exposing their senses to new textures, tastes, and smells.

This simple act can develop a sense of independence. Allowing your children to respond to hunger better and stop eating once they are full.

Self-feeding may take a longer time and can be messy, but it’s an important and rewarding learning experience for your child.

Good dental health starts from baby teeth! Most parents overlook the importance of baby teeth and make the mistake of delaying their child’s first visit to the dentist.

Undetected tooth decay can lead to gum infection and pain. Resulting in urgent dental care and cost. If the decay is severe, it may lead to tooth extraction under general anaesthesia.

The immense headache that can come from this, can be easily prevented by regular dental checks. It’s recommended to schedule your child’s first dental visit 6 months after the eruption of his or her first tooth, or by the time he or she is 1 year old.

Apart from the check-up, you can also get professional advice on maintaining good oral hygiene for your child.

The following article was written by Dr Shemela Appan, our senior consultant and Paediatrician at StarMed. Dr Appan has been a Singapore Ministry of Health accredited paediatrician for the past 39 years, with special interests in children’s growth, puberty, asthma and allergies. She has had 29 years of private paediatric experience as a partner in The Children’s Medical Centre in Bishan. Click here to book an appointment with her today.