[Enudely]

my friend says her dentist told her that her child (age 2.75)will have cavities if she nurses him to sleep. It's causing lots of sleep problems with them. Do you nurse your toddler to sleep?

 

[LilMama23]

I do nurse DD to sleep; I always have. She can't fall asleep any other way.
I'm not sure about the cavities thing.

 

[SMR]

I nurse to sleep, can't imagine her sleeping without it! I read somewhere about wiping their teeth while they sleep to clean them?? Not sure how well that would work.. seems like it'd wake them up?

 

[lyttlewon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enudely my friend says her dentist told her that her child (age 2.75)will have cavities if she nurses him to sleep. It's causing lots of sleep problems with them. Do you nurse your toddler to sleep?

I used to and there is nothing wrong with my DD's teeth. Crap I don't even brush them every day

:

Does this help?

 

[alegna]

We do nurse to sleep often. BUT breastmilk alone has been shown to not cause cavities. Brush well to get all other food off and don't worry is my philosophy.

-Angela

 

[Lula's Mom]

My kids are 2 and 5.5, and both have always nursed to sleep. Both have excellent teeth, no cavities. We brush well before bed. Actually I expect the antibacterial properties of breastmilk to protect their clean teeth, not cause cavities.

 

[Cardinal]

we nurse to sleep. ds is 22 months.

 

[transylvania_mom]

and my ds has cavities. I went to different doctors and they told me to night wean. I don't think nursing alone causes cavities, genetics and other foods contribute too. My son wouldn't drink juice, eat candy, however he had to go through surgery to fix his cavities at 20 months of age. He still nurses, but only during the day.

 

[NamastePlatypus]

yes, and alllll night. He is 23 monthes.

 

[dawncayden]

Yes. We brush twice a day though. It was once a day, and then I noticed some brownish spots on his teeth, and ever since it was twice and really well brushing, the bron spots have vanished.

Dawn

 

[momuveight2B]

yes, no cavities and I nurse to sleep past four years of age

 

[esmlranch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NamastePlatypus yes, and alllll night. He is 23 monthes.

lol us too. ds is 21 months

 

[JAL]

yes, we nurse to sleep. Seems to work well for us.
dd just turned 14 mo.

 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Yep nursed my dd to sleep till she weaned at 32 months and still nursing my ds to sleep 28 months. Bfing alone does NOT cause cavaties. I think the slight risk is worth the many benifits of nursing. My ds lost his top 4 teeth they came in with weak enamal and they just chipped away and had to be pulled back in december. I got the same crap about night weaning my ds then

: I will not.

This is a great article http://www.hpakids.org/holistic-heal...Cause-Cavities please read it and print it out for your friend.

 

[Rikki Gard]

At 26 months mine nurses to sleep and several times a night. We brush 1 time, before bed, but he does it. He has great teeth, no cavities. I think at that age it has a lot to do with genetics, but he does drink fluoride water.

 

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Quote:

do you nurse to sleep?

Yes when dd wakes in the night i nurse her back to sleep, and will more than likey do this till she decides to wean

 

[Codi's Mama]

Yes, we nurse to sleep and all night long.

 

[Igraine]

Sometimes I nurse her to sleep. Not every night though.

And dd brushes her teeth at least once a day, sometimes more if she sees her toothbrush!

 

[fuzzypeach]

I nurse 22 month old dd to sleep at night and for naps, and often while she is asleep too... I try and make sure to brush her teeth before both though as I have read it is other foods in combination with breastmilk cause the cavities.

 

[skg_7]

We've been nursing Jonah to sleep and throughout the night all his life (24 months old now), and whille we haven't had his teeth checked yet for cavities, I don't see any evidence of them. However, his teeth are very yellow and I do have some concerns.

I wonder if it's possible that some women's breastmilk contains more sugars or other substances that might eat away at tooth enamel?? I don't know.