The 7-9 Month Subscription Box - Research and Recommendations
In This Article:
- WASHING YOUR WATER BOTTLE/CUP
- SKIP THE SIPPY
- WEANING OFF BOTTLES: WHEN AND HOW
- WHAT'S NEXT?
WASHING YOUR WATER BOTTLE/CUP
How Often Should You Wash Your Reusable Water Bottle?
Wash your child's water bottle DAILY. Bacteria viruses and fungi thrive in moist warm environments.
Daily washing is ideal for the whole family's water bottles, but is especially important for babies and toddlers, who tend to backwash food particles from their mouths into their straws and cups, creating an even more welcoming environment for mold.[1]
How Often Should You Wash Your Reusable Water Bottle?
Wash your child's water bottle DAILY. Bacteria viruses and fungi thrive in moist warm environments.
Daily washing is ideal for the whole family's water bottles, but is especially important for babies and toddlers, who tend to backwash food particles from their mouths into their straws and cups, creating an even more welcoming environment for mold.[1]
How to Wash Water Bottles To Effectively Kill Germs and Microbes
- Soap thoroughly and make sure water is hot if washing by hand or run all parts through the dishwasher.
- Note: Silicone and stainless steel parts are ok anywhere in the dishwasher and plastic components should be washed on the top rack ONLY.
However you wash, completely disassemble all bottle parts to make sure that mold and mildew have nowhere to hide. This means removing the internal silicone straw if you're using it!
Cleaning Tip- If smoothie or puree sticks to the inside of the silicone straw, simply run it under water and squeeze the straw between your fingers. The friction of the sides of the straw rubbing against itself will clean out any smoothie still attached to the side walls.
SKIP THE SIPPY
Speech therapists and dentists alike recommend skipping over sippy tops and moving straight from bottles to straw tops. [2,3] We’ve designed our straw tops to ease this transition.
The flow controlled straw gives the benefits of a sippy in terms of minimizing messes, but has the straw shape recommended by medical experts. Drinking from straws strengthens the facial and tongue muscles needed for developing mature swallowing and speech patterns.
Speech therapists and dentists alike recommend skipping over sippy tops and moving straight from bottles to straw tops. [2,3] We’ve designed our straw tops to ease this transition.
The flow controlled straw gives the benefits of a sippy in terms of minimizing messes, but has the straw shape recommended by medical experts. Drinking from straws strengthens the facial and tongue muscles needed for developing mature swallowing and speech patterns.
WEANING OFF BOTTLES
When To Wean
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, drinking milk or juice from bottles or sippies during the day can lead to tooth decay. For this reason, the AAP recommends weaning baby off of bottles and sippy cups between 12-24 months. [4] This is still a ways away, but since this is the last subscription box, we wanted to give these tips for transitioning so you'll be ready when the time comes.
How To Wean
When transitioning baby off of bottles, you can simply go cold turkey and offer a small amount of water or milk in the stainless jar as an open cup for your “big kid”. This path requires more supervision.
Another option is to use the Mason Bottle Straw Top. The internal silicone straw is removable if baby is still used to tipping cups/bottles up to get liquid to come out.
Rather than go cold turkey, you can simply reduce the availability of the bottle to mealtimes and bedtimes. And then reduce further from there.
Do not introduce juice in cups as an alternative to milk in bottles. Stick with water or milk in baby’s cup. This will ensure that baby fills up on nutritious foods at mealtime instead of filling up on water, juice or milk in between meals. [5]
When To Wean
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, drinking milk or juice from bottles or sippies during the day can lead to tooth decay. For this reason, the AAP recommends weaning baby off of bottles and sippy cups between 12-24 months. [4] This is still a ways away, but since this is the last subscription box, we wanted to give these tips for transitioning so you'll be ready when the time comes.
How To Wean
When transitioning baby off of bottles, you can simply go cold turkey and offer a small amount of water or milk in the stainless jar as an open cup for your “big kid”. This path requires more supervision.
Another option is to use the Mason Bottle Straw Top. The internal silicone straw is removable if baby is still used to tipping cups/bottles up to get liquid to come out.
Rather than go cold turkey, you can simply reduce the availability of the bottle to mealtimes and bedtimes. And then reduce further from there.
Do not introduce juice in cups as an alternative to milk in bottles. Stick with water or milk in baby’s cup. This will ensure that baby fills up on nutritious foods at mealtime instead of filling up on water, juice or milk in between meals. [5]
WHAT'S NEXT?
Mason Bottle’s First Year Feeding Subscription includes 4 boxes, and you have just received the 4th one!
You do not need to do anything to unsubscribe. We will automatically remove you from the program, and your card will not be charged again.
We are so grateful to have been apart of you and your baby’s life. Thank you for supporting small business.
Mason Bottle’s First Year Feeding Subscription includes 4 boxes, and you have just received the 4th one!
You do not need to do anything to unsubscribe. We will automatically remove you from the program, and your card will not be charged again.
We are so grateful to have been apart of you and your baby’s life. Thank you for supporting small business.
References
[1] Conklin, Lisa Marie. (2021) ‘Here’s How Often You Should Wash Your Reusable Water Bottle’ Reader’s Digest. Available at: https://www.rd.com/article/how-often-wash-reusable-water-bottle/ (Accessed: 16 September, 2021)
[2] Merkel-Walsh, R. (2020). ‘Orofacial myofunctional therapy with children ages 0-4 and individuals with special needs,’ International Journal of Orofacial Myology and Myofunctional Therapy, 46 (1), 22-36. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robyn-Merkel-Walsh/publication/346683670_Orofacial_myofunctional_therapy_with_children_ages_0-4_and_and_individuals_with_special_needs_i/links/5fce8fe5a6fdcc697beb9098/Orofacial-myofunctional-therapy-with-children-ages-0-4-and-and-individuals-with-special-needs-i.pdf (Accessed: 18 September 2021)
[3] American Academy of Pediatric Dentists. (2021) ‘Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Consequences and Preventive Strategies’ American Academy of Pediatric Dentists. Available at: https://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies--recommendations/early-childhood-caries-classifications-consequences-and-preventive-strategies/ (Accessed: 18 September 2021)
[4] ‘Discontinuing the Bottle’ (2011) Healthy Children.org American Academy of Pediatrics. Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Discontinuing-the-Bottle.aspx (Accessed: 6 August 2021)
[5] ‘How to Start Weaning Your Baby Off Bottles and Sippy Cups’ (2020)
Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/say-goodbye-to-bottles-and-sippy-cups/ (Accessed: 6 August 2021)