What to Know
As a parent, I have to remind myself at least once a day that different parents do things in different ways, and that it’s OK. But after a mom on TikTok posted a video of her almost five-year-old using a bottle, other moms weren’t so generous with their mindfulness of other moms and what works for their families.
The mom who posted the video, Chantel Moorhouse, wrote in the caption that the bottle makes her son so happy. But other moms commented to share their thoughts immediately. Some shamed Chantel for allowing her son to use a bottle, while others pointed out how they think it’s a practice that might be harmful to healthy teeth development. Overall, though, people just had a lot to say.
The mom admits that it’s probably time to take away the bottle.
@chantelmoorhouse_ he told me they make him happy so how can I possibly take it away?? #MomsofTikTok #nevergrowup #toddlersoftiktok ♬ original sound – mark.payton.tiktok
In Chantel’s TikTok, she shows her son using a bottle while relaxing on a chair watching TV. She wrote on the screen, “He turns 5 next week. Is it time to take the bottle away?” In the caption, she added, “He told me they make him happy so how can I possibly take it away??” This, of course, caused a barrage of comments from parents and even non-parents about the dangers of using bottles, and even pacifiers, for too long.
“As a special educator, this is another example of parents not doing the challenging parts of parenting,” one user commented. “Give him what he wants to keep him quiet…He should have great coping skills in kindergarten.”
Another snarky user wrote, “Is he potty trained yet? Or will that wait till third grade?”
“Oh boy, this was brave to post,” someone else commented on the video.
Another user shared a photo of a child’s teeth with a pronounced overbite due to prolonged use of pacifiers and bottles. Most of the people in the comments were quick with their criticisms, even if Chantel has her reasons for using the bottle with her son.
A TikTok user added, “as a pediatric dentistry worker Thank you for supporting my job security.”
She explained how he uses the bottle at five years old.
@chantelmoorhouse_ will this be his last one??? 🍼
♬ Happy Birthday – Jovanie
Chantel posted another video, this time of her son’s fifth birthday party. Sure enough, there’s a bottle on the table with the rest of the decorations. But Chantel was unwilling to just back down from the internet hate she received for the bottle for her older child.
She even shows in the video that the top of the nipple of the bottle is completely cut off, meaning he doesn’t suck on it like a standard bottle. It seems to be more of a comfort thing that she is having a tough time breaking for her son.
When someone commented on that video to say that Chantel’s son should be drinking from “an open cup” by now, she responded, “The nipple is basically an open cup at this point haha.”
And, another user added, this time i n support of Chantel and her son, given the way the bottle’s nipple was clipped, “I don’t blame him one bit. Cup with a lid that you can drink while relaxing. Why not!”
Cutting the tip of a nipple of a bottle or even a pacifier, little by little, is a solid way to slowly wean your child off of those. That seems to be what Chantel has done and is still working on doing.
She posted a response video.
@chantelmoorhouse_ goo goo ga ga 🍼 asking for a friend
♬ The Tide Is High – Radio Mix – Atomic Kitten
Chantel posted another response video after she received the initial hate from other people on the internet. In it, she asks is 34 is “too old” to also drink from a bottle. Then, she and a friend sip from their own bottles. Clearly, she has no issue with other parents’ problems with her parenting style.
And, although she did defend herself in the comments of multiple videos, she hasn’t let the negativity get to her so much that she took down any of the videos about her five-year-old and her bottle. So you have to give her a little credit there, at least.
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