Should i drop the bedtime milk bottle to protect my toddler's teeth?

[Isabella_H]

My 18-month-old has been on a whole milk bottle before naps and bed since he turned one, but our new pediatrician is really pushing us to drop it. She says the milk sitting on his teeth all night is a big cavity risk, which honestly hadn't even crossed my mind. I'm just worried he won't settle without it—that bottle is our only reliable bedtime cue.

[AdamRM]

We were in the same place last year. The milk bedtime cue was what he counted on. We talked with the pediatrician and phased it out slowly, replacing the milk with water in a sippy cup after brushing. It took a few weeks, a handful of extra lullabies, and some stubborn nights, but we eventually kept the same routine minus that cue and the nights eased a bit.

[EdwardKW]

I tried stopping cold turkey because of the cavity risk, and wow, that backfired. He cried for hours, slept worse, and we ended up giving the bottle back.

[JonathanKJ]

Could it be the root isn't the thing but the rhythm? If you try a cup of water with the same wind‑down, it might feel different to him, and maybe he’ll settle a little faster or maybe not.

[Matthew46]

One night I drifted off topic to the smell of the milk and the idea of growing up, then realized the core was consistency. We kept the story and a calm room, and gradually he started to land there without the nightly drink, but it wasn't instant and there were still rough patches.