Bottle feeding toddlers to sleep, while convenient and effective, has long been criticized by health and dental professionals. Research from Australia offers robust new support for the concern. The study found more than thirty percent of children were still bottle-fed to sleep at two years old. They were almost twice as likely to face overweight in early childhood. Those who were bottle-fed to sleep at three had nearly twice as many teeth affected by tooth decay in early childhood. Instead, researchers suggest that parents start introducing cups at six months and stop using baby bottles at twelve months. The study is published in the peer-reviewed Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.