My two year old still takes a bottle. Yes, it's true. Just at bedtime and nap time...and we're going to cut it out... one of these days.

But not just yet.

The other day I realized why her bottle time is as sweet to me as it is to her. We were at a doctor's appointment with one of her siblings. It was nap time, and to avoid a meltdown, I'd brought her bottle into the office with us. As soon as we got settled, sure enough, she asked for the bottle. I handed it to her and she sucked for a few seconds, standing in front of me.

Then she held her arms up to me, asking to be taken into my arms. She laid back and cuddled in against me, as always. She reached out to clutch a bit of my shirt, as always. And she was at peace.

In her mind, the bottle and her mama are connected. The bottle isn't enough by itself. She needs me too. At almost 2-1/2, she's getting so competent and big-kiddish that moments where I can cradle her like a baby are precious.

Many attachment experts recommend that families 'regress' their older babies and toddlers back to bottles when they come into the family. Sometimes parents resist that advice, wondering about the wisdom of starting a toddler back in on a bottle if he/she has not had one for awhile.

I would encourage families not to dismiss this suggestions too quickly. The bottle is a powerful symbol of nurturing, both to parents and to little ones. Give it a try, and see if it is meaningful to your child. Offer it while rocking and cuddling and be sure to help your child hold the bottle even if he is old enough to do it himself.

It may or may not end up being a key for attachment for you and your child. But in my mind the benefits of this type of nurturing far outweigh the perceived problem of offering a bottle to a child past infancy. Children grow up fast enough. Don't be afraid to spend at least a few months redoing this particular stage of babyhood and building that bond. Nurturing your child now will help build a strong relationship for life.