Once upon a time, there was a tiny baby named Toby. When Toby was very small, his mouth was soft and smooth. He didn’t have any teeth at all, just a sweet, gummy smile.
Because Toby had no teeth for chewing, he drank all of his milk from a soft bottle. Glug, glug, glug! The squishy nipple was just right for a little baby who was still learning how to grow.
Then, one day, something exciting happened. A tiny, white sprout appeared in Toby’s mouth! It was his very first tooth. Soon, he began to eat soft mashes and yummy smashed bananas.
Toby kept growing, and his teeth kept growing, too! He got more teeth on the bottom and more teeth on the top. Now he could crunch on crackers and munch on juicy apple slices.
"Your teeth are so big and strong now, Toby!" his mommy said with a smile. She explained that teeth are like little treasures that we have to take care of so they stay straight and healthy.
When big kid teeth stay on a soft bottle nipple for too long, it can make them feel squished. The bottle is wonderful for tiny babies, but big toddlers with lots of teeth need something different.
"I have a special surprise for you," Mommy said. She reached into the cupboard and pulled out something bright and new. It was a shiny sipper bottle with a firm spout and two easy-to-hold handles!
Toby took the sipper bottle and held it tight. He took a little sip. It felt different than the old bottle, but it felt good! The firm spout gave his big kid teeth plenty of room to be happy.
Toby realized he could carry his new sipper bottle all by himself while he played. He didn’t need to lie down like a little baby anymore. He could drink and explore the whole wide world!
Goodbye, old bottle! Hello, big boy sipper! Toby’s teeth are strong, his smile is bright, and he is so proud to be growing up one sip at a time.