Last week’s issue of Australian OK Magazine had this cute photo of Heidi Klum, with children, Leni, 2 1/2, and Henry, 17 months, in Germany last month. Seal and Heidi also have another son, Johan, 3 1/2 months.
Source: Australian OK magazine, March 5th, 2007.
Thanks to CBB reader Maddie.
adorable!
- tink1217 on
Ugh! That kid is a bit old to have a bottle in his mouth. Pet peeve!
- Sarah on
Personally 2 and 1/2 is a bit old, but I know that my son was on the bottle until 21 months and part of the reason it was so hard for us is that I had another baby pretty quickly too and there was a baby in the house with a bottle and he saw that. I think maybe because Henry and Leni are so close together, she may be having a hard time. But whatever, there comes a point where you just have to throw the thing in the trash. 
- Liza on
They are both so cute!!!!
Sarah, maybe she is scared and that is her comfort item?
- Anni on
Oh, and Leni is a girl. (Unless you are talking abut the 17 month old….)
- Anni on
Isn’t Leni almost 4? She is way too old for bottle.
No, 2 1/2.
- J-Lin on
Both of them are too old for bottles IMO!
- Lynn on
both of them are, but I also know that, in Europe, it’s more common to let them have it so long… so maybe a cultural thing there?
- Kat on
What about the daughter!? He isn’t to old but she is!
- Jasmine on
In his mouth? Henry is 17 months old, it’s not unusual for babies to still take a bottle at that age. It’s Leni at 2 1/2 that shouldn’t still be on the bottle. Most doctors recommend no more bottle at 18 months, at the latest.
- emay on
I agree, that kid is way too old for a bottle. I wonder if it is a European thing?
- House frau on
seriously the bottle?
guess they are just too overwhelmed w/ 3 kids under the age of 2 to deal with it but I def. think it’s time to snatch it from her since she is almost 3!
anyways, cute kids.
- J.M. on
You’re not the only one who has a pet peeve about bottles, but it’s not just Henry, Leni has one too. I think they’re both too old for those now, especially Leni. I would think both would be on sippie cups, at the most.
But besides that, the photo is cute, and it seems like Henry got his hair cut. If he did, it looks cute.
- FC on
People should not be judgmental about bottles and kids. Let them be. This site for sure doesn’t condemn nursing at 2 1/2 years. Who is to say that it’s bad?
- Kate on
Sarah I thought the same when i saw the pic ;o)
She never misses German Fasching (our Mardi Gras)and its cute that she brought the kids along but the bottles big No no they are both way to old.
- Simone on
I agree, adorable pictures, but those kids, especially Leni are TOO old for a bottle. Sippy cups people, sippy cups!
- Lilliness on
No, its not a European thing to have bottles that long.
My daughter is using cups / normal glasses since she is 9 months old
during that time she was nursed as well; I finished nursing just about a month ago).
Sandra + Carina (nearly 17 months)
- Sandra and Carina on
Why is it that people can’t come here anymore and just say, “Cute kid” or “She has gorgeous eyes” or “What cute family.” It is always negative…If the girls till has a bottle so what.. not your kid so why do you care.. If someone used formula instead of breast milk so what.. not your kid.. If someone allows there children to have mohawks.. so what! Id they have a nanny so what. That is their choice! If you don’t agree – don’t get a nanny. I am tired of coming to this site and seeing negativity. It was never like this before. I used to come here to look at celebrity babies, and their parents. Now I have to come here and just see parents attacking each other.Let‘s be supportive people!
- Yonni on
who cares, who cares, who cares…if they have bottles. Heidi has three kids, I think she knows a thing or two. Leni and Henry are not your kids, therefore you should not care!!! Why do people have a pet peave about that? IT’S NONE OF YOUR CONCERN THAT OTHER PARENTS LET THEIR CHILDREN HAVE BOTTLES EVEN AT 2 1/2!!! Do you stare at women who breastfeed their preschoolers…no…then don’t stare at kids with bottles. Also if you’re a lactivist, ease up on bottlefeeding parents…geez!!! Worry about your own kids!!!!!!!!!
- Alyssa on
Kate, using a bottle at the ages Henry and Leni are IS bad-that’s the point. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends having babies drink from cups regularly by the age of 1; failure to do so can result in tooth decay aming other problems. I think having 3 under 3 is getting to Heidi-Leni and Henry are both too old to have bottles, especially Leni. She looks ridiculous.
- Lauren on
Why does it even MATTER if they have bottles?!?!? I am sure both kids know how to drink out of sippy cups. And have you ever noticed that many sippy cups require a whole lot of sucking, just like a bottle?! So really what is the difference, beyond one has a nipple and one has a spout? Their teeth will be just fine, as long as they don’t suck on the bottle all day long. You know, believing every single thing that childcare “experts” tell you can be dangerous. I have learned that you have to be flexible as a parent, do your own research, and allow your child to have some say in their own life.
Do you all like it when complete strangers tell YOU what to do (or not do) with YOUR kids?
As soon as I saw this pic I knew that people would be ragging on them for letting Leni have the bottle. As Yonni already said, Not your kid – just keep your opinions to yourself. It is very damaging. I know, because I have had it up to here with my aunt who cannot keep her mouth shut about decisions I make for my child. And she is always ill-informed. It makes me furious.
And for what it’s worth, we really don’t have a concept of the craziness these kids have to put up with, just so we can see a picture of them. Have you ever seen a video clip of the paparazzi chasing these kids’ parents? It’s madness….So perhaps they are a little more stressed than the average kid and Heidi lets them have the bottle for comfort and familiarity in the midst of insanity. Let’s cut them some slack. And someone pointed out, if the kids were still breastfeeding that would be considered just fine by most people. Why can kids have a real nipple and not an artificial one?
Sorry, but these self-righteous posts have gotten me all steamed.
- Kristin on
Yonni, I’m freakin tired too.
I mean they’re not your kids, I think Heidi and Seal are mature enough to take care of their own kids.
On a new note, CUTE KIDS!
- Émily on
Why do people care that someone else’s child does or does not have a bottle? I personally had one until I was 3 1/2, and I’ve had no ill effects. The child I nanny for has a paci and he’s almost 4, I bet you guys would die about that. People really need to learn to not be so judgemental about other people’s kids. Besides when I have a child I plan to nurse for several years, what’s the difference?
- Liz on
No, having lived in 2 European countries and USA I can say I saw far less babies and certainly children with bottles in Europe. Babies were drinking out of cups!
I think Leni at almost 3 is far too old to have a bottle. The recommended age to stop is around 18 months, which Henry is (almost) they should be stopping soon, and at least stopping him having them during the day making it easier to stop the bottle before bed too.
- jenn on
Wow, there’s a lot of judgmental people out there. I find that to be much more shocking than a couple of small children with bottles.
- Julie on
so what, my daughter is leni’s age and she is still on a bottle and is no where close to giving it up, she also still takes a pacifier. they are just kids! they will give it up when they are ready.
- Leslie on
I completely agree with Kate’s comments. What a great point. You seriously don’t hear anyone complaining about being too old to nurse at 2 and a half.
- Dela on
Lauren, how do sippy cups and bottles differ when it comes to tooth decay? Isn’t it what you put in them and how long they stay in your mouth? I had a bottle forever and I have really good teeth. My sister gave bottles up at 9 months and she had cavities in almost every baby tooth. She also needed braces and I didn’t. I think genetics are a bigger part of tooth problems than baby bottles. I get really ticked off when people criticize parents for letting their kids have bottles for too long as you guys are also criticizing my mother because she did the same thing.
And how rude to say Leni looks ridiculous. She is adorable!
- Liz on
It’s not so much the bottles as the creepy clown outfits that get to me. That, and how sad everyone looks in the picture.
- Amy on
I personally get wierded out more about kids breastfeeding over two years old then I do a bottle but both IMO are equally unnecessary after that age(same goes w/ the pacifier). This is just my personal preference and know that my kids won’t have either after they turn two (but hopefully before) and I am not sure if I’d ever breastfeed (haven’t thought that out yet) but if I did you can guarentee it wouldn’t last very long!
I think that kids find more comfort in a nipple then from a spout of a sippy cup. I don’t know any kid who lays down with a sippy in their mouth and finds comfort in it the way a bottle does. A child however is easily content having a bottle stay in their mouths for hours w/out even drinking the contents in it. Heidi’s kids were born so close that she probably didn’t have time to adjust to it all. But the longer she waits the harder it will be.
I just think kids that are over two years old that walk around with paci’s/binky’s or bottles just look ridiculous and this is once again just my opinion. But to each their own I guess. The photos are still cute but I think would of been cuter without the bottles in their mouths.
- J.M. on
Comparing extended nursing to bottle feeding is one of the more ignorant things I’ve read on this site.
It is a medical fact that nursing past the age of two is advantageous to both mother and child in a plethora of areas.
It also a fact that bottle usage after the age of a year can greatly increase the risk of tooth decay and oral issues in children.
It’s not just a matter of personal preference when there is cold hard scientific evidence.
So no, bottle feeding at their ages is not recommended as it is potentially hazardous to their oral health however there are much worse things than extended bottle usage.
- Beca on
Well said, Kristin! You stated everything I was thinking!
- gargoylegurl on
My bad! I thought I read somewhere that Leni was a boy. I meant the oldest one, not the youngest.
I just said it was a pet peeve. MY pet peeve, not OMG she is a horrible mother and all the other nonsense that I read sometimes in comments. I’m allowed to have a pet peeve.
I hate clowns too. Scared to death of them. I think this picture is horrible because of the fact that they are dressed like clowns. Does that offend anyone? Was that being judgmental or unfair to clowns?
Can we get a grip here? Yes? GREAT!
- Sarah on
Lauren,
Just because AAP say it’s don’t recommend bottles after a certain age, doesn’t mean that everyone here has be such a faschist about when and where a kid gives up his/her bottle. Do you always follow what is recommended? They no longer recommend circumsision for boys, unless it’s for religious reasons. Do you also go around condemning those who have chosen to circumsize? This is ridiculous.
If everyone is this militant about bottles, I can’t imagine how everyone is about other comforting things with their kids.
- Kate on
It’s a carnival procession. They probably brought the bottles more for practical reasons than anything else. I’m sure the kids drink out of cups/glasses most of the time, when they’re at home.
- Anna on
Just my 2 cents…I have had 2 kids that went off the bottle right at a year. Now with my 3rd (who just turned 2 on Sunday) I have bought every sippy cup under the sun and he WILL NOT DRINK FROM THEM! (please do not tell me to hold out and he will eventually get thirsty – no he won’t – I would have him in the ER dehidrated before he give in!) He is starting to just use and open cup but that isn’t at all practice when you are not at home – unless you would like them completely wet down the front. Please remember that every situation is different – yes many people could just take the bottle away just like that but you have know idea what their individual situation is like.
- Jane on
Some kids don’t like sippy cups and like their bottles. Let the parents decide.
- kropisia on
I completely agree, Sarah, but it seems that we are unallowed to say what we think anymore on this site (even though this is America) because certain people visit the site expecting to see all sunshine and rainbows and throw a fit when someone says something they perceive to be mean. Obviously they don’t hold what we think in high regard, yet they take the time out of their busy schedules to lecture us on how we “have to be nice.” No, actually, we don’t. We can say whatever the heck we want whether you like it or not. So deal with it.
Yes, you can say it, but it may not be published or may be edited per the rules of the site. We have tried to allow for more varied discussion of topics as of late, but personal attacks against other posters or insulting comments will not be published.
- Lauren on
The important thing to remember is the AAP provides GUIDELINES and SUGGESTIONS for your baby. These are not rules written in stone.
The APP recommends toilet training at 2 1/2, but I was easily able to do it with my daughter at 13 months. Am I superior? Of course not. Do I judge those whose kids take until they are 4+. Of course not. All kids are different and take different lengths of time to move on to their next stage.
- Kate on
Well said, Kate at Mar 6, 2007 1:26:01 PM. That was perfectly, calmly stated. This is exactly the point that we should all consider. Each child reaches milestones in their own time, and should receive respect and love as they struggle to reach them. Childrearing is not a competition.
I remember a mantra I had when my daughter was little, from The Baby Whisperer: “Respect the baby”. Well, I guess we could add, “respect the little child.”
- Kristin on
I personally think she looks silly, even the kids don’t look amused. Even without the costume she still looks like a clown and dresses like one too!
- anna spence on
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