Is this the new trend? I am so tired of seeing kids (ages 2, 3 and even 4) trotting around with a bottle and a pacifier a.k.a. "binky" in their mouth. What is up with that? At what age should a child be weaned from these things? I was in Albertson's and this little girl, obviously 3 or so, was screaming "I want my binky!". Her mother was explaining that she was going to buy her another one and that she could use it as soon as they left the store. What??? This child...

A: Well, Its just plain laziness on the part of parents.

When a baby cries for no reason, usually the easy way out is to push in a pacifier.

I use the pacifier for my children for up to only six months and usually will take out the pacifier when they are asleep.

As for feeding bottle, start to spoon feed at the age of one. Because of time and work, parents will always find the easy way out and for kids they just love to have the pacifer and the bottle...

Foogo Phases was a product line in the prototype stage that Thermos was showing at ABC last year, and this year they are launching it.

Designed for your children from the point where they stop using a bottle all the way past the sippy-cup stage, Foogo Phases features containers with interchangeable lids. The handles will also come off the sippy-cups for when your child outgrows them. The bottles are made in stainless as well as plastic and come in a variety of colors. The lids will not be available separately.

Foogo phases will be available in stores in October, and will cost around $15 for the stainless versions, and $6.99 to $8.99 for the plastic versions.

Foogo on Thermos.com