A very small amount, about the size of a small pea is more than adequate. Children tend to swallow a fair amount of the toothpaste and, over time, this can cause white spots to form on permanent teeth due to the excess of fluoride.

Nursing bottle decay is a pattern of cavities that appear in infants or very young children, often despite a parents best efforts to take care of the teeth.  The most common cause is the night-time or naptime bottle containing milk or juice.  The liquid itself or the sugary saliva rests in the mouth while the child is sleeping and works away at the enamel of the teeth.  If your child needs a bottle at bedtime it should contain only water.