1 Yr Old Won't Drink Milk

Don't worry about the milk. There are lots of other good sources of calcium, including supplements. I always thought cow's milk is for cows...my girls didn't drink it, they even had juice on their cereal instead of milk. They are all grown now, 30, 27 and 25. We didn't have easy calcium supplements 30 years ago...I used dolomite powder. There are so many ways to get the calcium now, I wouldn't worry about making her drink something she doesn't like. No worries!

J. C.

Cows milk can be harder for most people to digest properly. It has larger protein molecules that are hard for the body to breakdown. You can try goats milk as it is easier to breakdown and more comfortable to digest.
As for the amount of calcium she is getting, yogurt is an excellent form as well as dark green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli.
Another great source is the sun. Sun exposure increases the bodies natural production of Vitamin D and serotonin. Unfortunately to many people are frightened of the sun due to skin cancer but keep in mind that skin cancer can be caused from overexposure with several severe sunburns. Getting outside and soaking up the sun a couple of minutes everyday will not be a problem.

I hope that this helps you in your quest for a healthy way of life for you and your family.

Yours in Health and Wellness
B. G, DC

My first was the same way. She's 5 now and still doesn't like to drink milk - even if its soy or rice milk. She also has textural issues with food :) I just make sure she's getting it from other sources and then giving her supplements on the days I don't think she's getting enough. We love the calcium supplements over here - they taste like vanilla ice cream. I get them from Nutrifoods - can't remember the name of them though. My pediatrician suggested Tums as a supplement, but then I learned it has aspartame and dyes in it! No thank you!

Hi J.,

I really wouldn't worry about it. My daughter doesn't drink milk either. I actually never gave it to her. I just couldn't stomach the thought of giving my daughter something that was made for a baby COW. My daughter is not a cow. Strange, I know. I mean, I grew up on milk, I put it on my cereal and what not...but just couldn't get past giving my HUMAN baby daughter something a mama cow made for HER baby.

So, I did some research. Dr's push the whole milk for the fat content, and also for the vitamin D and calcium that is added back INTO the milk because the pastuerization and homogenation strips the milk of any nutritional value it once had.

Three servings a day. So... yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese... whatever. In addition, my daughter eats avacado, I give her Cod Liver Oil every day, and I ensure that she is getting a healthy balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies and good fats. In addition, during the winter months I also give liquid vitamin D supplement.

Her pediatrician knows she doesn't drink milk and I've never gotten any grief over it. She has always been on the lower end of weight...but she's just that way. She is a tall lean girl. Even at birth she was not a chunky baby. She's always remained on her normal growth curve. I've been thankful her pediatrician recognized she was growing appropriately for HER and didn't push me to give her more fats and junk. (I've heard of that... pedi's freaking out because the baby wasn't fat fat fat and pushed mom to give high fat stuff like whip cream! Ridiculous)

Water is the best hydrator. So, keep that up!!! Don't offer juice. The sugar content, even in 100% juice is unreal. It's better to give the actual fruit so the body can absorb the fructose more slowly then to drink it in liquid form.

Make sure she gets a balanced diet and is getting some good fats... she will be just fine.

I know it is cheating but I mix a little chocolate in the milk, not too much and it works like a charm. Eventually you will be able to cut it out but it gets them to try it.

Hi J.---I wouldn't worry that your daughter won't drink milk. I am taking a class to be a certified wellness educator and I've learned that humans are not meant to drink the milk of another animal. As another mom shared, the milk proteins are hard for humans to digest and they are implicated in type 1 diabetes as well as other autoimmune disorders. Please go to www.strongbones.org to read why my family has stopped drinking cows milk. I was in my late 40's when I stopped drinking milk. My family would go through several gallons a week.

You can get more absorbable calcium from green leafy vegetables than you can from milk or any other dairy product for that matter. It really is a matter of food politics when we are taught that we MUST have dairy to get adequate calcium.

I have a number of articles that you may find interesting to read as you research this topic. I also recommend a great whole food supplement, made of 15 different fruits and veggies, broccoli, spinach and kale being among them. It comes in gummies, chewables and capsules and is backed by original, independent research to show that it balances the immune system as well as protecting and repairing DNA (think disease prevention and anti-aging). I haven't drunk cows milk in over 6 years, I DON'T take calcium supplements and I've had bone density scans that show no problems whatsoever. I am very active and participate in regular weight bearing exercises and competitive volleyball.

I'd be happy to discuss any questions you might have. Feel free to call me or email me personally to get a list of calcium rich foods.

In health, D. ###-###-#### ____@____.com

Hi J.-
None of my girls switched well from breastmilk to whole milk. When I talked to our doctor about it, he said it was fine for them to get their calcium from other sources (orange juice, yogurt, cheese). I did stop nursing them before they drank milk. They would drink juice and water readily so I knew they were not getting dehydrated. I kept offering milk to them in different forms (chocolate, strawberry, plain) and found all three like chocolate carnation instant breakfast. I only use enough powder to sweeten it a little and have been able to "wean" them off to plain milk. I liked using the instant breakfast because they were getting other good things instead of just added sugar.

A.

You could try raw milk and raw dairy products. That way they're getting the best. Keeping the enzymes that are necessary.
Or there's rice milk or almond milk.

I had the same problem only my baby was breastfed. I was worried about it because she was becoming less interested in the breast and didn't like milk and is underweight for her age. So I had to figure out how to get her to drink whole milk. Friends and family suggested I add cocoa mix or something like that to it, but I am not going to fatten my kid up by giving her garbage. So, I recently tried sweetening her milk with a 1/2 tsp blackstrap molasses. It is a sweetener that actually has nutrition. It is loaded with iron, calcium and many other minerals, but it is still a sugar that should be used sparingly. It kinda gives it a licorice chocolate flavor and was really quite tasty. She LOVED it!!! Anyway, the reason they need to drink whole milk in addition to yogurt and cheese is because they need fluid and fats and milk is a way to quickly deliver it rather than one bite at a time like solid foods.
Good Luck!!!

Hi J.,
Both of my sons don't like milk. I just make sure they get it in other forms. They also love yogurt, string cheese, ect. My husband drinks milk so it is always in the house and I keep offering it to them but I can't force it down their throat. I also am not a milk drinker and never have been so maybe they will never like it. Good luck.
Chris

My daughter is 21 months and has never had a cup of cow's milk. I don't drink it either, so I never tried it with her. She does eat other dairy like your little one. When she was a little over a year, I started giving her plain rice milk (the enriched with vitamins type) and she loves it! I offer it to her after meals and she'll usually drink a few ounces. Even if she wasn't drinking the rice milk, I wouldn't be worried since I'm comfortable that she's getting all she needs from other sources. I only give her water in her sippy through out the day. I think you're on the right track. Good luck!

This is a big switch for little ones, and most react the same way. Just keep offering the plain milk, not forcing it. My son took a good 2 weeks to adjust, but now is a good milk drinker. Ask you pediatrician if he thinks you should continue formula- you are probably fine weaning her from the bottle. That too might make her drink her milk after a little bit. Good luck!

Hi J.. My daughter went through the same situation as yours is. She weaned herself from breastfeading at 10 months and then would have nothing to do with transitioning to milk. I was concerned so I asked her pediatrician about it. Her doctors response was as long as she would eat yogurt, cheese and other dairy foods not to put to much pressure on her. It took until my daughter was 2 to drink milk, so it was a whole year. I think my advice to you would be to still introduce it to her on a daily basis, not much but just a little so a lot doesn't go to waste. You will be surprised the one day that she will decide to finally drink it. Also, keep her die rich in other dairy foods and you'll have nothing to worry about. I think as parents, it is so hard not to worry but hang in there. It will be ok. Good luck to you.

I used some of the Good Start toddler formulas for a while and then did what you did--gradually added small amounts of milk until it was all milk.

If she really won't drink any milk at all, you just have to be very aware of how much calcium she is getting. My 4 year olds will not drink milk in any way, shape, or form! The wouldn't take it unless it was in a bottle, so I gave them each a bottle every morning until they turned 2, then gave up. I give them some calcium fortified/Vit D orange juice every day (but don't want to od on juice, either), and they usually eat a yogurt a day. I also bought those calcium gummy bears, which one child likes and the other refuses. It is tough. I know they don't get enough calcium. The only cheese they will eat is either on pizza or if I put it in scrambled eggs. They obviously did not inherit my love of dairy.

Our bodies don't really get a lot of calcium from milk, even through were told the opsit my the dairy industry.
Our bodies need calcium to process proteins, if we eat to much protein (like most Americans do) the body takes calcium from the bones = osteoporosis. The cow got calcium from the greens it ate, if it got to eat grass! Broccoli has more cal than milk for example. That being said kids nutrition is very important so get resources. Maybe you could find a nutritionist to talk to, or an online tool to help. This one might work?
http://www.nat.uiuc.edu/about.html

I make a spinach smoothy for my daughter that won't eat veggies cause of a texture thing she has.
In a blender
1/2 lb organic spinach - as fresh as you can get it
cup of cold water & blend smooth
1 c frozen blueberries - blend smooth
8 frozen organic strawberries - blend smooth
banana - blend smooth
This is enough for my daughter, husband, and my self to have some.
Good luck, A. H

My oldest didn't rellay drink milk until she was 2. Our ped said that as long as she was eating other dairy product that it was fine!

Hi, I hear ya...neither of my boys drank milk after they got off formula. In fact, one of them would only drink water (no juice) and at 11, he still only drinks water. Yogurt, cheese are great alternatives and will be fine. If you are concerned, go to whole foods and get a liquid supplement. You can put it in applesauce etc.

My son also hates white milk. We give him milk with Nesquik (low sugar or sugar free). It contains extra calcium, and vitamins, and nutrients that he needs. We add one teaspoon to his milk and he loves it!! Good luck!~

I too, hate milk and I have a lactose intolerance to boot~

I have found that I prefer soy milk however, you may want to mix with milk for little ones to switch or make sure they do not have any allergies - there are many other types of 'milk' that has calcium and protein in them.

You can also get 'organic' milk. It's more pricey, but it actually tastes really good and doesn't leave an 'after-taste' like regular milk does. I did very well with it, too even with my intolerance.

As long as you are offering enough products with calcium, you should be fine and offer enough water~ all should be well.

J.,
I have a 16 month old and she was/is the exact same regarding the milk. I kept trying and trying, but had no luck. When we went for the 15 month well visit, the doctor said don't force it anymore, clearly she doesn't like it and that is okay. As long as they are getting dairy from things like yogurt, cheese, ice cream, cottage cheese, ect, they are fine. My doc said milk is just the cheapest and easiest way to get them the calcium and too much is not good for them. This was a relief to me because my oldest loved milk as soon as it was introduced to her and she still loves it. Every kid is different. I'd stop with the formula as soon as you can (what a relief that is not to make another bottle!) and just give her water in a sippy cup and dairy throughout the day in what ever form she will take it. Good luck!!

She may still be too young wait it out. don't stop trying though. Once a week try to give her two onces of milk and two onces of fornula. Don't mix it in front of her though have it already prepaired. Also try a different milk I know they say whole but myabe two percent or 1. I am not sure what you drink but don't change it. My pediatrician gets made at me because I won't give my 17 month old whole I give her 1 percent. She didn't drink milk till she was almost 13 months old. There tatses change all the time each child is different I have four withone on the way and each one drank milk at different ages.

My son is 3 1/2 and has never drank cow milk. The doctor said that it is fine that some kids just don't like and you can't force them to drink it. He eats cheese and yogurt and ice cream (which he would not touch that until last summer). When he turned 3 the doctor told me to use his love for medicine and give him tums every other day and we have been doing this and he loves it. I try to give him milk every now and then but usually he say that it takes yukky and does not want it.

Hi J.,

2 of my 3 children never drink milk. I tried rice milk, soy milk, chocolate milk, you name it. I was worried with my first when she wouldn't drink milk, but then I figured she eats yogurt, cheese and other sources of calcium. They also take a vitamin. I didn't sweat it too much and both of my kids are just fine. I never drank milk either so I couldn't blame them. My third drinks about 3-4 glasses a day so I think it comes to down to personal taste. I wouldn't worry too much!

C.

My son was the same way. And I tried all of the things you did. I stoped giving him formula and offering him milk (I gave him plenty of yougurt, cottage cheese so he got anoth Calcium). A week passed and I gave him him milk in a sippy cup. He tried it and he liked it.
I think it is important to give them time (if she won't have it a week after formula, wait another week). And also, do not give your liitle one old bottles that you used for formula before.

At the very least, I would support adding a multi-vitamin to her diet. You want to be sure she is getting all that she needs. I can tell you what my son takes if you want.

S.
____@____.com

My son did the same thing when he was that age. I am also mildly lactose intolerant and haven't had a glass of milk in over 8 years. I can eat dairy products like cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. With our son, it seemed that he was also getting gas pains after drinking milk so I was worried that he might be intolerant. I was worried that he would never drink milk...we tried reducing the milk ratio, chocolate milk, skim milk, milk in his cereal or oatmeal, anything to get him to want it. We switched his formula to the toddler version and cut it back to only at night and it was in a Nuby sippy cup. We were lucky that he drank a lot of water and loved cheese, fruit, and other fibers. Our pediatrician told us not to worry and we just kept trying small amounts of milk. I don't remember at what point it worked- but he was off formula by 1 1/2 completely and drinking milk. He's three now and loves it, has a glass with dinner every night...hang in there!

Hi J.,
My guys (twins) didn't like milk very much either. I had the worst time of it. I put carnation instant breakfast in the milk just a little for taste and it works great. We use vanilla but you can also try choc. Ovaltine is another great try and has lots of good stuff in it. Good luck!

Tammy

You could always try soy milk or rice milk. I would ask your doctor and see what they say. Or just keep offering it to her a one day she may drink it!

Here was a link I found when I looked to see how much dairy a one year old needs. Hope it helps!

http://www.tchd.org/pdfs/feeding_one_year_old.pdf