My daughter turns 1 on April Fool's Day and up until two weeks ago she would still drink formula out of a bottle. I read she's supposed to drink formula until 1 yr old. If I put it in a sippy cup she would not drink it. Now she won't drink her milk at all. I don't understand what changed but she turns her head or lets it run out of her mouth. So, I end up giving her watered down juice, but I know she needs her milk. Any ideas to get her to drink her milk?
One mom earlier this month mentioned her child will only drink milk out of a clear sippy cup?
I wonder if you took her to the store and allowed her to pick out a special milk cup if it would help?
Hi C. I suggest you try a cup with a straw and just keep offering it to her. Don't give up and don't give in. When she gets thirsty enough she will drink. Basicly food and drinks are nothing but a big control issue between adults and children...and the biggest pain next to potty training...because it never stops or goes away. You can give her things like yogurt, cottage cheese, and hard cheese (depending on how well she eats of course) to make up for the calcium she may be missing out of for the moment. But keep offering her the milk...and don't start putting stuff in it like chocolate or strawberry flavors that will just start you on another path of hell. Good luck and best wishes.
My kid's pediatrician said as long as they get calcium in one form or another it's ok. The pediatrician said yogurt and cheese is an acceptable substitute for milk.
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My pediatrician also told me my kids did not NEED milk until they were at least 2...when my oldest was 1 i put him on milk, per the universe telling me that is what to do. He was always congested sounding with runny nose and coughing. I pulled him off milk and within 3 days he never sniffled again. I was DUMBFOUNDED by the fact that PEDI. told me he didn't need it. If you feed a good diet and give some other dairy, she will get the calcium she NEEDS through that. My youngest is 14 months and I never started him on milk when he stopped nursing. I looked blankly at my pediatrician and asked, "well what can he drink then?" (because i had never heard not to give them milk). she said water, some watered down 100% juices, rice milk, almond milk were all better options than cows milk. I know a lot of people do goat milk for the protein, but my boys are big egg and meat eaters so they are fine there. It is very unconventional and a lot of my playgroup moms looked at me like i was crazy. I also was concerned about having a kid that WON'T drink milk. He will be 3 in June and asks for it when he wants it. He is drinking about 6 oz a day...so it worked out really well for us. all that to say, don't stress out about it too much.
Our kids were exactly the same way.
We took bottles away at 1 year. Sippy cups were the only option although neither were really interested in them. I worried. Going cold turkey without the option of bottles forced them to use a cup.
I'd recommend getting several different kinds of cups and experimenting with which works best for her.
Good luck!
I think I am the anti mom on these board :) My daughter didn't like milk at this age so we gave her rice milk instead and she ate yogurt at least once a day (she still does) My son drank chocolate milk. I used enough chocolate to change the color and our pediatrician said it was better then no milk at all. He is NOT addicted to chocolate milk, nor is he overweight. In fact he will be nine this summer and is just now getting up to the weight range he should be in though still only in the 5%. I also never forced my kids to eat or drink anything. I completely disagree that food should be a control issue (sorry Barb) I think if you make it a fight it attaches horrible stigmas to food that will effect kids later in life. My kids are given their meals and their drinks and they eat and drink until they are full. When they feel full they are done. They are allowed a say in the meal planning and we always try to incorporate foods everyone likes during the week. They are never made to clean their plates and though we have the taste it rule in our house (chew and swallow at least a bite) if they don't like something I don't force them to eat it. They are allowed one snack between lunch and dinner and I limit the amount of candy and sweets they are allowed. My daughter has chosen not to eat meat and I do not force her too. I have been vegetarian for over 20 years and I would never accept someone forcing me to eat a dead animal so I have no intention of doing so to her. My hubby and son eat meat and I would never suggest they shouldn't just because I believe it's wrong. I even cook it for them every day. Both of my children are thin but their father is naturally thin (he actually takes weight gainer to try to gain weight without success) so I am not going to force feed them to make them fatten up when their bodies and minds are healthy. I would suggest giving her the milk if she doesn't drink it then don't give her the juice wait a while and offer the milk again. I don't like milk myself and never have. I don't drink it but get my calcium from other sources as Barb suggested. The main thing I am trying to say is imagine being in her shoes and someone forcing you to eat or drink something you don't want. I imagine you wouldn't be terribly happy about that either. Maybe she doesn't like milk or hasn't gotten used to it yet. If you are really worried make an appointment with your Dr. (she is due a well visit at 1 anyway) and ask him or her what they think. Best of luck!
actually they don't need milk after one. and certainly not as much milk as they were drinking formula. giver her cheese instead. or try chocolate or strawberry milk.
What kind of sippy cup are you using? I used the Nuby ones with the soft, flexible spouts and my twin girls took to them right away. Sometimes the hard spouts make it too difficult. Hope this helps!!!!!!!
