Almost 14 Month Old Self Weaning but Won't Take a Cup Either

My oldest weaned himself also and was not found of cups, sippy cups or bottles. I found that he really enjoyed straws. I found some "water bottles" with a built in straw and we did that for ages. If the rest of the family picks up using straw cups too he might be more inclined.

Also, if he is refusing milk and formula it might be more than just resisting. It could be he is allergic to milk and is trying to tell you. He doesn't have to break into hives to be allergic. My oldest was the same way and we found his irregular bowels after breastfeeding was done was due to this issue. Try soy or rice milk and see if he takes to it instead. Sometimes after breast feeding the milk can seem thick too. My son liked it mixed about 1/3 water to 2/3 milk when I did get him to drink it before we found out he was allergic.

Hi,
It is not necessary for him to consume dairy products. We are the only species that consumes milk of another species. Cows milk is made for calves. Goats milk for baby goats. Humans are designed to consume human milk, and not others. Our breast milk is perfectly designed for babies. Once they are weaning themselves and eat solids, there is no need for milk of any other species. Just make sure you provide a variety of fresh healthy food and let him choose what and how much to eat of that, it sounds like he's very healthy and happy anyway. If we are thirsty the very best thing is water. It's what our bodies need.
So, just don't worry about it. Relax. Hunger and thirst are the strongest survival mechanisms we have. He will not starve or dehydrate as long as you ensure he has ready access to what he needs.

I'm having milk drinking issues with my 22 month old and have been since he's been off the bottle. Focus on the other sources of calcium like you have been doing and make sure he's getting a good amount of water. Right after he turned a year, we mixed baby cereal with whole milk so at least he got a little bit there and now he eats regular cereal with milk. My pediatrician always asks to make sure my kids aren't drinking too much milk as the calorie to nutrient ratio isn't the greatest. She doesn't want them filling up with milk instead of other good things. I think you are doing great!

Just a thought...are you sure he is weaning? His ears could be plugged and that would make it uncomfortable to be in a nursing position. My daughter also had little strikes when a tooth was coming in.

A child that eats cheese and yogurt as part of a well-balanced diet doesn't generally need to drink milk. So long as he is eating along with the water, I say consider yourself lucky that he has taken so well to the cup and water. It just wouldn't be worth it to me to flavor it in order to entice something that he doesn't necessarily need.

Some of the best advice I got about a child's diet was to consider what they are eating over a period of time rather than on a day to day basis. So, if you feel like he consumes a healthy diet over a week and in a month, you're good. I tend to write down what my daughter eats when she has a "finicky" period.

Good Luck!

Hello, not sure if this will help but i thought i would tell you what my daughter did about this lol. When she was 9 months old she stopped taking the bottle completely! I tried putting the formula in a cup and a sippy cup but she would not take either. So i finally realized she doesn't want anything to do with the formula anymore. Now she is 3 years old and since that day has not had any formula. She just now at 3 years old started liking milk a little bit...only in cereal. I made sure she got her nutrition from other things instead of formula. Shes always been a water drinker so when she was 9 months she started drinking water out of a sippy cup and juice once a day, or at least we tried giving her juice but she didnt really like that either lol. So instead i got her to eat yogurt, that was basically the substitution for formula. But the point is she was only 9 months when she weaned herself off the bottle and no more formula and she is now 3 years old and very very healthy...i've never had any problems with her. Good luck with your child! im sure it'll be fine...you'll see!

Milk is not a necessary part of the human diet after we are weaned from our mothers. Relax on trying to give him milk. Try cheese, yogurt, pudding, ice cream. Most baked goods and juices are calcium fortified so that is not a concern. Make sure the rest of his diet is whole and he will be healthy.

Amy,

If he wants to stop nursing, let him stop. Nursing is for the benefit of the child. Stop giving him water to drink in the cup. Only offer milk. When he's thirsty, he'll drink milk from the cup. No child will let themselves die from not eating or drinking. There is plenty of liquid in the foods we eat as well.

Good luck,
C.

i had the same problem. try chocolate or strawberry milk in a sippy cup that has a straw, not a spout. this worked for us. now i can fool her and mix it 1 oz choc to 6 oz plain milk for "coloring"

You're bigger than he is. You can hold his arms, cover his eyes with a blanket, darken & quiet the room, not let him play until he finishes, etc. whether it be breastfeed, bottle, or cup.