Drinking Milk

Have you tried rice milk or Soy? My kids think rice milk is a huge treat. Have you tried mixing pumped breast milk with the regular milk? I used to mix breast milk with soy milk while we were transitioning. It worked well, but my kids never had an aversion to milks. Good luck!

J. -

My daughter won't drink milk either. Since we took the bottle away at 1 she won't touch it. She spits it out too. We were concerned that she wasn't getting the calcium she needs but our Ped told us to make sure she is eating cheese, yogurt and other items with calcium. The other thing you might try but wouldn't offer it too many times in a day because it is much sweeter then milk is the Pediasure. My dr. told us not to do because she will never go to milk. Just keep offering it til they become interested again. I hope this helps. As long as they are growing their doing ok.

Just don't forget how important milk is in her diet at this age. The milk fat helps in developing brain tissue and is important at least until they are 2 (at the very earliest). If she will not drink milk though, don't fret. Add milk into her diet by other means. Will she eat cheese? Will she eat home made mashed potatoes whipped with milk? Will she eat low sugar ice cream? Look for other ways to keep milk in her diet without requiring her to drink a glass of it. But remember to try every so often to see if she will drink a glass, their tastes change very rapidly.

What kind of chocolate you using. I give my son ovaltine.

My sister's daughter did the same thing. If you still have breast milk available (are still lactating, or still have some frozen), my sister started giving 1/4 cow's milk, 3/4 breast, and went on from there to 1/2 and 1/2. After 1/2 she was able to switch over completley.

Have you tried the next step formulas? Warm it is a good idea and add a little choc (i like a tbs or 2 of the instant breakfast--it comes in all flavors and has lots of vitiams. I give to both of my kids for breakfast.

Your daughter should be fine. The push to drink milk is because of the belief children won't get their calcium (plus vitamin D) any other way. Eating cheese and yogurt does the trick for calcium. Sunlight has vitamin D and some orange juices have D added to them. My children are mildly lactose intolerant so milk is not a mainstay of their diets. Usually they pour a little over cereal. (We use about a half gallon of milk in one week for four children.) During the day they drink plain water.

Have you tried warming it? My daughter wouldn't take cow's milk until I added ovaltine AND warmed it. I'm slowly cutting out the ovaltine, then I'll slowly stop warming it.

Have you tried soy milk instead? I like the Silk brand. You can get chocolate, vanilla or plain. Even the plain is a little sweet, it's really yummy.

Try Carnation Instant Milk. My granddaughter wouldn't drink regular milk after coming off formula and we tried the Carnation Instant Milk and she drank that just fine.

I wouldnt worry too much about it. Talk with her doctor about it though. You may want to put her on toddler vitamins since she isnt getting any from milk. Hope this helps!
--S.

Have you tried sweet acidophillis? It is hard to find but I have seen it at some stores in 1/2 gallons. We used that when my daughter couldn't tolerate milk well. It taste a lot better than regular milk and if it wasn't more expensive I would still be buying it for the family. We were able to get it on WIC when the kids were little but we lived in TN then and it was listed on the WIC voucher.
It is healthy and taste good.

Well my son always made a face like it tasted bad, so there is always the possibility that it just tastes sour to her. I did back door my way in with my son though...I initially bought him Yahoo (absolutely no nuritional value but it was chocolate and milk-like). He liked that well enough to start asking for it...then I switched him to chocolate skim milk or 1%. Get the stuff that is already made up...I tried every flavor known to man to add to white milk and the texture drove him away. He is now almost 5 and still will drink chocolate milk and say no thank you to white milk. And he never has just plain vanilla ice cream... something to try out. And you may want to take the kiddo to be tested for allergies. Good luck.

BTW- when I confronted a nutritionist about his lack of interest in milk she said it was ok as long as he was compensating somewhere else (yogurt, cheese, etc.). Just and FYI.

My children do not drink milk. It was due to my 5 y/o having milk allergies when he was 6 months old. He's since outgrown the allergy, but has no love of milk. We raised his younger sister as if she too had food allergies. My pediatrician was happy to hear that the kids will eat cheese, ice cream, broccoli and drink soy milk. There is a food pyramid that you can use to determine how many servings of dairy you should eat a day. You should talk to your daughter's pediatrician though. Just so they can rule out anything health related. Good luck!

I am no expert but, I think you are ok as long as she is getting dairy in other forms like you mentioned. Check with the local Health Dept. and they can quickly tell you how many servings she needs. I haven't done a good job of keeping up b/c my boys would drink it more than water! We have had times when it has slowed down and I try to make sure they have it in other forms. Eventually, it picks back up again. I wonder if she will just wake up one morning and decide she likes it. OR some grown ups I know don't like/drink milk.
One thing i do remember is that the fat in milk helps build the protective covering on their brains and muscles. Which is critical at this age. They stop building it about 2 years if I remember right.
Sometimes this dislike can be the result of not liking how it makes you feel. Like a friend of ours who never liked pasta and when she was grown found out she was allergic to gluten. Thus, the pasta always made her belly ache. Not saying you should get concerned about allergies just something to keep in mind.

Wishing you the best!!

My son is not real fond of drinking milk, so we make his morning cereal with whole milk and I use whole milk to make his pancakes. That way I know he is getting enough calcium, along with eating yogurt, cheese.

I also had a hard time getting my son to go from nursing to any other kind of milk. I still had some breast milk in the freezer and tried mixing that with the formula. It took a little prompting but sooner than later he was drinking it. Within a week he was drinking the formula plain. This may work with other milks too.

I had a friend who used soymilk after she weaned her son. He also would not drink any milk. He took to the soymilk. You could also try to mix breast milk if you have any still frozen with the reg. milk. Until she starts to drink it by its self.

If she's getting calcium from yogurt and cheese, I wouldn't worry too much. The whole purpose of milk is mostly because of calcium, right? Maybe she just doesn't like it. good luck

My son never took formula or a bottle, either, so I understand that can be a challenge! Now this may not seem like the best solution, but it just came to mind. And if nothing else works......If your daughter likes ice cream, what about a bit of melted down ice cream, diluted with some milk? It would have the taste she is familiar with. You could gradually eliminate the ice cream, if that worked.

My three-year old son is the same way. He's never been a big milk drinker, but he loves cheeses and yogurt. I try to keep him stocked up as much as I can on other dairy that he will eat. My five-year old, on the other hand, would drink milk all day if I would allow him. :^)

K.

My son loves soy milk! It's sweet but less sugar than cow's milk. Also, has more calcium and protein.. even the flavored kinds. I give my son vanilla (and chocolate) soy milk. Your daughter may also love soy milk. Plus, I started drinking it too! It really is good!

J., I always questioned our society's use of cow milk for ourselves and our children. I have seen reports on the use of cow milk and the numbers of children with allergies and mucus buildup (colds frequently).

I gave my 12 year old emfamil Next step instead of milk until he was 4 years old! I think it also might have added a few points to his IQ. It sounds like the cheese and yogurt is working, if she looks health, don't worry. Cow Milk is for cow "Babies"!

I am a 61 year old Mother with 2 grown sons and a 12 year old legal custody son.

I understand first hand! I have a 7yr old daughter who has just started to drink milk. She was nursed for 3mths. We fed her soy milk as soon as she started solids. She eat from the spoon, then we switched to rice milk an that is what we have used since. She was "only" bottle fed for several months. As soon as she chewed on her own she eat from the table and drank from a cup: juice,water, or diluted rice milk. We are vegans, and she only eats white meat ex; fish and fowl. She is perfectly fine, actually she is above average both physicaly and developmentaly. So I say that maybe milk isn't all that it is cracked up to be? I personaly do not drink ANY milk products, or vegan "milk" substitutes. I just don't like the texture. Hope this helps.

Sounds bad but if she gets thirsty enough she will drink it, I do daycare and one of my kiddos didn't want anything that was cold ithad to be warmed and they eventually realized this is it take it or leave it. Offer her milk or water, she will eventually get it.

If you're child is getting dairy other ways she does not have to have milk in her diet. (think about the things you cook with milk also)If you really want her to drink milk, try canned milk or canned goat's milk, these milks can be sweeter. What about a type of soy milk? I know it's not the same as "whole milk", but it's something. Again, though if she's getting her servings through other sources she will be fine & one day may end up liking milk on her own.

Have you tried soy milk or rice milk? What DOES she drink? Limit juice.

As long as she is getting some dairy I wouldn't stress her or yourself pushing the milk. Ask your pediatrician what he or she thinks first. Have you tried the milks that are in the juice boxes? That may be appealing. Just try to balance her diet by eating healthy.

J., I have a couple questions back to you. Are you concerned your daughter won't get enough calcium? Secondly, have you contacted a homeopathic doctor? I'm just wondering if it's her body saying, "Reject! Reject!" and trying to protect her from what is not good for her. What was good for brother may not be good for sister. God made our bodies to be very smart! :)

I'm a GRANDMA of 7, a teacher of 28 years in a Christian school, and have some strong personal feelings about the misguided guilt we can have because of advertising. If you'd like to chat more, just email me.

Have a terrific day!
J.

Hi J., I have a 6 year old son who stopped drinking milk about the same time. We have tried everything but he refuses to drink or eat most dairy. I currently have him on calcium supplements, but before now my pediatricians haven't been worried about it. Most cereals have calcium added and so do many other foods, like broccoli. The doctors have told me to keep trying. He is just now learning to like milk on his cereal. So I don't know how to make them drink it, but they get the calcium they need.

H. H.

Well I hate to drink milk too, so I understand. It seems that if she's getting her calcium from other sources, maybe it's ok that she doesn't drink milk.
Good Luck
Jess

I would definately keep trying and offering. One little known fact about milk is that there is a special fat in WHOLE milk (it is taken out of lowfat & nonfat) that is absolutely neccesary for potty training. The bowels and urinary tract HAVE to have this lining in order for her body to be ready to potty train. Without this lining they will not be ready. Maybe try a raw cow or even goat milk. I would suggest that you don't offer juice. She really doesn't need it anyway at this point as long as she is getting a balanced diet with fresh fruit and veggies. HTH

My son was allergic to milk - we found out when he was about 1 year old. I had been breast feeding him since birth and he would not take formula but we found out why when the allergy was diagnosed. Their are other options that are just as healthy as milk. Silk has the same benefits as whole milk, including the fat. My son loves the chocolate silk and there is a powdered milk called Vance's Dari-free that he really likes too. In fact Dari-free has more vitamins and minerals than whole milk. And he is perfectly healthy on a milk free diet. Maybe you could try some of the alernatives available.

I'd think she doesn't drink it because she knows instinctively it's not good for her (especially if you are feeding her pasteurized milk). If you can get raw milk in your area, you might try that (www.realmilk.org ). I've also read that real goat milk is closer to human breastmilk then cow's milk (http://www.fieldstoneorganicfarm.com/educational/milk_inf... )and that can be purchased at health food stores or even at grocery stores (canned goat milk).I

f she eats yoghurt or ice cream, go ahead and let her have it, especially the full-fat versions (not non-fat products because she still needs the fats for proper brain development). Might try kefir or buttermilk too, especially at the health food stores, they might be better accepted (yoghurt especially from health food stores with live bacterial strains "probiotics" and kefir will both be good for her and help other digestion issues too.

Watch out for the cheaper "yoghurt" at grocery stores because they are usually nothing but pasteurized milk, thickeners such as guar gum, carageenan, gelatin, and all sorts of chemistry set coloring and flavorings and artificial sweeteners...no need for that!!

Might want to be careful with using soy proteins - or use it in combination with other dairy - as the soy also adds additional estrogen (phytoestrogens that fit the estrogen receptors and cause the body to respond to it as estrogen) which might cause problems. I don't have the full handle on this but the reading I've done caused me to cut way back on it myself personally.

The Almond Milk and the Hemp Milk beverages are also very tasty but they both say specifically don't use as infant formula. So you'd have to make sure she was getting again, the proper omega 3 and omega 6 fats (although Hemp milk is balanced in that regard, has those good fats in the proper ratio).

Does she eat veggies like spinach, or other greens? if so she's likely getting plenty of calcium from her greens and doesn't need to rely on the milk so much.

The other thing is if she was just weaned, she may be "on strike" - check the website for La Leche League - (my book is upstairs!) - so she may be refusing the milk just because she's mad that she's not nursing Mommy's Milk.

My son nursed for quite a while after 17 months but not exclusively, and he'd never take formula or bottle either - he was eating good at 17 months and gradually having more cow's milk from his sippy cups, but still nursing like night or before nap times etc. So just let her have yoghurt or other things she will eat and after awhile she may begin accepting more milk from other sources.

My son has never liked milk and he is 14. So I just made sure he got plenty of calcium through other sources (as you are doing) with yogurt, cheese, green leafy vegetables (broccoli). I also now give him a calcium/magnesium supplement.

I know this might sound terrible but. . . My now 9 year old daughter did the same thing. She loved to sip coffee off of Grandma's spoon in the mornings, so I started putting just a touch of instant decaf coffee and a little raw sugar. Can't be worse than choc syrup loaded with corn syrup and coacoa. She loved it and I never worried about her calcium. By the way , she hated yogurt, pudding etc. Hope this helps.

J.,
I have the same problem with my 17 mo old daughter. I weaned her at a year and she never would take a bottle either. I tried putting some frozen breastmilk into her sippy cup and she wouldn't take it. She'll only drink water. (I don't like milk, either, except in cereal) She does eat yogurt and cheese regularly, though. She's also chubby and eats vegies and fruits well. I'm not stressing too much about it, but I look forward to reading what other advice you get! Just know that you're not alone! Don't you just love this stage?! They are sooo cute!!