How Much Whole Milk Should a 14 Month Old Have?

The guideline is 16-24 ounces of milk per day. More than 24 ounces puts them at risk for iron deficiency.

My pediatrician recommended 16-20 oz. of milk per day. You're not that far over, so it's probably fine but I did read that if little ones get too much calcium, it can prevent them from absorbing iron from the food they eat.

I guess ideally it'd be good if your son were drinking from a sippy cup at this age, but the reality is plenty of kids have trouble weaning from the bottle and do it at their own pace. Have you tried different types of sippy cups, or even straw cups?

Hi J.. I'm a mother of a 14 month old girl and I'm still giving her 3 8oz bottles as well. Our pedi said to eventually try to replace the bottles with a sippy cup. She said try switching one bottle at a time and see how that goes. As for the milk quantity..Our pedi didn't mention anything except that we should be down to 16-18oz by her 16th month. But she didn't mention that it was detrimental in any way to be having 18oz. Hope that helped a bit..

J.,
I'm a fan of organic or raw whole milk. I'm weary of the possible steroids, growth hormones and/or antibiotics in some milk products. Plus, I always felt there were more nutrients in unhomogenized whole milk.

Hi, as you can see from all your responses, the pediatricians seem to be all over the place. My sister in law brought her son for his one year visit and was never given a limit to the amount of milk her son should drink. They did the standard blood work and during his 15 month visit she finds out he's iron deficient -- too much calcium interferes with the body's ability to absorb iron. So the doctor told her to keep it around 24 ounces a day. I brought my daughter for her yearly visit and asked the doctor. Our ounces amount was different because my daughter has yogurt every day and cheese on most days. So our doctor said 16 ounces a day is just fine. Sometimes she has less sometimes more, it just depends on the day. She has a sippy cup with milk at breakfast and two 8 ounce bottles during the day (one before her nap and the other before bedtime). Some days she finishes both bottles and most of the sippy cup, others she barely touches her sippy cup and has half of both bottles. I figure it all equals itself out. I wouldn't worry too much and just follow your doctor's instructions even if they are different than what another doctor has told someone else you know.

Hi,
I just got back form our 15 month visit and my ped. says baby should be getting AT LEAST 24oz. of WHOLE milk per day. My son takes 3-4 8oz. bottles a day, so I think you're fine. Also, as far as the sippy cup goes, I had such a hard time trying to switch with my daughter (4 years old) at a young age that we waited and tossed the bottle when she turned 2. I plan to do the same for my son. They are babies for such a short period of time, that when you look at the big picture, it's not a big deal for them to still be on the bottle at this young age. GL!

Hi J., I rely on the following website - http://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com/ It is very helpful and has sample menus and amounts that your toddler should be getting.

Hi J.,

I think the amount of milk that you are giving your son is fine. My ped told me at the 1 yr check up that my daughter should have at least 16 oz of whole milk a day, she never said anything about a max. If he is eating solids fine I really dont see a problem. Sometimes my daughter at that age had two or three bottles, and there were times where she only drank one and she is at a good weight. He is over weight? If not then I dont think theres any concern. As for the sippy cup, my daughter started at about 13 months. Give it a try and see hoe he does with it. Good Luck!!

Milk is a stressor to the body. Humans are the only species that continue to drink milk after weaning. Milk is a major cause of inflammation and ear infections. It's not as clean and wholesome as the dairy industry would have you believe. Paste this link together and watch please so as not be brainwashed by doctors and advertising:

http://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=tYpafipJyDE

Do a search on calcium-rich foods. We lose calcium when the body is acidic since it is pulled out of storage to buffer the pH in the blood so be sure to avoid acid-forming foods. The worst acid foods are: pork, pop (please don't even let your child taste it--if they don't have it when small they will seldom acquire a taste for it later), sugar, white flour (better to use whole grains like brown rice or millet than wheat), dairy. Veggies & fruits are alkaline.

Occasional meat is okay but it shouldn't be a main part of the diet. The China Study is an interesting book if you want to learn more about it or just start Googling. Look for things that are backed up with statistics and not from groups that stand to profit from sales of their food.

Our bodies create protein from amino acids. When we eat protein-rich foods our bodies need to break the protein down into amino acids so it's a waste of the body's energy and enzymes in the digestive system (ever notice how most adults have digestive problems?).

Hope this isn't too shocking for you! I only wish I had known all this 16 years ago. It would have saved a lot of illness.

At my son's one year visit, our doctor said he should be drinking 14 to 15 oz, no more than 15. I give him 2 bottles with 7 to 7 1/2 oz each (one in the morning and one at night). I also give him one yogurt a day as well. And I only feed my son organic.

J.,
I always gave my kids as much milk as they wanted and have never had a problem. I always gave milk with each meal and then in between they could have juice, water, or milk. My sister-in-law allowed her kids limited amounts of milk so when they came to my house they would drink as much milk as they could. The way I see it is if you hold it from them they will want it more, but if it isn't any big deal then they will decide for themselves and have more of a variety.
My pediatrician was big on the 2 percent milk but I gave my kids whole milk because a friend of mine, who is a doctor as well, told me you loose nutrients when you give them anything less than whole milk. Anyway my kids are all fine, the oldest being 26. If I were you I would let your son decide how much milk he wants and trust me he will let you know if he doesn't want it.
Hugs,
T.

My daughter's pediatrician told me to give her a sippy cup full of milk at each meal. What she drinks is what she drinks. My daughter is 15 months old, and some days she drinks 3 full cups, and other days she barely finishes one. It will depend on her mood, what she is eating and what else is going on around her. I hope that helps!!

yes, lower the intake of milk and up the intake of solids and have the kid start with water as well.

Hi J.,

I was told & have read, that after one year of age, a child should be put on low-fat or skim milk because their bodies no longer need the fat from milk.

As far as the bottle/sippy cup issue, kids are all so different. What worked for me was to create (over time) specific times when your child would get the bottle. Eliminate the bottle times over a period of days or weeks.

Take good care.