My Son Will Absolutley Not Drink Milk

K.,

Will he eat cheese? How about orange juice + calcium? If you can get these nutrients in him another way, it is not necessary for him to drink milk.

Hi K.,

My daughter doesn't drink much milk either. I would just keep introducing it to him, and maybe at some point he will start drinking it. As for the vitamins, I had a heck of a time getting her to take them, that is, until I found the gummy bears vitamins. They're called "gummy Vites". I buy them at the CVS. Good luck!

Lucky for us, they now offer orange juice with Vitamin C added in. I think it's Minute Maid that offers a "kids oj" that has added vitamins in it. I would also not stop offering milk. If you constantly offer it, atleast at meals, he will more than likely acquire a taste for it.

When my son stopped taking formula at 10 months, I was at a loss. He refused milk, warm or cold, chocholate or strawberry. Nothing worked. My ped said it was okay, to continue to offer it to him, but do not force it. He does enjoy cheese and yogurt. We continued to offer it to him and over a year later, just around his 2nd B-day, he all of a sudden wanted milk out of a real cup when we were eating dinner. We also usually drink milk with our dinner. After a few weeks of having it with dinner, I just started putting it in his cups. He does now enjoy choc. milk, but I use the sugarfree syrup to add a little choc. flavor. If your son is refusing most dairy products, it is very possible he is lactose intolerant. My son also drinks a cup of the Minute Maid for Kids which has 100% of the vitamin C recommended daily. He loves it. Just make sure you brush his teeth after he is finished, or use a straw type cup instead of sippys. Good luck.

Maybe you can try a diff. kind of milk, like 2% or skim?

Hi K.
I have heard that sometimes the reason a kiddo won't touch something is because they have an allergy to it. I know that was how my younger brother was with eggs. Didn't like them and wouldn't eat them to find out later on he was allergic. Maybe your son has a lactose intolerance. Have you tried giving him pediasure? It's like a shake but loaded with vitamins and minerals. There are lactose free versions I am sure. There are also vitamins for kids that are supposed to be really appealing like gumballs, gummybears or great tasting liquids you might be able to sneak into his juice. How about ice cream for calcium? Will he eat ice cream? Just some food for thought. Good luck! ~K.

Hi, K.,

My name is G. and I can relate to your problem because I myself was not a milk drinker at a very young my mom asked the doctor what to do he told her to put sugar in my milk. You have tried every thing that my mom tried and I am 42 years old and still do not drink milk. I had a bone study done and I am in good shape as far as my calcium goes. I am not telling you not to try vitamins my kids all take vitamins. Since your son spits them out try the vitaballs they really taste like bublegum and I don't think he will spit them out. Hope everything goes well. Have a great day. G.

I'm not sure...I use to have to get my son to drink it by making chocolate milk for him....But you can try this site they may have some ideas for you..... http://www.a-mommys-world.com/chat.php

It isn't a big deal. Milk isn't exactly vital to be healthy. Americans tend to think it is but this is one of the few countries around the world where children/adults drink milk past infancy. You can get all the nutrients milk has from other sources. There are tons of dairy sources - cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ice cream, etc. Now that your son is 2, it's not neccesary to give whole milk products - 2% or non-fat is fine. He got alot of the fat needed for development from breastmilk so now all the nonfat dairy things are fine.

I am so glad you wrote your concern! My 2 year old daughter, Alexi is the same way. She just turned 2 in September and I have been trying to get her to drink milk everyway possible and for what seems like forever. I've tried all the methods you have as well as yahoo and so forth. Nothing works. I can't trick her, she knows it's milk as soon as I give it to her. She will however eat cheese and her doctor doesn't seem concerned so I try not too worry too much even though it's hard not too when you see every other child drinking their milk. I did check my Dr. Spock book and he indicated that milk may not be as good for children as we think it is. I think the whole thing with milk is that the fat content helps with brain development but of course with you breastfeeding he got all the nutrients that he needed. By the way, how did you get him weaned? I've tried to wean Alexi and haven't suceeded yet. She is sick right now so we've gone back a couple of steps but any help that you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has breastfeeded beyond the 1st year, and what seems like an eternity.

Sorry I couldn't be of any help,
A.

I am a grandma now, but my son was the same way when he was growing up, until one day my mother-in-law (at the time) told me to try "horsey milk" so I did, Simply add a small amount of vanilla and sugar to his milk to make it a little sweeter. My son and my grandaughters love it. Let me know if this helps.

My husband isn't a milk drinker either, he honestly doesn't like the taste of it. He's also very picky about other dairy products as well. I can suggest you can crush your son's vitamins up and mix then up in something he does like. They also make calcium chews, they look and taste like chocolate. You could always ask your doctor about the things that are on the market for osteoporosis, they are calcium supplements for older people with it and a very small dose might be good for your son.