Advice on Getting Toddlers to Drink Milk

Maybe she's lactose intolerant. Sometimes kids recognize that certain foods make them feel bad and they will avoid them. Just a guess. But if she's not interested, don't stress over it. (You did mention that she eats other dairy.) Just offer it every now and then. Perhaps you can give her oatmeal cooked in milk.

Kids aren't very good at being convenient.

Mix the milk with what she is used to. My boys drank formula, so to start they had 3/4th formula and 1/4th milk. Then half and half, they 3/4ths milk, and finally full milk. It worked for both of them.

I couldn't get my son to drink milk either, so a friend suggested acidophilus milk because it's a little sweeter. He did drink a little of it. Later I tried adding vanilla or strawberry Torani flavoring, the kind used to make Italian Sodas and flavor coffees. That worked great! After awhile, I just put less and less in, and eventually he was drinking milk.

I think that a lot of what others have already written is great advice...I just wanted to add one thing. Your daughter is also getting to the age where she probably wants to have more control and what she eats and drinks is really the only thing that she can absolutely have control over. My 18 month old son has always been a picky eater, but the less I show that I care what he eats or if he eats, the more he is willing to try new foods. Even with stuff that he likes, if he thinks that I am trying to make him have it, he'll say, "NO!" But if I leave him alone he is much more willing. I would keep offering it to her, but don't show her that you care either way. Let her make her own decisions about what she eats (w/ healthy choice of course!) and as long as she is growing and gaining weight, don't worry. Everything that is in milk, you can get from other sources. You can even get omega 3 supplements and baby vitamins too. I've been learning with my son that worrying over his "balanced diet" is just not worth the stress and has not gotten me anywhere...it has actually taken me further from my goal for him.

why do you think she needs to drink milk? especially milk from another species? We were made to drink milk from our mother's breasts for 2 years or so and then eat the foods our parents eat. mostly plants. I wouldn't stress about it! Many people around the world NEVER eat dairy products and do just fine!

R. Beebe, Lactation Consultant and mom of 2.

K.,

Kids frequently mimic what they see Mom and Dad doing. I can drink a gallon of milk in about a day and a half. My husband will only drink white milk with Lasagna or Spaghetti. My son is 5 and will drink both white and chocolate. My daughter is 18 months and will occasionally drink white, but is more like her dad and prefers chocolate.

I just kept offering and kept offering until she drank some. It can take her a day or more to drink 10oz of white, but about 5 minutes to drink the same in chocolate. Once I realized that we keep both types of milk in the house. She's only really been drinking white milk for a few months, and even then it's still hit and miss. Talked to her doctor about it and was told that as long as she's drinking it doesn't really matter what flavor it is. There are added antioxidants in chocolate milk that white milk doesn't have.

The other importance about milk is not the dairy aspect of it, but the fats. Like you said they can get dairy from cheese and yogurt, but they need the fats in, preferably, whole milk to help with their brain development. They need these until they are at least 2 years old.

Don't know if this helped or not, but good luck.
Melissa

i wouldn't worry much about it. in actuality, we, as humans, should not really consume the milk of another animal. milk intake should be done when we finish breast feeding. it is just not natural. no other mammal consumes the milk of another. if i were you i would be perfectly happy with them just drinking water and the occasional juice. if you are bent on getting them to drink milk, why don't you try a milk alternative like almond or rice milk. i don't suggest soy simply because i cannot stand it and i think too much soy exists in our daily diets anyway as food additives and such. also, i would select an alternative that is unsweetened as the sweetened and flavored ones have an excessive amount of sugar in them. i hope this helps a bit. good luck.

My kids are all allergic to cow's milk in any form. Often when children consistently refuse to eat a food it is because they are allergic to it -- they don't like it because it makes them feel "yucky". In my kids' case: screaming tummy aches, rashes.

Sounds like your little girl can tolerate dairy, just doesn't like to drink milk. Coming from one who's kids have never had dairy, I don't see this as a big concern. My kids are 11, 9 and 3 and quite healthy without dairy. :)

Kids go through cycles on eating preferences. For a while we had hot dogs every day, then it was PB & J sandwiches. Your little girl sounds normal. :)

It sounds like you are a great mom who loves her little girl! Keep up the good work!

-- My strong suggestion is to drop the milk for awhile - and talk to your pediatricians ' nurse about calcium. ( you may even discover as the years' go by that she is allergic and her body is resisting something that hurts).

For now? - drop the milk - for several days- and then you and your husband get really excited about --- oh - rice pudding for dessert - or pudding - - and ask each other- ''' is this ok for 'dear daughter' - gee, it's pretty grown up -- maybe another day - when she's older '' -- . It's amazing how anxious children are to do things we think are 'too old' for them. lololol

Relax - children like what they like- .

Many blessings,
old Mom
aka - J.

Have you tried a "Crazy" straw? Don't tell her it is milk and instead of making chocolate milk make it strawberry. Have lunch "with" her and use a crazy straw too. Make a big deal of how fun it is to see your drink go through the straw and don't even mention that it is milk. They sell the strawberry syrup right by the chocolate syrup..but if for some reason she still wont drink it don't worry about it. She will get plenty of dairy from the yogurt and cheese you give her. Oh and make a pitcher of the strawberry milk so she doesn't accidentally see you making it in her glass. And use whole milk. It is better for the development of her brain with in the first 2 year than 1 or 2% is...Good luck

Hello K.. My question to you is "You want her to drink milk because......?" My daughter never could stomach milk her entire baby life.(It ended up she drank rice milk.) That meant she didn't drink it as a toddler when her body finally said it was okay. As long as your child is healthy and comes in the normal range of growth there is no need to make her drink milk. In fact, it has been found that 50%, or some such number, of the population is allergic to milk and don't even know it. Most vitamins, cheese, yogurt etc. carry the nutrients that children need in their diet. This brings to mind when I took my daughter to the doctor and asked her about my daughter not eating breakfast. I thought this was a major problem and I worried about her health. Her doctor looked at me and asked "Does it look like she is missing a meal?" We both turned to look at my beautiful healthy perfectly shaped daughter and shook our heads. "She'll change," the doctor said. Enjoy her habits now since later she will change. I hope this helps. If you are worried about getting calcium etc. in her diet, I know there are many things out there to keep our kids healthy and they don't even always involve sugar. Good Luck. I am the mother of a beautiful, healthy, smart 6 year old. Who now has milk in her cereal, but is now on everything organic to slow down the hormones she takes in to her little body.

why are you pushing her to drink milk soo much? it is better for her if she doesn't, get her to drink just soy.. it will protect her in the long run and it is better for her cus it isn't from a cow.. cus the last time i looked i wasn't a calf and don't neeed to drink mother's cow milk.. my kids don't drink milk cus like most they have an allergy too it cus they can't break it down... they love to drink soy milk.. i get 8th continent soy for them. soy has the right kind of calcium for the body and it is easier to digest and healthier too.. also has the right kind of healthy fats for little ones...

I put ice in my daughter's milk. She likes the clink in her sippy. I also think she likes it better super cold.

Karma is right -- milk is best COLD. :)

Do you warm it up to room temperature? when I transitioned my daughter from breast to regular milk I had to warm it up or she wouldn't take it. I graduly heated it less and less and finaly not at all.

Hi K.,

My daughter, who is now 3, still refuses to drink milk straight or flavored. I was very concerned too. But all the nutritionists and doctors keep telling me it's totally normal and bears no effect on her health as long as she eats or consumes other forms of calcium. The only way my child will drink milk is if it's blended with ice cream, fresh/frozen banana, and strawberries. Best Wishes!

Hi K.,

This may seem like a silly question but have you tried heating it up? My 1 yr old prefers warm milker over cold. Its worth a try if you havent already!

Hi,

My daughter also was not that interested in milk and still isn't. The way I get her to drink milk is that I buy Kefir which is a yogurty like drink with lots of probiotics and I mix it with her milk. I buy kefir which is strawberry or raspberry or peach flavoured and just put a touch in her milk and it does the trick. Maybe worth a try. I know you said you'd tried putting yogurt and other stuff in the milk but maybe kefir with it's texture and flavour might do it.

good luck!

D.

cow's milk products are NOT good for human beings! cows obviously produce milk for their babies, as do humans. the dairy industry has been pushing this lie for a very long time (see notmilk.com). your child is showing very good sense in refusing cow's milk. children also do not NEED any other kind of milk, although plant-based milks are fine if you want to offer them. human breastmilk is obviously the best, but if you are no longer breastfeeding, just make sure you offer a wide variety of fresh organic healthy foods (and no unhealthy foods!) and pure water, and your child will be well nourished.

Hi,

Dont know if this would work for you but how about putting some ice in the milk? I like milk but think it is gross if it is not cold enough..also it almost makes it thinner in texture...I dont know... worth a try!

K.

I started giving milk to my son in a sippy about 11 months, and he took it just fine.
Maybe try some milk with formula or breast milk (not sure which you did). And gradually increase the amount of milk. Maybe warm it a big.

Good luck!

Hi K. - My first born was not all that into milk either. He would take one sip, that was it. I talked with his pediatrician about it and he asked me if he was eating other things (yougurt, cottage cheese, cheese..ect) and he loved all that stuff. Dr. said he would be fine.
He is now 6 and drinks milk with every meal. He is fine with it.
My younger son, now 3, is served milk with every meal. Sometimes he drink a little, sometimes he doesn't drink any of it.
I have never tried chocolate syrup or sweetening up milk in any form. They are served regular old milk, nothing else. When my younger one says he wants juice, I say not until he drinks his milk. SOmetimes he does, but most of the time he doesn't, so that means no juice. But, if he does drink it, then he gets some VERY watered down juice. If he comes to me later and says that he is thirsty, I say GREAT!! here's your milk, or you may have water.
Basically, I am saying not to worry. As long as he is eating other things that have dairy or milk fat, she will be fine. My older son who drinks milk all the time, did not get that way until he was about 3 or 4.
L.
You could try warming it up a bit. I babysit a couple of kids every once in a while who get a warm cup of milk right before they go to bed, and they drink it down!

I mixed whole milk with vanilla pediasure for the first few months and have just recently removed the pediasure and she drinks 24ounces a day. I also give it to her warm and still in a bottle. I remember it taking a little bit of time for her to like it.

I switched my five children from breast milk to water. None have had dairy of any kind, and they are healthy happy strong boys ages 27, 25, 20, 14, and 12. Humans were not designed to consume the breast milk of another species after weaning from mom's milk, so doing without milk will not be a problem. They can get all the calcium they need from greens, legumes, and nuts. In fact they will be far healthier and not have the risk for diabetes, allergies, MS, ear infections, rheumatoid problems, etc...and FAR less visits to the doctor for illness.

I think moms are having trouble getting babies to drink milk because they give them 2%. Do you know that regular milk is only 4%? They make 2% look white by adding sugar. Regular milk tastes good. 2% is not so good. Check out the ingredients. I raised my kids on a natural sugar diet--fruit, etc. and a minimum fat diet. If you keep your kids active they will burn off the fat--mine did.

You could also add flavoring (chocolate) to the milk.

My son wouldn't drink milk after i weaned him at 15 months. so i just gave him a bit of cheese each night as a snack while reading stories. he would get his calcium and fat that way. eventually he would drink chocolate milk. but he still doesn't drink it much. there are other ways to get the dairy in. my son didn't seem to grow for about 6 months, but has really gotten taller at 3yrs. he is still really skinny! but the dr's said he was fine, just make sure he gets some fat in his diet. some people just don't like milk. so i wouldn't push it!

My daughter was the same way with milk. So I tried a few different things and slowly she has grown to drink about 8-12 ounces per day. She's 16 1/2 months old now, so it took us several months too. I switched to 2% milk because it was thinner than whole milk, and more similar to the consistency of breast milk. Then I put it in one of our regular cups with an adult straw and she liked that. Plus, I started drinking out of straws in the regular cups so she's want to copy me. But I think the thing that really got her to like drinking milk was seeing my husband drink it. My husband has it for dinner almost every night, so we would encourage her to "drink her milk just like daddy does" and now she drinks some at every meal. And now she drinks it out of her own cups, which makes it easier for me to give it to her and not have to watch over her with our glasses and a straw.
Good Luck

i have just given my kids a cup with milk. they will take it if they want. will she drink it after eating cereal.my daugther loves to drink her milk that way

I am wondering what other liquids she will drink. You don't want to be substituting juice (or chocolate soy milk etc) all the time.

As long as you know your daughter is not lactose intolerant, I agree with the poster who suggested offering just water or milk for liquids. These are convenient, healthy, and eventually she will probably warm up to the idea.

Oh, one more suggestion -- make sure you and your husband are drinking milk with meals. This might encourage her to do the same.