How to Get My 1Yo to Drink Milk

Updated on September 15, 2010
M.M. asks from San Pablo, CA
16 answers

Hi moms!
My 1 yo refuses to drink milk unless I put "a lot" of pancake syrup in his milk. How can I get him to drink milk without having to add sweets or without blending it with fruit?
Please let me know what do you guys do to make your tot drink milk.

Thank you
M.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Ok...ok...
I added pancake syrup because I thought it would be better than straight sugar, it was only 1/8 tsp.
My husband and I like our milk warm, so I will try to warm up his milk next time. If that doesnt work, then I'm going to try to add chocolate milk (i've tried strawberry and he still didnt drink it), and my last option is just to give himo more calcium from other foods and give him milk and if he wats to drink it, he will.

thank you ladies, sorry about my ignorance but Im a first time mom and I didn't know what to do.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Never had this problem. She went straight from breast feeding to cold whole milk. I would either offer water or milk with nothing else in either. If he is thristy enough he will drink. You probably will have some tantrums to deal with but I think you have to address this now.

By the way, how in the world did you start putting pancake syrup in the milk? I can't imagine this is good for his health.

Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I used to mix it with a tiny bit of vanilla or strawberry milk and called it by another name--moo. It worked. Good luck.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Hello M., we can't reason with 1 year olds but always remember that you are the one in charge and there is no reason to let him make the decisions. I gave my children just milk and they have to learn to drink from a sippy cup or bottle depending on age. For some of the grandchildren
I have added a small amount of Nestles Quick to milk and I do mean just enough to flavor the milk only.If you eat yogart then you can feed that , are you usig 2% or whole milk? My daughters pedi doctor told her to make sure to give whole milk for the 1st 3 years as the body develops and that could be art of the problem. Pancake syrup can lead to many health problems later. You may want to try to give apple juice as well and alternate the two. Good Luck mom, just keep at it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

In many cultures, children never drink cows milk. But, PLEASE, stop giving him sweetened milk. You are causing many health and nutrition issues for later in life, including, but not limited to DIABETES, hypoglycemia, rotten teeth, hardening of organs etc. Addiction to sugar and needing to sweeten everything he eats later can cause OBESITY. Try water. Unsweetened water. You might be surprised...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

O.A.

answers from Nashville on

Not sure you can, my now 4 year old daughter was like that. I just increased calcium from other sources. Eventually when she turned 3 like magic she started drinking milk regularly. Not sure if this is the best advice but that's the way I dealt with it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.O.

answers from Harrisburg on

My son hates milk, but to substitute I give him cheese and yogurt. I also supplement with cod liver oil for the vitamin D...that's the nutrients milk offers, protein, vitamin D and calcium. Try switching to organic milk as well. The everyday gallon ones cause a lot of lactose intolerance in people/kids.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Try chocolate milk! Most kids will drink it. Some may not agree with it, but it often works. At my house milk is served with dinner. They are very much encouraged to drink one glass of milk with dinner. No other drinks are allowed. (until about 16 yrs old, then I let them decide). Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.P.

answers from Philadelphia on

At first I gave my daughter chocolate or strawberry milk and gradually I put less of the syrup into the milk and she eventually drank the plain milk. Ive never heard of putting pancake syrup in milk.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Detroit on

I have never heard of pancake syrup in milk?!? My daughter never drank milk. I know a lot of people have strong opinions about this one, but Soy milk is "sweeter" tasting than regular milk... and it HAS to be better than pancake syrup in his milk. Rice milk and almond milk has a sweeter taste to it as well (although, I would choose the "unsweetened" kind... it still has a sweeter taste over regular milk). Just stop giving it to him all together if he won't drink it and make sure he gets his calcium from cheese, yogurt, etc. I grew up not liking milk... still don't. Never drink it anymore, but rarely as a child (in my cereal, and that was all)... my health did not appear to suffer from it one bit. Rarely sick, never broke a bone in my body, I am taller than most men, let alone women, etc. :-) You have a lot of control right now over what you give to your little one. He/she will "hold out" if you give in to pouring the syrup in... so you just have to stop doing it all together... he/she will adjust quicker now than if you wait longer and longer to stop it. Now blending in some fresh or frozen (no sugar added) fruit... that sounds like a nice healthy option for a glass of milk...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.H.

answers from San Francisco on

My kids were never big on drinking milk either. They loved yogurt. I would give them the good kind without all the junk like high fructose corn syrup, colors, etc. You might see if he likes yogurt. Mine ate so much yogurt that I didn't worry about the milk so much. Good luck M.!

G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

I'm not sure why everyone is so concerned when their child won't drink milk! We are the only mammals to drink the milk of another mammal, which when you think about it is pretty gross. That being said, I love my cow's milk and was a little concerned when my son wouldn't drink it. We tried everything: soy, lactaid, almond, goat, etc, and he wouldn't drink ANY kind of milk except breast milk straight from the tap!

I talked to his pediatrician about it, and she asked me point-blank: "Why does he need milk?" It really opened my eyes to the fact that we can get things in other ways. Broccoli, for instance, is a GREAT source of Vitamin C and calcium, and other dairy products are good for other things milk provides.

Around 18 months, he wanted to eat cereal like Mommy, so he started drinking milk with his cereal through a straw (when the cereal was gone). He still isn't a big milk drinker, and he's almost 4.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

My first didn't like 'cold' milk and refused to drink it. It took forever to realize why, but once I warmed it up he drank it down. We started warm and worked our way cool and eventually to right from the fridge.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter is 20 months old and is just now starting to drink milk. As long as they are getting calcium from other things(yogart,cheese etc) he should be ok. If your that worried, talk to you dr.
Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.T.

answers from San Francisco on

I am not a milk drinker myself so we do Soy, Rice or Almond milk, they taste a little sweeter than cows milk so he may actually love it! AND most of them have MORE CALCIUM than cows milk! Just get the vanilla flavored ones for all of them. If that's not a go don't worry, feed lots of fruits and veggies and possibly give kid vitamins and calcium supplements, talk to your pediatrician first of course! There are many many children out there that do not drink any milk and it's totally OK.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.T.

answers from Dallas on

pancake syrup in milk? stop putting it in, he'll get thirsty and drink it eventually.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I bought the liquid yogurt drinks for my daughter (by dannon I think - 4 oz bottles) and mixed them about half and half, then gradually began filling more milk than yogurt....until I weaned her to full milk. I figured as long as she is getting the calcium from yogurt or milk it didn't bother me. good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions