Not a Milk Drinker

have you tried ovaltine? Its got a good chocolate flavor and has extra vitamins in it, it doesnt add all that much sugar...just a thought.

maybe try a milk-based smoothie, add frozen strawberries to make it cold/thicker. My daughter loves her smoothies, and we use a different cup (pull out the inside stopper) so she knows we're not trying to push something else on her. Bananas in the smoothie are also good to thicken it up.

Good luck!

Milk is really critical between 1-2 years old because the fat in Vitamin D milk is important for proper brain development.

So, even though she drinks yogurt and eats cheese, it can't be enough each day to satisfy the kinds of fat needed.

have you tried different sippy cups? Have you taken her to the store and let her select a special one? Have you considered letting her drink assisted from a cup without a straw.

If you start the syrup thing now, you're begging for a nightmare down the road. It's extra calories and carbs that aren't needed, but it also never teaches her to like the taste.

I, personally, have never liked the taste of milk. Never! But, I had no option growing-up. My mom made us drink it with dinner. I get enough calcium now through my diet, but Calcium isn't the issue.

here's what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about how much milk at her age. You may want to call your pediatrician to see what they suggest, too. With a few thousand kids in their practice, they've likely dealt with this a time or two before:
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddle...

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/f...

If she is getting dairy from other places it is fine, but there is no harm in the strawberry syrup either, my boys love thier milk that way and it adds very little extra sugar to their diets. They also like it with vanilla extract in it, or a small amount of coffee from time to time.

Hi H.,
It seems strange to many people for kids not to drink milk. But in my experience it's been okay to have non-milk drinkers! My 5 year old never drank milk (always gagged) but eats cheese and yogurt. My 2 1/2 year old drank milk for almost a year after weaning but since stopped and will not drink a drop. She also eats yogurt and cheese. Then my 15 month old still has milk protein sensitivity, so not going to try milk for a few more months. All my kids are very healthy and we haven't seemed to have any issues!

My daughter wouldn't drink milk either. We tried skim for her and finally she drank some! I think the high fat content in whole cow's milk is just too different for some little ones. But, you know, the comments that cow's milk is for baby cows is true. We don't need it. My daughter is a huge cheese fiend, so she gets her calcium there. Don't let the family members opinions sway your instincts. You know best what works for your daughter! Good luck.

Just continue to offer it to her and hopefully she will come around soon. If she is eating yogurt and cheese then her calcium intake is good.

My 15 month old daughter also will not drink cow's milk...have tried flavoring and everything. What she does love is Very Vanilla soy milk, which is fortified for kids and her pedi is fine with. I don't know if your daughter is/was breastfed but I have heard that soy milk is more similar in taste and texture to breastmilk, not sure if thats true or not, but she does love it! Maybe you could give that a try...

Cow milk is for baby cows.

Sure it has a lot of nutrients in it, but we humans can get those nutrients from plenty of other sources.

My son is over 2 and doesn't drink milk. Occasionally he'll have some chocolate milk as a treat, but rarely drinks regular milk (although he does like it on cereal).

As long as you think she has a healthy well balanced diet, don't worry. Especially if your pedi says not to worry!!

She doesn't need it if she's getting dairy in other forms. It was important for me to get my DD to drink it b/c she was refusing breakfast for a while and I wanted her to have SOMETHING in her tummy. I broke down and put sugar-free chocolate syrup in it. DONT do it! That's all she'll drink now.

Cow's milk is for cows. Don't stress about it. She may have an intolerance to it that her body is aware of.

She does not need milk. Do not try to give it to her. I hate milk and have never had a glass in my life. I hate the smell, I hate the taste. My dauther is the same. Other than not liking the taste, it may be making your daughter sick. It's very hard to digest. As long as she's getting the vitamins and minerals she needs from other souces, there's nothing to worry about.

Water is the best think for her. If she only drinks water the rest of her life, she will be one of the healthiest people you'll ever know.

My middle child did the same thing and we ended up putting sugar-free chocolate syrup in it. That was the only way I could get her to drink it for about 2 years. Now she will drink it plain when it is offered to her. Remember, as long as she gets calcium other ways, she does not have to drink milk. I have a friend who weaned her kids from milk at the age of two and they are only given water or 100% juice.

My daughter did exactly the same thing, and it turns out she's lactose intolerant, but it was not so bad as to cause severe distress. I really wouldn't have known except that she stopped drinking milk on her own. I really think it made her feel bad, but she couldn't express that. Cheese and yogurt are more easily digested so often are not a problem for people who are LI. Give her juice with calcium if you can or just offer the yogurt and cheese as much as she'll take it. If you are really concerned you could give her a kids vitamin or maybe a pedia-sure drink. Don't let your family push you if you think it's OK!

H., my niece's baby is going to be 2 years old in November. And she does not like milk either. So she does not drink any milk, but there is a powder milk they tried with her. It's in the Hispanic isle in Walmart and it's called NIDO. It's a big green yellow can with NIDO in front of it. It's powder milk that you mix with water and that is what they got her drinking now. That's the only milk she will drink and it's good it's just powder so you will have to mix like you did with formula. Take a look and give it a try you wont loose anything with trying. Who knows maybe she will like it and drink that. Good luck and I sure hope she drinks it.

If she has dairy in other ways then milk isn't something that she must have , she has yogurt and cheese so that is good , what about cereal with milk at breakfast? That's another way to get some dairy into her. Will she drink the milk that comes in a juice box? Maybe an option if you want her to have 1 drink of milk/day. It is an age thing though , give it a few months and I bet she will drink milk in a regular cup

It's been said that the purpose of milk is to turn a 100 pound calf into a 1000 pound steer in 6 months. It's not necessary. Humans are the only species that drinks milk past the nursing stage and it's mostly habit and the result of a lot of advertising by the dairy industry. It is not essential to our health. Resist the family pressure. I think you are wise to refuse to put in all the sugary additives to make her drink it! She needs water for hydration, which she gets in her sippy cup, but she can get calcium, protein and other nutrients from many other foods. As long as she has a varied diet, she's fine.

Have you tried an open cup?

Some other things you can try to entice her to drink milk is chocolate milk - chocolate syrup is fat free and using just a little won't hurt.
Ovaltine is really good for kids as is Carnation instant breakfast drink - less sugar than pediasure but with all the nutrition. A feeding specialist told me that.

If your willing to try anything to get her to drink milk, why not just give her the bottle back?What is the point of removing it by it by 15 months? IMO that seems too soon. My daughter had hers till about 3 years and gave it up on her own when she was ready.

H.,
There is absolutely no reason your daughter should drink milk!! Many people believe milk (cow's milk) is bad for you because of the growth hormones given to the cows to produce so much. As long as your daughter receives calcium from other sources (green leafy veggies, supplements, calcium fortified beverages, etc.), don't even worry about it!!! It's great that she drinks water, keep up the good work!
E.:-)
BTW, please don't ever give her sugary syrups, what good are they to her little body??? No need to start the sugar addiction at such a young age.

We do 1/2 a Gogurt and sippy cup filled with milk. Same idea as the strawberry syrup only healthier because it's yogurt and my son loves it. Milk is important for your daughters bones but it's great she's doing water. My son refuses the water!