What's a Good Milk Substitute?

You may want to try rice milk, soy milk, almond milk. Also, NAET.com for allergy eliminations. I am having a problem with cows milk because of the cow hormones in the milk. I love cheese, ice cream, whipped cream and haven't found what I need in the vegetarian world yet.

Be well.

N.

After trying all different kinds of milks too with my daughter, she does well with organic almond milk sweetened w/ a small drop of agave nectar. Also, we do fresh organic juice every morning with carrots, romaine lettuce, spinach, oranges, green/red apples and she drinks any where from 1-6 ounces a day. That way I know she is getting tons of calcium and vitamins.
Best of luck.
E.

It sounds to me like you tried just about everything. How about Hemp milk? It's high in protein so it's a good alternative. Almond milk too, but it's not as high in protein, vitamins and other nutrients, but my son loves it.-www.weelicious.com

Hi C.,

You might want to try almond milk. Our oldest son really liked the Blue Diamond "Almond Breeze" brand. It comes in 3 flavors - original (unsweetened), vanilla, and chocolate. Our son only drank the original flavor. You buy it off the shelf at room temperature and refrigerate after opening. I hope this helps. Good luck!!

Y.

Hi. Have you ever tried almond milk? Its pretty tasty and comes in small resealable paper containers, you can get it from Trader Joes.

Milk doesn't replace breast milk. Milk is just a drink that imparts some of the nutrients and fats that he needs. He can get those nutrients from yogurt(though probably not the fat) or cheese or other dairy products or other foods entirely if you want to wait for him to outgrow the milk allergy. He needs water to stay hydrated. So don't worry about him not drinking milk to wean him- it's not a straight across trade.

My oldest liked yogurt drinks(he drinks yo on the go from costco) and nesquik in his milk. It does add more sugar to his diet but it also adds more nutrients. As far as the chocolate powder goes I add 1 maybe 2 teaspoons to his cup where it calls for 2 tablespoons so I don't think it adds too much sugar. It's recommended by his ped too.

Good luck! Food battles are tough! And you just have to keep trying different things just like you have been doing!

I found my kids really like vanilla or chocolate(sweetened)almond milk. I definately don't suggest it if anyone in the family has nut allergies. Also there's hemp milk, but I can't vouch for the taste. Also remember there are other things that have calcium if you want to eliminate milk all together. Fortified orange juice has just as much calcium as cows milk. Just a few ideas :-)

My son is 9 and has had some problems with milk too. He dislikes anything soy, so I tried Lactaid, a milk free product that looks a lot like fat free milk. He really enjoys it and it tastes a lot like milk. I actually enjoy it too and have started drinking it myself. Hope this helps :) M.

Talk to your Peditrician first. Your child may have allergies to milk and milk substitutes. There is Almond milk but be very careful as young children can have nut allergies. Good luck.
P. B

Sorry to hear you're in a rush to wean, it's the best thing for them, the benefits go on way past a year. However, they don't need cow or soy milk after a year as long as they are getting enough fat and calcium from other food sources: cheese, beans, tofu, broccoli, spinach, eggs...

we never gave my daughter regular milk because my family has so much lactose intolerance but we give her rice milk occasionally (she started liking this mostly after she was weaned off daytime nursings). So, like others on this list, I agree that she will flourish just fine without milk substitute. However, because she isn't getting the milk fat as a good source of omega 3 oils and DHA for brain development, you probably want to start supplementing her diet with stuff like pure coconut oil (we put a tablespoon into her oatmeal every morning and it melts right in and smells delicious); fish oil (if you can figure out how to get it into his meals); the actual oil from the algae before the fish eat it (a more direct source of omega 3 oils) - put a dropper full into her noodles and such for lunch or dinner. I also try a tablespoon of butter in noodles and other meals here and there to see if she has a reaction and she seems to process it really well (different kind of milk protein?)

C., why does he need to drink milk, other than breast milk, at all? He can get calcium and vitamin D from plenty of other sources, and frankly, cows milk is for calves. I did day care in my home for seven years and taught pre-school for nine, and I swear, most babies and even young kids and adults too, have some form of lactose intolerance or out right alergy. And a complete disdain for a food, OR the inability to get enough of it, are both signs of alergy. As far as the soy and rice etc, are you trying to get him to DRINK it, or just put it on cereal? My daughter would accept NOTHING but breast milk as well. I weined her at about 16 months, and she is 16 years old now and has NEVER drunk milk of any kind, but she will put it on cereal. However, she has developed lactose intolerance to a certain degree and now prefers almond milk (she does not care for the soy or rice milk)for her cereal. But be very careful before giving your son almond milk, that he has no sign of nut alergy. Otherwise, just give him diluted juices and water to drink. Nobody needs milk other than breast milk. Take care, C.

I know it's unusual, but my pediatrician recommends giving babies and toddlers no milk at all. Just water and lots of fresh made baby food. My kids are now 5 and 10 and they are really good, healthy eaters. I give them lots of green vegetables and legumes cooked into soup instead. Hope that helps...

C.,

My first son didn't start drinking milk until a few months after I weaned him from the breast (at 2). As long as he had the option, he refused cows milk.

My second child is allergic to both cow's milk (and all dairy) and soy. So he drinks hypoallergenic formula that looks and tastes nasty. But he took to it with no problem while I was still nursing and kept drinking it once he was weaned (he's 2.5 now).

Rice milk has virtually no nutritional value so I would push that.

Try mixing whatever milk you opt to go with with breastmilk. If you aren't pumping, try cutting it with water. Breastmilk is a much thinner consistency than cows milk. Maybe that will help.

Good luck,
T.

Coconut milk is awesome for kids - but we aren't talking coconut milk from a can. You would need to buy a young coconut and use the water/milk from that. It looks like water - not creamy and white.

Also, Goats milk is super healthy and easier to digest. I highly second that recommendation.

Your son still might gag on it - but frankly, he's OVER 12 months old and doesn't NEED milk. He needs calcium and fat, but he can get those from other sources. If you feed him yogurt or cheese he will still get what he needs. Don't stress about milk.

Hi C.,

Breast milk is much sweeter than any of the other milks on the market, which may be why your little guy doesn't care for anything else. BUT this does not mean that you should fortify other milks with sugar, and definitely do not use artificial sweeteners at this age. Calcium and fats can be derived from other sources/food supplements as others have suggested. Make sure to supplement vitamin D, too, especially if your son spends most of his day in doors.

Since you've already noted that your son develops a rash after consuming milk, you're probably right that he is allergic to it. Goat's milk is similar to cow's milk in its protein complement and structure, so it really isn't a good alternative. Many kids with cow's milk allergy cross react with goat's milk. Since his allergy does not seem to be severe you can try it, but don't be surprised if you get a similar reaction. But, if your son wheezes at all after drinking cow's milk, I wouldn't risk the goat's milk. Also, you should avoid all other dairy products if he has a true allergy, including cheese and yoghurt. You might want to talk to his pediatrician about food allergy testing.

Check with your pediatrician, but ours isn't so focused on milk per se, but calcium. My daughter's not a big milk drinker, so we focus on calcium-rich foods, instead. Here's something to read:
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/calcium/a/06_calcium_food.htm

As a last resort, try goat's milk. I raised all three of my children on it after I weaned them, because they were allergic to cow's milk and soy. If he is gaging on milk of any kind, you might have to increase his meat intake to get enough protein. I suggest your doctor send you to a dietitian for children with food allergies and also to see why he is gagging. Does he gag on all liquids? or just ones he doesn't like the taste or texture of?

He's not supposed to drink milk until he's 1 year old. You'll have to talk to your ped. about formula.

You can try goat's milk which is hormone free and more digestible. Don't give soy to a child, especially a boy.
If you must use soy, use Eden. The other's are toxic with plastic byproducts. He doesn't need milk, let him drink water. Feed him nutritious food. He'll get the nutrients he needs if you give him a healthy diet.

goats's milk is best - closest milk to human milk and it does not carry the allergens that cow's milk does. you can buy at trader joes -- you can also buy powdered version online, meyenberg's.

Have you ever tried pediasure? They come in vanilla, choc., strawberry and I think orange. My son drinks those to get his daily needs. I believe target sells a knock off that is exactly the same just less $$.
Good luck~

Hey C.,
You should be able to give him Goat's milk with no problems. Good luck,
V.

Soy is too close to milk/dairy and is really not a good alternative for almost anyone especially those with eczema, ear infections, and such. Have you tried different types of rice milk? If I were to start over with what I know now, I would have my kids on Hemp Milk (yes, you read right). This has the most protein, vitamins, minerals and does not affect those with allergies as dairy and soy do. Another alternative, second in line, is Almond Milk. More nutrients than Rice Milk.

For those with severe allergies or an infant, Neocate is the way to go. www.neocate.com

Hi. I've read in several different places that goat's milk is easier to digest and makes a great substitute for cow's milk. I haven't personally tried it, but it may be worth looking into. Good luck!

have you tried almond milk? also a good way to introduce it to your son is to start out with 1oz into some pumped breast milk then over time increase it to 2oz and so on. maybe try non fat milk since its thiner like your breast milk. talk to his dr and see what they say.

i had a lot of friends who had to get their kids off cows milk and they put them on goats milk, they say its closer to human milk or something like that?
there is also almond milk, i personally think that the vanilla almond milk tastes like ice cream!

I read somewhere 1/2 coconut milk, 1/2 unsweetened almond milk is a nutritious substitute. Worth a try!

My son likes Horizon Organic Lactose Free Milk. It's sweeter than most and doesn't give him tummy issues...lactose intolerant. I even drink it and like it a lot.

Good Luck.

Hi! Your baby does not have to have a milk substitute. He can get the same nutrients in other foods. I stopped bf when my daughter was 14 mo, and the only thing she drinks is water. I tried rice milk,soy etc just to see if she would like any. But she does not. She will not drink juice either, which is fine. I did not give her anyhting to "replace" the breast feeding either. He will be fine, assuming there is a liquid that he likes? Good luck!

My daughter went on a "milk strike" for a while.. I just gave her lots of yogurt during that time. She LOVES danimals. THen she just kinda started wanting milk again.

Hi C.,

I have heard that Goat's milk is a great alternative for cow's milk. I've seen it at Trader Joes.

K.

have you tried almond milk? good luck!

Try goat's milk. My youngest, who is allergic to cow's milk, can't get enough of it.