My baby hates milk, how can I get her to drink the daily recommended amount?

Question

My daughter is 14months old. I was hoping to have her weaned by now, as I am starting school and breastfeeding will no longer be an option. However, she hates milk. She will eat cereal mixed with milk, yogurt and cheese. But I cannot seem to get her to drink milk. She won't take it out of a bottle or a sippy cup, she just spits it out and then won't take anymore. I have found myself still breastfeeding her because I don't want her to suffer nutritionally from not getting milk. What can I do to get her to drink milk?? Please help!!

Answer 1

Why do you want to? If she eats milk, yogurt, and cheese, what difference is it if she also *drinks* it?

In fact, you can raise a healthy child with *no* dairy products at all, but if she is getting enough in other forms, stop pressuring her. It won't help anyway; in fact, she's *less* likely to drink it if you keep nagging. Hard cheeses are the easiest way to get dairy. One to one-and-a-half ounces of cheese is the nutritional equivalent of a full cup of milk. If she eats yogurt, count each cup of yogurt as a cup of milk.

You *could* add chocolate to the milk (as other answers suggested), but then you could save yourself time and pour the chocolate milk directly into the toilet. Chocolate contains oxalic acid which prevents you from absorbing the calcium from foods (calcium is the primary nutrient in dairy that is not very common elsewhere). Yes, she'll take in the calcium, but it will land right in her diaper. And, by the way, most green leafy vegetables (which also have calcium) are also high in oxalic acid. The only exception I can confirm (there's a lot of different information out there) is kale.

You can also continue nursing her, even after you return to school. When you are away, she can drink water, and you could nurse her in the mornings and evenings. The World Health Organization recommends nursing for *at least* 2 years. The longer you nurse her, the more protection she will get against cancer (including breast cancer, leukemia, and Hodgkin's Disease) and many other diseases (throughout her lifetime).

Answer 2

Have you talked to her doctor about this? My son almost 6 will not drink milk. I breast fed him for 14 months. When I tried to give him cow milk he refused. My whole family said I should force him because you NEED milk. Well your doctor will tell you different. You do not NEED milk. You need the calcium. They will recommend you to give him one tums a day. Humans are the only species who drinks another animals milk. You do not see a horse drinking from a cow? That is how the doctor and the nutritionist put it to me. I just mix milk into other foods like mac & cheese, refried beans, chicken enchladas. Whatever. But stop worrying about the cow milk. She doesn't need it. If you question my answer then call your doctor. I have my son who will not drink a glass of milk, been that way for almost 5 years now. My daughter on the other hand can't get enough of it. Both extreamly healthy with and without milk. Good luck and don't worry, just by a bottle of tums.

Answer 3

A baby that age (mine girl is 15 months) needs 1 pint of milk per day. This includes all yougurts and milk in cereal. In truth my baby drinks a little more than the recomended. If you can get about 1/4 pint at morning and the same at night thn you don't need to worry. Whatever you do don't sweeten it up into milkshake or add anything to it as this will become a nightmare in later life. Even when it seems hard, these are the easiest times to train her well

Answer 4

I really don't think adding sugar to milk is a good idea for a young child. It could make the child start detesting ANYTHING that doesn't have sugar in it.

As far as the milk intake, milk is not necessary for young children! (or old ones for that matter) you can still breastfeed if you like, even if you are going to school, while you are at home. Your milk will adjust.

As far as milk goes, she can get all the nutrients she needs from other (and might I add, much healthier than chocolate milk) sources, such as green leafy veggies, other veggies, legumes, fresh fruits, and probably meat (though I'm not an authority on that since I am vegeterian). These are more than enough.

Also, try to consider that she may be rejecting the milk because of how it makes her feel. One of the most common allergies in young children is to milk (or lactose). Her body could be telling her to spit it out for good reason. Yogurt and cheese are much healthier sources (as long as they aren't loaded with food colouring, salt and sugar, as many commercial brands are) since they are fermented and are much easier to digest.

Many children are brought up on a dairy-free diet and continue to thrive, eating lots of healthy foods and continually growing and getting smarter just as any other children (sometimes more so!)

You could also give her soy milk, there is a good bit of calcium and protein in soy milk as well, and see if she likes that. Watch to see if she gets gas though - it is a legume and can make SOME chilren gassy.

Answer 5

I have the exact opposite problem. My 15 mth old only wants to drink milk which causes constipation. I was told by his Doctor that they don't need as much milk as people think after they turn a year. There are other ways to give her what see needs that is found in milk. Try Pedisure, yogurt, smoothies, or string cheese. My 6 yr. old was breastfed till he was 18 mths and till this day doesn't care too much for milk.

Answer 6

There are several ways you can try. It sounds like it may be a texture issue. Try watering down the milk so it will be more like breast milk. Add a little sugar. Now once you find the combo, each day cut back on the sugar and less water. The baby will get used to the new combo.

Answer 7

At mealtime offer her only milk or water to drink. She'll probably take only the water for a few weeks, but she'll eventually start on the milk (unless she learns that by holding out she'll get some juice).

Answer 8

Cow milk is not necessary for good nutrition as she is probably eating other foods by now and the nutrients can be obtained with other foods.

With that said, have you tried warming the milk up? She might be used to milk being warm, which also tends to change the flavor.

Answer 9

she doesn't HAVE to drink milk. Yogurt and cheese will do the trick. Also calcium fortified orange juice will give her her daily amount necessary. My son never drank milk either and he has strong bones...don't worry

Answer 10

Humans are the only mammals to drink another mammal's milk. There are other ways to incorporate the Vitamin D, fat, protein and calcium into her diet. Cow's milk isn't necessary.