How do I get my 19 month old to drink milk?

Question

He has gotten to that age where if he doesn't want something he will shake his head no. I know he needs to drink more milk though. Please any suggestions would be helpful..Thanks

Answer 1

My 18 month son had the same thing. I just made sure he got dairy in other forms. He likes yogurt and cottage cheese. He loves cheese sticks and string cheese. Has he been weaned off of breastmilk? I didn't hear of this trick until it was too late but you can give him the breast milk and add a little regular milk. Then gradually add more milk and decrease the amount of breast milk every serving until it's just cow's milk you are serving. I have also given him formula once in a while to make sure he is getting his vitamins. He didn't like pediasure at first but now he likes it. Also I have tried Horizon's organic milk. They have a vanilla flavored one that is sweet and my son loves that milk too. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Have you tried mixing chocolate, vanilla or strawberry quick in it? I had this problem and started mixing strawberry and at first I used quite a bit (to make the flavor really strong) and then over the course of a few weeks (or even moths if he is really stubborn--be gradual) I used less and less flavoring until he didn't have any and he didn't seem to mind anymore. Be really gradual though. I didn't like the fact that I had to use a sugary substance at first but I figured after all was said and done it was worth it because he could drink the milk plain afterwards.

Answer 3

I have two children who have always refused to drink milk! On the rare occasion I can get them to drink milk mixed with NesQuick. (Nesquick is 99 % caffeine free). I'm not crazy about the increase in sugar content- but it definately helps them drink it on occassions.

For the times that they don't- since kids need a large emount of calcium and fat that can only be found in milk/dairy products I feed them both yogurts for lunch, cheese snacks, cheese sticks, if I serve them fruit- they have a bit of yogurt on the side for dipping sauce. I buy calcium enriched OJ as well as their other juices.

My pediatrician said this was all fine! A multi-vitamin added into the daily routine also doesnt' hurt!

Answer 4

The above answers are great. There is also another possibility. My son and I would NOT drink milk at that age. In our case, it turned out that we were both lactose intolerant. I figured it out for my son, but no one had figured it out for me. All I knew at the time was it gave me a belly ache. I wasn't fussy about it, but I wouldn't drink the milk. I changed my son over to goat's milk and he was fine with it.

Even today, I won't drink milk. I love cheese though, so as long as I take the necessary enzymes (Lactase), I can eat it with no problem.

Good luck with your little one. :)

Answer 5

For my 14 month old, the doc suggested some Lite Hershey's Syrup (1/2 the sugar) because my son wouldn't drink milk either. It worked and now he drinks it plain too. If you're concerned about him getting adequate nutrition and that doesn't work- try Pediasure. It's a bit pricey, but it has all the vitamens and minerals-and I don't know any kid who doesn't like it.

Answer 6

Everybody has already suggestion ed things to put in his milk but I would try to mix it with a little drinkable yogurt I think it has less sugar and It is also a dairy product as well.also try different cups. sippy cups or regular cups or cups with straws . Just designate that kind of cup with the milk. My daughter 18 months does not like milk either. I put her milk in a special cup and she knows that the special cup is for her milk.

Answer 7

Try putting just a touch of Vanilla extract into his milk. This sweetens the milk just a touch and can make it more appetizing. As he gets into drinking it and takes it more easily, you can then start slowly decreasing the amount of vanilla extract you use until he is drinking it plain.

This worked wonders for me when I was trying to wean my son off of breast milk and onto whole milk. He refused the whole milk for quite some time until my paediatrician recommended this trick to me.

Good luck

Answer 8

My toddler has always hated milk too, ever since we switched her from formula. I put a little sugar-free strawberry syrup in her milk & she likes that. You may want to try chocolate or just switch them around so he doesn't get tired of one or the other. make sure he's getting enough calcium from other places too. For a while we fed her yogurt & that's good as far as calcium but there's a ton of sugar in it. You can also try some cheese, my daughter loves grilled cheese sandwiches but I can't overdo it because too much cheese makes her constipated. Good luck!

Answer 9

at this age as long as he is eating cheese yogurt ice cream any dairy products he doesnt need to drink more than a cup a day.buy some flavoring like choc. or strawberry and try that

Answer 10

He doesn't "need" milk, nobody does. He does need protein, fat, calcium, and vitamin D.

Vitamin D can and should be obtained from the sun. Even 17 minutes of head exposure in the winter in Canada is sufficient to make vitamin D in toddlers.

Protein can come from meats, lentils, beans, nuts/seeds, eggs and many veggies. Nuts/seeds are also a source of healthy fat.

Healthy fat can also be found in egg yolks, avacados, olive oil or suppliments such as cod liver oil. Egg yolks also contain Vitamin D, they are one of the few NATURAL food sources (vitamin D is added to cow's milk). Egg yolks also contain choline which is supposed to be very good for children's brains. Some fish oils contain Vitamin D and also DHA which is good for the brain.

Calcium is found in any green veggies, many fish (such as salmon) and any fish that you eat the bones (like anchovies). Cow's make calcium from grass, humans can make calcium from leafy greens too! Molasses, tofu, almonds and sesame seeds are also good sources of calcium (please be aware that tofu/soy, sesame seeds, and tree nuts are two of the top 9 most common allergens)

Green peas are high in protein and calcium and most kids will eat them.