About 2 months ago, my 18 month old son stopped drinking milk. What can I do to make sure he gets calcium?

Question

He drank 3 cups of milk a day with no problem from 13 months to 15 or 16 months. One day, he handed the cup back to me and refused to drink it. I have tried warming it, mixing chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, etc.. and nothing! He won't drink it. He's not a big fan of cheese but loves yogurt. Is there anything else I can do to make sure he gets his calcium?? Any ideas please!!! Thanks!

Answer 1

try chewable or liquid form vitamin.

Answer 2

I'm having the same problem with my 15 month old. We just went to the pediatrician for his check up yesterday and I mentioned it. He surprised me by saying it's perfectly okay as long as he's eating yogurt or cheese. He said there's nothing magical about milk and that the only thing he'd be getting from the milk is vitamin D, calcium and fat. There are many other foods rich in all of those. Don't stress over it, just start looking a little more closely at food labels to make sure he's getting foods rich in those nutrients and try to make healthy choices for him. Mine wasn't a big fan of cheese either until he discovered string cheese. I guess it's something about making a mess while eating that thrills him : )

Answer 3

Buy fortified yogurt.

You can pick-up yogurt now-a-days with all kinds of "extras" in it. If you're still worried, talk to a nutritionist about what foods are high in calcium.

As to why your son all of a sudden won't drink milk...could it be you and your significan other don't drink milk? At 18 months, he will have started noting that "I'm a big boy, and milk isn't a big boy drink!" Start drinking milk in front of him...you and the dad need (calcium) too, and calcium from supplements is a poor substitute. For most, you'll be lucky to see your body process 10-20% by volume of the calcium you absorb from fortified sources/supplements.

Good luck!

EDIT:
As to humans not needing milk...this is true. But, young children should consume a fair amount of dairy in their daily food consumption. starting about 5, a child's body will start loosing the ability to process lactose. Most kids will (from 12 or so on) still retain some ability to process dairy without the painful side effects (bloating, gas, "sour stomach", painfully (for everyone around him/her bad breath, etc). Others can not process lactose at all.
For those retaining the bacterium that allow the processing of lactose, dairy can safely remain as part of their daily diet, but those choosing to no longer consume dairy, they quickly loose the ability to process it at all.
For those that have lost the bacterium to process lactose, they become Lactose Intollerant (which is not, despite what some think, not an allergy).

On additional possibility is that the dairy that your milk comes from may have switched their cows over to winter feed already - for whatever reason. So, twice a year, the taste of milk changes, and until you are used to (the "new" flavour), it tastes "off."

Answer 4

My son used to drink a lot of milk, but when he turned 2, the same thing happened. So, I started giving him calcium fortified Orange Juice and yogurt smoothies. His favorite are the Danimals ones (by Dannon). Each one contains about 25% of the recommended calcium allowance, and he can easily drink 3 of them in one sitting. Of course, you have to consider the sugar trade off too. But if you cut down on other sweets, this is a good way to make sure that your son gets enough calcium every day.

Answer 5

At your childs age (between 1-3years) they need to intake atleast 500mg of calcium (from whatever source) a day, but what you seem to be forgetting is that your child should drink milk not only for the benfits of calcium and vit D (strong bones and teeth), but there are also other benfits to drinking milk.
Cow's milk is a very good source of protein, calcium and other nutrients that are essential for a child's normal growth and development. Milk is also rich in dietary fats. The fat in the milk is important for nerve and brain development. This is why whole milk (no more than 24oz a day) is recommended for children less than 2 years of age.
Anyways your the parent and maybe you need to toughen up a little with what he/she drinks. If he's not allergic to milk and he just is refusing to drink it, I would tell him "im sorry but you drink milk with lunch and dinner, and if you dont want it, im sorry but thats all your getting" and be tough about it. Theres no need to force it down their throat but at some point your child need to learn that YOU are the parent and what you say goes. I don't put up with much of that from my son (whos 17 months now) and i think that being firm from the beginning will only help as he gets older and more rebelious. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 6

Give him a Flintstone vitamin or a gummy vitamin. Kids don't mind them and you'll have the peace of mind you need with getting him the nutrients he needs. If you ever make canned condensed soups for him, put milk in instead of water. The yogurt is fine for him to eat. It's a misconception that humans need milk--we lived for thousands of years without cow's milk. Try offering him soy milk or rice milk if you're that concerned about it. Some juices add calcium. I'd water it down, but at least he'd be getting something. How does he like orange juice? They make orange juice with added calcium.

Answer 7

My daughter never drank milk. My doctor said to buy anything I could that was calcium fortified. There are so many options out there. I also used to make anything I could with cream cheese or cottage cheese. Most likely, it's a phase and will end. Just keep trying!

Answer 8

Just give him the milk, every child refuses things at different times. Mostly just to express their ability to make choices. It doesnt mean its the right choice or something he should be allowed to decide. He's 18 months, not 18 years.

Keep offering him milk, dont make him drink it, but dont give him other things. He wont die from it. Eventually he will go back to it.

Pedisure has all sorts of things needed for toddlers, yogurt, cottage cheese, any other dairy. If memory serves me, broccoli is a good course of calcium, so are fortified cereals.

Dont give vitamins unless you talk with your doctor. they really shouldnt be given to toddlers. Its just too easy to overdose a child on iron without realizing it. Its the number one cause of hopitalization due to poisoning in children three and under. Not something to be taken lightly.

Answer 9

How about a chewable. There is a chewable calcium supplement that taste like chocolate or caramel. I am not sure of the name brand. Maybe something like Vi-Active. Anyway...they are a chewable calcium. But you might not need anything more than a chewable over-the-counter multi-vitamin to fill the calcium requirement. Gummi-Vitamins are good as are the Flintstones Multi-vitamin. If your especially worried that your child is calcium deprived...ask your doctor to order a blood test to check calcium levels. You might be worrying over nothing.

Answer 10

Humans do NOT need milk to be healthy, so please do not stress about that.

Calcium is present in many foods, especially dark leafy greens (spinach, kale), many vegetables, beans, almonds, etc.

Also, rice and soy milk are fortified with calcium, and some juices (orange especially).

There are chewable calcium supplements that children can take, or liquid calcium.

If dairy isn't a problem, you can offer yogurt, cheese, etc

Answer 11

Yogurt is good. How about calcium fortified orange juice. Ice cream, milk shakes