3 Year Old Sometimes Won't Drink milk...What Would You Do??

Sounds like a bit of a power struggle. Why don't you offer him the choice of a glass of milk OR a glass of water and yogurt with breakfast and a glass of milk OR a glass of water and some cheese slices for dinner (or you can substitute a different calcium, vitamin-D rich food item). Tell him he has to have one or the other. I'm with you on the cookies - while the occasional cookie is okay, giving cookies, i.e. junk, is a bit much. Toddlers/pre-schoolers love to exert control over situations, and by providing him with two reasonable choices he feels like he has power over the situation (and you still get to control his intake of healthy food).

Milk is not really that important in the diet. Try offering him the choice of milk or water and see what he picks. Calcium and protein come in many other sources.

It is probably a power struggle because you have made it a rule. Don't force the issue and if does not drink it at breakfast or dinner, leave it for him to possibly drink later in the day. You may find after you stop pressing him to drink it, he will start doing it without issue. I also like the idea of offering another dairy product like yogurt at breakfast and cheese as a snack.

Hi Tracy,
After reading the other responses I think I am a little different as I agree it is your rule and that is all that needs to be said. At my house we have milk at our meals too (yes I understand dairy can come in other forms but it is what I am used too), anyway, we sometimes have a choice of White or Chocolate milk (you could also suggest strawberry) on some nights. It just changes things up a little!
Good Luck!

Not sure what the big deal is about drinking milk. Kids usually get enough calcium in their diet with cheese, yogurt, calcium rich oj, some veggies like kale and spinish, as well as cooking with milk, eg: pudding, oatmeal. I usually give my kids a choice between milk and water at meals and it's a toss up 50/50 as to what they choose. I was also told that milk at dinner increases the need to go to the bathroom, which interfers with nighttime potty training. Kids like choices and if you let them choose (chocolate milk or plain milk, OJ or milk) you just might find them drinking more.
Try not to stress out about it.
Good luck,
K.

One thing others haven't yet mentioned...could it also be that maybe the milk is a bit "off"? I can be sensitive to smells & tastes and can pick up on when a container of milk isn't as fresh as it was when first opened, and I remember this bothering me a lot when I was little.

Instead of forcing him to drink milk, have you tried giving him yogurt or cheese instead. He will get the calcium he needs without being forced into drinking milk.