My Son Does,nt Drink Milk . What to Do?

My daughter who is the same age does not like the taste of milk either. I've been mixing in a little in her formula bottle each time and each week I increase the amount. I'm at half and half right now and it's working fine. Maybe you could try this?! I think you just want them to get enough calories and good healthy foods and dairy each day to be growing properly. I don't think you need to give him a specific amount of milk each day as long as he is eating well. Maybe 3 bottles or so a day? (or sippy cups)

Unless your son lacks a balanced diet, he doesn't NEED milk. My son can't have milk. He is 17 months old and never even had a drink. He is very healthy! He gets lots of good vitamins from his diet. He eats lots of veggies, fruits, proteins, and fats. There is no real way to force your son to drink milk. Just make sure, that he is getting plenty of good food. He will be just fine.

The whole purpose of drinking milk is to gain the nutrients (vitamin D, calcium) from it and help your child grow muscle strength, among other things etc. You can find those nutrients in other things like cheese, yogurt, sunlight. At his age, you can substitute if he doesn't like it or try another type milk (goat milk, soy, etc)

Milk is the number one allergen and your child does not need milk. Ask your ped for other recommendations.

He doesn't really need milk there are plenty of other ways to get the calcium and vitamin D that are in milk. Does he like cheese or yogurt? Maybe he would drink a smoothie?
You could try warming the milk my little guy was never a fan of cold drinks he liked them to be at least room temperature. You can also mike the formula and milk 50/50 it might help.

Why are you trying to force your child to drink something he does not want?

To answer your last question, "how much milk does a 12 months boy should take for a day?" The answer is NONE, ZERO!!!!!!!!

Your child needs fluids, water is the best. Do not give him more than 6oz. of juice a day.

Your child needs calcium. This can be found in other dairy products like yogurt and cheese or dark green veggies.

Our pediatrician told us that "cow's milk was designed for calves". We always had lactose intolerant children. He also explained that the closest thing to human breast milk was goat's milk. We milked a goat for our first son, and after him we were in position to buy fresh goat's milk on a daily basis for our other children. Fresh non-pasturized goat's milk is best. We would do this until they could sustain their calcium need in many other food ways!

Have you tried sweetening it a little, just to get him used to the change? Whole milk isn't as sweet as formula and that may be why he doesn't like it. I've had friends try sweetening the regular milk and then gradually reducing the sweetener until it's gone and it worked like a charm.

Good luck!
J.

Have you tried soy or flavored milk?

If he does not like milk don't force the issue. It is not a necessary to his diet as long as he is getting the calcium he needs from other foods.

Sounds like my daughter before I weaned her from breastfeeding....I actually posted on here with the same question:) I tried for 4 months to give her cows milk and she would not drink it (she just spit it out) So after talking to her dr I went ahead and weaned her at 16 months. She loves cheese and yogurt for calcium and I gave her a vitamin for the Vit D.... One day around 19 months I offered her some milk, and guess what she drank it!! :) Now at 21 months she drinks milk twice a day, once before naptime and before bedtime..... I really thought she just wasn't going to be a milk drinker, but I gave it some time and it happened without pushing!:) Good Luck whatever happens!!

Just make sure he gets enough calcium and vitamin d - it doesn't matter if it is from dairy or not. Dairy isn't what it used to be - now it's full of antibiotics and hormones. You could try organic and see what happens.

A lot of people are mentioning that your son doesn't need milk if he is getting enough calcium and Vitamin D. This is all true, but milk is important in providing fats/lipids for a rapidly growing body and brain. So, make sure that if you do not supply whole milk (my older son never drank whole milk) that you provide a source of fat (whole milk yogurts, cheeses, or oils from vegetables and nuts) as well as calcium and Vitamin D (sun is the best source of Vitamin D).

If you are still preparing his night time drink as a warm drink, it could be that he doesn't like the coldness of the milk. If that is true, try making his formula gradually less warm until it too is cold. then slowly mix the formula and milk over time gradually adding more milk and less formula.

You can also talk to your pediatrician about transitioning to a soy milk or a toddler formula until he gets a liking for milk.

don't get too worried about it. He will like it but it just might take awhile. I agree with the other mom's that you can give him more cheese and yogurt to make up for the milk he doesn't get. You can also try making it sweeter to see if he will take it. Like mixing it with the toddlers vanilla pediasure. That usually always does the trick.