No Milk !!! - Cortlandt Manor,NY

If you like giving him a bottle and you feel he enjoys that, how about just water in it, or half milk, half water? (is it the bottle or is it the milk?) My daughter is 19 months. It does seem early to me too, but only because they are still so babyish, not because of the nutrition facts. Good luck.

Try mixing with Quik powder for pink or choc milk. My daughter refused milk too for almost 2 months when she was also around 18 months but then she started drinking the pink milk.

Don't worry about it. Water is better anyhow, especially for the teeth and you would have to ween the milk way down by 2 anyhow. My girlfiends son was breastfed till 1 years and has refused milk since that day. Believe me you will have a child with a healthier appetite (from not filling up on milk) and try starting a good water habit. I wish I had this problem, my son is 4 1/2 and is addicted to milk. the dr's want him down to 8 oz. a day. It has taken a lot to get there!

M.,

Did you ever consider that he may have some form of latose intolerance that gives him a stomach ache or gas? Or that he simply doesn't like milk?

Your child DOES NOT NEED MILK!!!!!! I say this very strongly because I hate milk (as a child a wouldn't even touch a milk container), and everyone (other than my mother) constantly tried to get me to drink it.

There are so many other ways for your child to get the same vitamins and minerals (yogurt, cheese, green leafy vegetables, fortified juices and cereals).

If you're concerned that he's not getting enough fuilds, give him water. If you're concerned that he needs something in his tummy before bedtime, offer him a nutrious snack. PLEASE DO NOT FORCE HIM TO DRINK MILK!

My son never liked milk! He loved his formula but when we introduced milk at 12 mos, he spit it out! Now he's 2 1/2 and drinks about a cup of milk a month. DONT WORRY! Just make sure he gets calcium thru yougurt, cheese, ice cream, etc. It does feel funny not to have him drink it, but it's not worth the fight. Try the organic vanilla milk...sometimes my little guy will drink that.

My 15 month old has never had cows milk and I don't plan on ever giving it to him.

The most important thing kids get from milk are calcium, vit D (and to some extent fat). My pedi said as long as he gets the calcium from other sources milk isn't important. A lot of greens have calcium and a lot of juices are calcium fortified. I personally am also a believer in multivitamins.

Cows milk is made for baby cows. Somehow people have gotten it in their heads that children NEED it. There's nothing wrong with a child not drinking cows milk.

I personally don't believe that milk is as healthy as we've all been led to believe and I agree about the bottle before bed not being good for the teeth. If he doesn't want dairy products, why not just give a calcium supplement? Nature's Plus Animal Parade makes a good one that tastes like vanilla ice cream. You can get it for cheap at www.vitacost.com.

My son is 21 months old and is allergic to milk. He is absolutely healthy and happy. Orange juice has calcium and so does fortified rice and soy milks. My son loves Silk Vanilla Soymilk and Chocolate soymilk and the vanilla Rice Dream milk too. So as a parent of a child who cannot even have milk or any milk products let me assure you your son will be fine without cows milk and the hormones they inject some of the animals with he is better off without it.

My son never liked milk. Only my milk would do. Give him yogurt, cheese (if he'll eat it), pudding, calcium fortified juice, and Beechnut makes a baby cereal that provides 25% of the calcium needs. As far as keeping his belly full before bed I give my 16 month old applesauce with whatever fruit is in season pureed in it with that Beechnut cereal mixed in. I also give him homemade whole milk pudding that I make. He has no trouble sleeping as long as he's not sick. Hope that helps, don't worry.

Plenty of other foods have calcium: plain yogurt, green leafy veggies, cheese (esp. swiss), fortified orange juice & cereals. If he's not already taking a multivitamin, you may want to ask your doctor about how to ensure that your son is getting enough Vitamin D.

Hi M., Children often become resistent at this age. I never really had a problem with my son's eating or drinking, but I have tried to get him to take his allergy medicine. Sometimes what i do is just leave it for him on his little table, without pressuring him and I will go into the kitchen, by the time I come back in to the livng room, he has taken it, no pressure, no ressisting. Many times I use teaching strategies, which I am using now with potty training, I say very excited, Who has to use the potty?! and we both raise our hands and say I DO!! and we run upstairs and go! Also try reverse psychology and maybe as a last resort bribbery. All seem to work with my son, who is almost 3. One more thing that I do is make smoothies. I excercise often and when we come back from a long walk or just get done with a video, I throw in the blender 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of stonyfeild yougart, and 1 cup of whatever fresh fruit that I have frozen, strawberies, bananas, blueberries, sometimes I mix them and we sit outside together and drink our smoothies. He loves it! Just blend it enough, so there aren't big chunks. You could also try making pudding together. Have him help you with whatever you make, they often want to taste there creation! Make it fun. Just remember, instead of stressing, turn everything into a game! I hope this helps! H.

No milk should an issue I would think. Try smoothies with yogurt and milk and berries, bananas, anything really. My daughter loves smoothies.

M., it is perfectly fine for him to not drink milk now because he is eating solid foods that are full of nutrients. The milk that he is drinking is not raw so it is not beneficial anyway and leads to allergies and other medical conditions. Lucky for you, you don't have to worry about that now. Just make sure that his vitamin D levels are good-have him tested by his doctor. If not, give him a supplement of cod liver oil until his levels are normal. Really, the only reason milk is recommeded is for vitamin d and calcium. He can get calcium from the following: * Salmon
* Tofu
* Rhubarb
* Sardines
* Collard greens
* Spinach
* Turnip greens
* Okra
* White beans
* Baked beans
* Broccoli
* Peas
* Brussel sprouts
* Sesame seeds
* Bok choy
* Almonds

If he likes cheese, he will be getting calcium from that. lastly, he will get strong bones from regular excercise. If he does not like these foods, give him a whole food vitamin supplement that will have calcium and magnesium in it and the cod liver oil for vitamin d. If his vtiamin d levels are good, give him a fish oil supplement. I recommend Garden of Life products that can be found in your local health food store.

T. Hall Parker, Holistic Health Counselor
My Food Therapy
www.myfoodtherapy.com

P.S, My website mightb be down for a day or two but will be functioning by Sunday. Good luck!

His milk intake might go in waves as your child discovers new foods...I used to make smoothies--milk, plain yogurt,and fruit during the day. You can also add it to oatmeal. At some point you might try giving him a bowl of Cheerios with the milk in a separate little cup on the side and encourage him to pour the milk into the bowl and then eat it. He might just feel like he needs to have a little more hands-on involvement.

maybe you could see if he wants to try soy or rice milk? he might like them becausae they are sweet tasting. good luck!

If he gets calcium from other foods and your doc says okay, it's probably fine. FYI, your doc should also be telling you that it's not good to give him a bottle of milk before he goes to bed anyway - it's a major cause of cavities in toddlers.

He might be lactose intolerant, don't make an issue of it, just make sure he gets plenty of calcium from other sources and vitamin D from the sun. Even 5 minutes a day is enough exposure to get enough vitamin D. Also a baby should never go to bed with anything but water in his bottle. Anything else can cause cavities and ear infections.

Milk is very overrated. Just make sure he's getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs from other sources.

FYI - My daughter never drank cow's milk and still to this day (she is 3), only drinks chocolate or strawberry milk on occasion. The pediatrician says she is fine. Of course, I breastfed her a very long time. Just make sure your child is getting calcium from other sources, and you should be fine. Best of luck!

I can't get my 3YO off her night bottle - be thankful. Especially if he is getting good nutrition elsewhere. :)

It only feels weird for you not to give him a bottle of milk before bed. He is 18 months old, he shouldn't even have a bottle still. Offer him some water in a cup and put him to bed.

Try yogurt drinks during the day or a little ovaltine in milk during the day if you are concerned about his calcium, etc. He may just being going through a stage and will like milk again in the future.

I am a happy healthy adult who hasn't had a glass of milk to drink since I was 2....

Hi M.,

Have you tried adding the tiniest bit of flavoring to the milk--sometimes a little strawberry nesquick or chocolate syrup will do the trick. It does add a little sugar, but at least he's having his milk. My son went through that phase, too. I added a little vanilla flavoring to his milk (the kind you might buy to add into your coffee). It really only takes a drop or two, and he was off to the races. Now he's back to drinking plain 'ole milk again. Kids are strange at this age, I've noticed. Like right now, all my son will eat for breakfast (for almost 2 weeks now) are grapes and pretzels!! Just mind-boggling!

Good luck!

-T

try adding strawberry powder to it. i know it is added sugar, but you can use way less then teh recommended amount and they will love it!

well, i'm wondering if he has and allergie, or more likely an intolerance to milk. i'm surprised the peds didn't say the same. of course they seem to feel ok with something and brush it off instead of finding answers that make us feel better. my daughter is allergic and she can sense not to eat things that have milk/treenuts etc in them, even when we don't catch it. my son we did soy milk automatically cause of our daughter. he has no milk allergy, but i've tried to start him back to whole milk and he doesn't like it. not sure if it gives him a belly ache or he just likes soy better. but my suggestion to you is to try the soy milk, it has a sweet nutty flavor. he might like it. then maybe ask the peds if he might have an allergy or intolerance to the milk. he wouldn't want it if it makes him feel sick. my little guy just tested positive for an egg allergy. we would never have known, he's had eggs, but tends to play with them, never had hives or anything...it explains alot of him eating behaviors though. noticed that he has been refusing egg noodles and things like that. an allergy or intolerance can develope, so this might be a new thing. good luck!

M.
My son is now 12 and he stopped drinking milk by 18 month as well. He still only drinks milk if it is hot chocolate. I was also told by my pediatrition that is was fine because he would eat other dairy products. I really never cared very much because I hated milk as a child too. I remember being forced to drink one glass at dinner. I would listen to your DR. and if he is growing well and thriving then there is no reason to drink milk, just give him other dairy.

we went thru the same exact thing.. it started when we competely removed the bottle from his life. no bottle, no milk ... even though he was drinking milk from sippy cups and even a regular cup occasionally.
I squirted strawberry flavoring at the bottom of a sippy, with my son watching. then I poured the milk in... and made a cute event out of it ... talking about the pink color... "WOW, look.... it's pink... yum,yumyum!!"
He gobbled it down, and the rest was history. now, at 24 months.... he'll drink some plain milk again, but still asks for strawberry milk. I know it's extra sugar, but he'll take it with weak flavoring.. so I got over it. Note, my son also is in a phase where he won't eat much of anything.... so however I can get the milk in him... I'll take it. They want to have some control in life.. and food is the one thing they can control.... Good Luck.

Have you tried flavored yogurt drinks, or just flavoring the milk with some vanilla soy milk. As long as he eats, cheese, broccoli, yogurts, he will get what he needs as far as calcium goes. I wouldn't worry the more you push it the more he will resist. Maybe lay off trying for a few days and he will start up again.

A human child does not need cow's milk. It's completely unnatural. We need to eat species specific food. Your child is correct to refuse it. Why would you try and force it? Don't be brainwashed by the Dairy Board! Google and learn about the dangers of milk. Almost no human beings have the enzymes needed to break down milk correctly. It's far too high in protein to be healthy and that much protein can leach calcium from the bones.

Pear juice is the closest food in nature to mother's breast milk. That would be an appropriate replacement for milk but if he doesn't want a bottle at night then certainly don't give him one. It could save you a some orthodontic bills in the future from a mis-formed jaw from excessive bottle feeding. No other animal in nature uses bottles, nor do they take milk from other species. This is a relatively new phenomenon and look at the state of health and obesity that's been happening ever since!

www. notmilk .com or .org, can't remember is a good place to learn about milk.

how about milk product...yogurt, cheese, but not too much for it could be constipating. or try goats milk or soy milk (not too much of that because of the estrogen qualities soy has in it.)