One Year Old Doesn't Seem to like Whole Milk

T. when I weaned my son I warmed milk and he is now 3 1/2 and still likes warm milk before bed and sometimes first thing in the morning too, but he does also drink cold milk to. My daughter (13mos) on the other hand wants nothing to do with milk unless I'm not around.

You can warm it a little, and then warm it a little less and a little less until you work up to getting used to the cold. Offer at mealtimes with his food and have the cup there for him to take a sip. I went through this too. My son now loves milk! I also (I know it was bad!) added a tiny bit of chocolate to the milk, then less and less until he was used to the white milk. Water is great for in between meals! Good luck!

T.,

I have posted on this topic several times in the past in response to parents such as yourself who are having difficulties getting their little ones to drink milk. Also, to expand on Judy's post, here is some great information to help you decide how to proceed with your son's diet.

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If he has a varied diet, you shouldn't worry. Dairy is probably the worst way to put calcium in your diet since pasteurized milk products have been altered by the process as to render the calcium almost unusable by the human body. Water is still the best way to hydrate. Avoid juice if you can, as it's not necessary for hydration, or nutrition.

Here are some options for calcium rich foods to add to his diet if he's not already eating some of them. Also, organic sources are always best if they can be had.

The calcium contained in leafy green vegetables is more easily absorbed than the calcium in milk, and plant proteins do not result in calcium loss (yes, calcium LOSS) the same way as animal proteins do.

Some of the foods on this list will obviously not bee age appropriate. Use it as a guide to help you introduce healthful ways to obtain calcium directly from diet.

Calcium content of foods per 100-gram portion (100 grams equals about 3.5 ounces):

01. Human Breast Milk 33 mg (shown for comparison)

02. Almonds 234 mg
03. Amaranth 267 mg
04. Apricots (dried) 67 mg
05. Artichokes 51 mg
06. Beans (can: pinto, black) 135 mg
07. Beet greens (cooked) 99 mg
08. Blackeye Peas 55 mg
09. Bran 70 mg
10. Broccoli (raw) 48 mg
11. Brussel Sprouts 36 mg
12. Buckwheat 114 mg
13. Cabbage (raw) 49 mg
14. Carrot (raw) 37 mg
15. Cashew nuts 38 mg
16. Cauliflower (cooked) 42 mg
17. Swiss Chard (raw) 88 mg
18. Chickpeas (garbanzos) 150 mg
19. Collards (raw leaves) 250 mg
20. Cress (raw) 81 mg
21. Dandelion Greens 187 mg
22. Endive 81 mg
23. Escarole 81 mg
24. Figs (dried) 126 mg
25. Filberts (Hazelnuts) 209 mg
26. Kale (raw leaves) 249 mg
27. Kale (cooked leaves) 187 mg
28. Leeks 52 mg
29. Lettuce (lt. green) 35 mg
30. Lettuce (dark green) 68 mg
31. Molasses (dark-213 cal.) 684 mg
32. Mustard Greens (raw) 183 mg
33. Mustard Greens (cooked) 138 mg
34. Okra (raw or cooked) 92 mg
35. Olives 61 mg
36. Oranges (Florida) 43 mg
37. Parsley 203 mg
38. Peanuts (roasted & salted) 74 mg
39. Peas (boiled) 56 mg
40. Pistachio Nuts 131 mg
41. Potato Chips 40 mg
42. Raisins 62 mg
43. Rhubarb (cooked) 78 mg
44. Sauerkraut 36 mg
45. Sesame Seeds 1160 mg
46. Squash (Butternut) 40 mg
47. Soybeans 60 mg
48. Sugar (brown) 85 mg
49. Tofu 128 mg
50. Spinach (raw) 93 mg
51. Sunflower Seeds 120 mg
52. Sweet Potatoes (baked) 40 mg
53. Turnips (cooked) 35 mg
54. Turnip Greens (raw) 246 mg
55. Turnip Greens (boiled) 184 mg
56. Water Cress 151 mg

Best of luck,

Rolinda
Wife, Mother, Friend

Hi there, my little guy (now 16 months old) was exactly the same. I did two things. Firstly, I warmed the milk in the microwave slightly (15 seconds or so) so that it was closer in temp to my breast milk. That really seemed to help and I still do it. Secondly, Daddy and I, with Ian next to us, would dunk cookies into our milk. Then we gave him some little baby honey graham sticks and let him dunk into his own milk. He loved dunking and started enjoying the milk from then on. I must say that this is quite messy, but, it worked! He doesn't love his milk yet, but, he does go through days where he gets on a milk kick. Good luck!

Hi T.~I had the same problem with my son when he turned one. (He's 14 months) The only way I got him to drink whole milk was by warming it. Alot of people told me not to bc it would be a pain. However, I don't think it's a big deal. It's worth a shot.

I would also mix it with your milk, half and half at first...then gradually wean out the breastmilk. Mine needed me to mix also, they hated whole milk at first. Now they drink it all of the time.

My son did not like cow's milk and would not drink it at all at first. You should offer milk (cow or soy- my son did love the vanilla soy) at meals, since this is the recommendation, and if he doesn't drink it fine. But don't give him something else instead, like juice. He may have water between meals. In the meantime, he is still getting your great milk, and you may offer shredded cheese or yogurt. Don't stress- they smell fear.

Definitly try warming it. My daughter is 14 mos and also just switched from breastmilk to organic whole milk. But I had to exclusivly pump to get her her breastmilk and found unless the milk was completly warm she would not drink it. Same with the cows milk. She also won't drink it cold from a sippy. Must be warmed in her bottle (I just fill a cup with tap water as hot as I can get it and dunk the bottle in for a few minutes then dump the water and start again until the milk is warm) Hope this helps, good luck!

I would warm it AND mix it with your milk gradually so it doesn't taste "so" different. Transition him slowly. My son always liked vanilla or strawberry (very little) best!

T.,I would suggest using a lighter milk. Your milk is thin and whole milk is very thick. I'm not quite sure about soy whole milk since I've never used it. I started my children on 2% milk. The pediatrician said they really didn't need all the fat from whole milk.Another option: My sister diluted whole milk with water. First she diluted 1/2 water and 1/2 milk aand gradually increased until her 4 children took whole milk.

my son did not like whole milk. he drinks the regular soy and vanilla soy and likes both well. soy is still good and has calcium in it. give the milk to him cold. he will get used to it and the soy is easier to digest.

He will likely eat when he is hungry. As long as he isn't loosing weight, and is gaining enough, you don't have to worry. Get regular check-ups to make sure he is where he should be for his age in weight and height.
I don't recommend cows milk for optimum nutrition. Here is a couple sites that might help.
www.milksucks.com
www.pcrm.org

Hi T.,

There is actually no nutritional reason why your baby needs to drink cows milk other than to get calcium. So if he eats foods that are rich in calcium or takes a calcium supplement, then you don't need to worry about him getting milk. My son is 3.5 and still won't drink cows milk. You might want to try 2% milk or rice milk. Rice milk is very thin and naturally sweet like breastmilk. My son wouldn't drink that either - but it is worth a try. I would avoid soy milk. If you google soy milk and dangers to little boys, you will see a whole host of reasons why it is best to avoid soy milk, especially with little boys.

J.

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I agree with warming the milk. It comes out of your breast body temperature. Also, in Chinese Medicine Theory the stomach transforms our food into 100 degree soup. So it can go into the small intestine and be absorbed. The closer we get our food to look like 100 degree soup on the outside of the body the easier it is for the stomach to digest it. Our bodies then have extra energy to grow and stay healthy. Cold food saps our body of that energy because our stomach has to work harder this leads to decreased immunity ect. Also, did you try unsweetened almond milk, or oat milk, or rice milk? Make sure to check the amount of sugar that is in the different kinds of milk to flavor it. You would be suprised at the grams of sugar in the sweetened versions.

My kids were done nursing at 1 year, so they either got milk or nothing. My sister's kids nursed until 2, and they usually drank water from a cup, and snacked from mom for the milk content.

Do what works for you and for him. I wouldn't push the milk on him if he doesn't like it. Let him drink water, and let him eat small pieces of cheese or other foods with calcium in them. :-)

I have four kids. Three of them had a hard time switching to cows milk, because they didn't like it. I didn't push it. They don't drink much milk to this day. One child had no problem with the taste of cow's milk and drinks it alot still. Some kids just don't like the taste.

If your child is getting adequate nutrition in other areas, don't worry about the cow's milk.

Hi T.

If you can, try mixing the whole milk with the breast milk. Start with 1/4 whole milk, 3/4 breast milk for a doy or so, then 1/2 and 1/2 etc. My babies were formula fed, but this is how I transitioned them. He may prefer it warm since that is what he is used to, I already can't remember when I stopped warming formula for my guys. I do think it is a taste issue so hopefully if you gradually get him used to the new taste he'll accept it. Also, transitioning this way will help his belly adjust to the increase in whole cow's milk too. Good Luck.

Sounds like he's doing great adjusting. It's just new to him. If he takes it cold, all that much easier for you on the go etc. But sure, try warming it. Don't sub soy milk for real milk! It lacks tons of nutrients and essential fats for the brain as well as research showing the engineered nature isn't good in large amounts. Look it up, soy is no longer considered the perfect milk sub! Goats milk is really good if he doesn't want cow's milk, but it sounds to me like he'll get used to it. My son started pushing away his milk when I started giving it in a sippy cup rather than his bottle, but after several days when I wouldn't give in, he started liking the cup. They just gotta grow up and make changes sometimes! :)

T.,

mix your milk with the whole milk until he gets used to the taste also it will be easier on his tummy

my little man went through a phase like this too, and my pediatrician said to keep trying but to also give him a lot of yogurt so he gets the same nutrients. After a while he started to drink the milk.