14 Month Old Will Not Drink Regular Milk

Warm it up!
My daughter wouldn't drink it either, but we warmed it up just right and it made all the difference. For the first year lactose made her constipated, so we did everything lactose free. But I guess she out-grew it. It did take awhile for her to get used to the new milk though, you have to be patient. If you used formula maybe mix half formula and half the new milk. Also, the runs are probably from all that apple juice.

Have you tried rice or soy milk? It could be that she is lactose intolerant and regular milk is not for her. You can get rice, soy, oat and a variety of alternative milks at Fred Meyer, the Community Food Co-op or Terra Organica. My kids LOVE rice and soy milk. It's worth a try.

My son had that problem too. My cousin-in-law suggested to me to put a very small amount of ovaltine into his milk. After about a week my son started drnking regular milk.

Hi! I had trouble with this transition too. My daughter who is now 18 months hated transitioning to milk. I was told to mix some breastmilk with it but I had trouble pumping. So her pediatrician suggested using some ovaltine. I know it's chocolate but it's got vitamins and minerals. I only used a little bit. My other friend used strawberry syrup. We both were hesitant to add this stuff but it definitely helped. After about 2-3 weeks, she didn't even like the ovaltine in it and has since drank the whole milk by itself.

Another trick I did was drink a little whole milk in a cup in front of her. She ALWAYS wanted what mommy had. So I let her have sips of it from my glass. She kept asking for more. If you don't like whole milk, you can just pretend then put the rest of it in her cup.

Hope any of these help!!

I had the same problem with both my girls when they were growing up. Therefore, I made sure they received their 3 serving of dairy from other sources ie cheese, yogurt, etc. For beverages, I limited their intake of juices because that will loosen the stools and instead gave them water when they were thirsty. They are 18 and 15 years old now. Strong, healthy and still don't like milk.

Have you tried warming it to body temp, or goats milk (warmed). As last result you could add some ovaltin or chocolate milk mix, then wean the flavor away. Try warming it first.
W

G.:

I don't know if this will help but we were having some issues with our son wanting to drink milk or take medications such as antibiotics. We tried the little Danimals Yogurt drinks and that work. They were better for him than Apple juice which as so much sugar. We know make up one sippy cup with the little 3 oz yogurt drink and then add milk to the top. This gets him to drink it because it is flavored.

Lots of apple juice will cause the runs. Sometimes kids don't like something because they are mildly allergic. Try goat's milk or soy or Almond milk.

Sorry to hear about your troubles-
I'm wondering if her little tummy just cannot tolerate cow milk, and therefore that's why she doesn't want it. Maybe you could try soy or rice or another type? Also, if you are concerned about calcium intake, if she eats cheese, yogurt, broccoli, and other calcium rich foods, she's probably fine as far as that goes. good luck!

It may sound horrible, but you may need to sweeten the milk if she's used to breast milk. I had to do that with one of my boys. I started with sweet and gradually put less sugar in over a week and a half until he'd drink it straight.

With another son, I switched to Lactaid because he had lactose intolerant symptoms. I noticed that Lactaid is a little sweet by itself.

jem-mom to seven

my friends' granddaughter was allergic to cow's milk & didn't like the flavor of goat milk, so they mix Silk brand, organic, non-sweetened soy-milk with a good quality formula and she loves it. Sometimes it's just trying different things to provide the calcium and nutrients the little ones need.

You may want to try giving her vanilla soy milk which is naturally a little sweet and also has 25% calcium and 30% vitamin D as well as 5% fat. My kids liked drinking it after they were breastfed and some formula fed. It was an easier transition to cow's milk because vanilla soy is a little sweet like breast milk. You could also mix regular milk with the soy milk to try to trick her into drinking some cow's milk. Change the quantity of it as you slowly faze out of the soy and get her use to the cow's milk. You can also try mixing strawberry milk with regular milk and gradually put less strawberry milk until she accepts the cow's milk. I just encourage you not to give up or get discouraged becuase there are other ways for her to get calcium and fat other than cow's milk. Sometimes us moms need to do more research and get creative on how we can get those good things down their little throats. Good luck to you & God Bless!
O. O.

Try soy or rice milk. Cow milk is hard for people to digest. It's not made for human consumption. If she doesn't like it, take it as a blessing in disguise and teach her to enjoy other, healthier foods such as water, green veggies and foods with good fats like avacados. Milk in not necessary for babies. Hope this helps! :)

Our daughter, Sarah had this same problem. She absolutly hates milk of any kind. We tried soy, goats and cows and she won't drink any of it. They all give her diareaha. She does just find with any other kind of dairy just not milk. I think as long as you give your child plenty of other sources of calcium, she should be fine. We also started giving Sarah toddler vitamins. Great source of vitamins she doesn't get from milk.

Some little ones digest goat's milk more easily than cow's milk. So, one option might be to give goat's milk a try. Your daughter may be allergic to or intolerant of cow's milk. Also, if you've only recently stopped breastfeeding and would like to start again, you might want to call up a lactation clinic (if you haven't already done so) to ask them to look your medications up in the current edition of Tom Hale's Medications and Mothers Milk. Many physician's don't know this book (a compilation of research on hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter medications and their use in breastfeeding mothers) exists and tell mothers to stop breastfeeding when it really isn't necessary. If it's been a while since you stopped breastfeeding, but you'd like to start again, you could contact an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and ask for information and help to relactate. Many mothers have done this after finding that their little ones can't tolerate infant formula or, later, cow's milk.

Best wishes!

C.

Hi-
My daughter could not handle whole milk either (runs). Our doctor said that it may be from the proteins in the milk. Anyhow, we give her and her twin brother soy milk. The vanilla is super sweet, but the plain is just sweet enough that they like it, but are not getting so much sugar. There are also unsweetened versions of soy milk and all soy milk has calcium and most brands are organic. We go to Trader Joe's and buy the West Soy plain version (least expensive place in town). Also- I have found that they like the milk warmed up better than cold. good luck. N.

The runs is more likely from the apple juice then the milk. you may want to try something like Next Step formula or Pediasure it tastes good and you can start slowly adding milk to it then progressivly putting less formula or less pediasure in the milk until you are just giving her milk. I know this my sound bad and its not the best advice to give to someone but this is something I had to do with my daughter when I switched her to whole milk I put a tiny bit of sugar in the milk. Breastmilk is much sweeter then cows milk. A tiny bit of sugar in it helped the transition for my daughter. Good luck

Have you tried just using a regular cup with your help? Sometimes babies are excited to do "big people" things. My son had no use for a sippy cup or bottle for water, but loves to drink out of a regular cup. Also, try Original Rice Milk (Enriched) to see if your daughter likes that instead (my daughter never drank regular milk). If she likes it, check with your pediatrician and see if it's a suitable substitute. And finally, watch the juice consumption. There are many links between too much juice in early childhood and the later development of diabetes. Some juice is just fine (dilluted with water is even better), but moderation is the key.

G.,

Hi! I'm a Mother of 6 grown kids and I have 8 grandkids. My background is in nutrition. The best sources of calcium are not milk. They are green leafy vegetables. You can give them to kids by getting Juice Plus Gummies which have 17 nutritious fruits and vegetables in them.

If you insist on milk...have you tried rice, soy, or almond milks? What about goat's milk which is easier to digest and healthier anyway? Grandmom K.

Wow, it seems like so many moms are anti cows milk. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If you haven't already heard of Dr Mike from Pediacast, you should check him out at pediacast.org. This is one of the many topics that he covers. He has so many interesting topics that you might find useful. As for MY thoughts on your problem, I was thinking the same thing as Brandi B, adding a little bit of sugarfree Nestle Quik just to add a little flavor. But be warned, you're going to have to eventually ween your daughter off of the chocolate before she gets too hooked. Good luck with your situation.

Hi G.,

I have had a couple of friends that have had this same problem. Their doctors told them to try either mixing it with chocolate or strawberry mix. I know they have a lot of sugar but don't put in the full amount it calls for. Once you have her drinking it you can slowly reduce even the small amount of mix you put in initially and hopefully get her to just the milk in a few months. She could be getting the runs from the apple juice if she is drinking that a lot. I have had several friends that had to cut back on juice for their little ones because of that problem. Hope this helps.

Cows milk is not a necessary thing.. there are all sorts of various 'milks' out there - I'd personally avoid nut milks at her age, but my kids drink rice milk.. its not high in fat like cows milk, so you need to make sure she's getting enough fat in her diet, but the Pacific brand is fortified with vitamins and calcium and such. Soy is an option, but I'm hesitant to have my littles drink too much of it due to the estrogenic properties of soy.

My daughter rejected milk around the same age - turns out she's allergic to it and knew it didn't make her feel good.

Hi, I'm a mother of 2 and I thought I would tell you that if your daughter is drinking a lot of juice she most likely has the runs from that. ONLY give her about 4 oz of juice a day. You can also feed her foods such as toast or crackers which sometimes help with the runs. Make sure that you only give her whole milk and if you havent done this all ready try heating up the milk. For my daughter I put her 6 oz bottle in the microwave (with out the nipple on it) for about 30 seconds and then put the nipple back on and shake it well she seems to like it much better that way. Also another thing you can try is buying a small cup such as a "baby" coffee cup and then take whip cream the spray kind and put that on top. The whip cream holds the milk in the cup so its easier for them to drink. It will still be a little messy but she might enjoy drinking milk that way. Of course this should probably be a treat and not an every time she drinks milk thing. Hope this helps you! =)

Have you tried soy milk? I suggest trying the Vanilla Soy Milk. I had the same issue with my oldest, except milk made him constipated. My kids both loved the Vanilla soy. Worth a shot. Healthy and no need for additional supplements. Then I would try the milk thing each year, so try it again at age 2... Good Luck!!!

~R.~
www.MomsOfferingMore.com

I would try a real cup. Target right now has one in their dollar section, that has animals on it, it is small and very cute. If she doesn't know how to drink from it give it to her in the tub while she's bathing.
I've found that sometimes they respond better to the next stage that they are not really ready for yet.
You could also try one of those sippies that have a straw.

Maybe she shouldn't drink milk? Have you tried Goat's Milk? It is easier on your digestive system. Plus if she is lactose intolerant, you may be enforcing a problem by reintroducing milk over and over again. You could also try soy or rice milk, but they have sugar in them and should only be given in moderation. If she is eating a balanced diet, then you don't need to give her milk at all. My daughter only gets water to drink. She very rarely will get a sip of a smoothy made by us or a sip of milk from my glass. She never gets juice because she should get her sugars, vitamins, minerals, fibers, etc from food in my belief system. So if she wants fruit she can have it but in it's whole form not processed.

Actually, the diarrhea is more likely from the apple juice, which is filling her up with sugar, and not much in the way of nutrition, and may keep her from wanting to eat other foods.

http://www.drhull.com/EncyMaster/D/toddler_diarrhea.html

What makes you think she needs either apple juice or milk? She could get her calcium needs met through cheese and/or yogurt, and drink water instead.

My daughter wouldn't drink milk at that age either. We made up for it by eating a lot of other dairy products. She's now 3 1/2 and drinks milk just fine. I found that the more I tried to force it, the more she fought it. Girls! I stopped breastfeeding at around 13 months. I'm thinking they just don't develop the taste for cow's milk because it's so different from breastmilk. I wouldn't be too concerned unless your doctor thinks there's some sort of deficiency. Good luck!

My daughter didn't like cow milk either. She was also breastfed until age two, so I didn't worry about it too much. But I would try and make sure she got enough protein and calcium from other things, mostly yogurt, cheese, eggs, and calcium enriched orange juice. Now that she is two I also give her chocolate milk. It doesn't have much chocolate in it but just adds a little of the sweetness she was used too in breastmilk. I make smoothies for her in the mornings, with yogurt, frozen fruit and I also sneak a veggie in there sometimes. Don't worry too much if she doesn't take to it right away. Don't you think it's a little wierd that we drink cow lactation anyway :) Good luck!

First of all, the runs are most likely from the apple juice not the milk. Have you tried different types of milk, like soy milk, rice milk, etc? She may like these. It probably wouldn't hurt her if she drank formula for a while also if she will drink it. Keep trying! She will come around eventually. You may want to stop the juice and only offer her water so then she may look forward to the sweetness of the milk. Good Luck!

Hi G.,
My thoughts are don't give her milk, especially if she is getting diarrhea. Both of my boys are dairy intolerent, as well as my husband and myself. We started our boys out with Soy milk, and it worked great. We went with Vanilla flavored which was great. Our youngest and myself are soy intolerent, so we both drink Rice milk. Most people are dairy intolerent and just don't avoid dairy because they love it so much. Our pediatrician suggested soy milk for our oldest when he was 1 year old. I too had to stop breast feeding for the same reason as you. Now he is 7 years old and doesn't care for milk of any kind. He grew out of it. Our pediatrician has us give him calcium supplements like tums to make sure he gets his daily allowance. As far as the milk, forget about it. Try making a bottle of rice cereal and add a little bit of Fortified Rice milk. She may like it. Don't force her to eat something she doesn't want. Just think about it, there's a reason she doesn't want it and maybe it's because she knows it's not good for her. Plus if you were being forced to eat something you didn't want, how would you feel? Pretty upset huh? Well G. that's my two cents worth. Please take to heart what I have written. I have 13 years experience with food allergies and intolerences with myself and my two boys ages 7 and 4 years. Your little girl won't die if she doesn't drink milk. Just find an alternative.

For my daughter (now two), I warmed the milk and then had my husband feed it to her in a bottle (in a nursing position) around the same time as she used to nurse. After a while, I was able to feed her in the same manner, then we switched to a sippy, and then slowly lowered the temp of the milk until she would take it right out of the fridge.

A similar thing worked for my sister except she had to add ovaltine to the milk at first to make it sweeter.

I had this problem with a child I was a nanny for years ago. We mixed milk with her apple juice, just a little and increased it everyday until it was almost all milk. Worked like a charm!

Perhaps try the drinkable yogurt. Or, put a little chocolate in the milk. If she's drinking juice (which has little to no nutritional value), may as well put a little chocolate in the milk - which would be much better than juice. Good luck

My son also would not drink milk. I tried soy, rice, and goat's milk. He wouldn't take any of them. I also found that when he would drink milk he would get a terrible diaper rash, so I decided to try the lactose-free milk and we've had no problems since. He still didn't really like the milk, but would drink some if I added a little bit of strawberry syrup. He has gradually added more and more milk to his diet with no other problems. You could also try chocolate syrup. Hershey's makes a "lite" version with less sugar if that's a concern.

G.-
My daughter didn't really like regular milk either, so we gave her lots of yogurt drinks that had some fat in it. (Yoplait kids drinks or large drinks- you have to check the label for fat) She loved the taste and still got most of the vitamins and nutrients that she does in milk. We still offered milk also and over time she developed a taste for it.
Good luck!

I had the same problem with my first child and our babysitter recommended warming the milk. It worked like a charm. Since the milk she is used to drinking (from you) came out warm, she may respond better to this. My son and I would cuddle up on the couch first thing in the morning with a bottle of warm milk. (Be sure and warm it a pan on the stove and not in the microwave as this can make it too hot.) It was a lovely way to start the day and a nice transition from the closeness of nursing. Good Luck!

Hi :)
Try giving her almond milk, soy milk, or rice milk. She may be allergic to cow's milk and her body may know it. We are completely dairy free in our house due to allergies for some, and choice for the rest, and our kids do not get ear infections any more. Rice milk would probably be the best choice for starters as it is the most mild.
Good luck!
S. :)

hello G.,
I'm wondering if you daughter is allergic to milk you should ask your pediatrician to run the test. In the meanwhile you could try organic rice milk. I would not recommend soy milk, because of the estrogen like compound in soy. Yoghurt made of organic milk is a good source of calcium and green vegetables, collard greens, kale, ( I chop them and mix them with eggs for breakfast, greens eggs-no ham... hahahah my 4 year old loves it )
you might want to read this, and than further research it:
http://www.mercola.com/article/milk/no_milk.htm

good luck!
K.

Hi G.,

An alternative to regular milk is rice milk or almond milk. Our daughter loves both of those. :) Also, you could do soy as well. I would try them with an open mind and see which one she likes. :)

Blessings,

K.S.

My oldest I used Carnation instant breakfast powder....just a little to flavor the milk. My youngest will drink milk plain, but ONLY if it has ice cubes in it.
Good luck! Maybe start diluting down the apple juice more and more so it's not as wonderful?

Hello G. -

Given that several studies indicate that as much as 80% of the population is allergic to dairy, It is possible that your daughter is simply very wise. For what reason are you concerned about her drinking cow's milk? Is it to increase her caloric intake? For protein? Or for the grandmother of all milk myths - calcium?

Since calcium is the most common motivating factor, I will take a moment to touch on that, but if it is one of the others feel free to let me know and I will gladly elaborate on those ideas as well.

First, it is important to preface this discussion with the little known fact that the Meat and Dairy lobby is one of the most heavily funded lobbying groups in the U.S. - as in TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! If meat and dairy are so good for you and so desirable, why do they spend millions on lobbying and advertising every year? Why do they need public relations and legislation to convince us to ingest it?

With that in mind, let's talk calcium. The reality of the situation is that having high protein levels in the blood stream actually leeches calcium OUT of the bones. The single best source of calcium is kale, of all things. Most of us have far too much protein and dairy in our diet and these very items are the source of the epidemic of calcium deficiency in the U.S.

Did you know that prior to the early 90s, osteoporosis and colon cancer were virtually unknown in Japan? In the early 90s the U.S. pushed to get Japan to import U.S. beef and dairy. Using public relations and trade incentives, they got the job done and by 1993 Japan's diet was well on it's way to the Standard American Diet (SAD). In the years afterward their rates of osteoporosis and colon cancer began to climb until they now rival the epidemics of these diseases in the U.S.

I know this is anecdotal, but it is on a broad scale and is verified by various studies. If you want more info in general I would highly recommend getting in touch with the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine (www.PCRM.org) and books written by their founder, Dr. Neal Barnard. He provides a myriad of food alternatives to meet the dietary needs of both children and adults without using any meat or dairy.

If you are adamant about getting her to drink milk, you ought to try organic, free-range, humane milk. Of those broadly available, Organic Valley is the best. Horizons is not as ethical as Organic Valley (separate calves from mothers after birth, sell males for veal, etc.). Non-organic milks are full of vaccines, antibiotics, and growth hormones (to name but a few) that make us very sick, especially young children.

Be well-
D.

try mixing the milk with the apple juice and gradually adding less and less juice.

you can try adding vanilla extract to her milk or use the coffee flavor syrups in sugar free, some of them would be great to flavor milk with out the sugar or you can get the lactaid milk it is sweeter than regular milk.. Juice can cause tooth rot so be sure she drinks water after each apple juice.
You may want to take this oppurtunity top break the bottle habit before it starts. Just use sippy cup anf try snuggling with her when she drinks at night so she has the closeness of breast feeding. She may be missing that part of it and assosciates the milk with cuddling

I had a similar situation with my second child. First, the runs could be caused by the change to the milk, but if she is not drinking that much of it, it is more likely from the apple juice. Too much apple juice in one day or over several days has been the cause of many loose stools for my third child. To combat this, I have always diluted juice in a tippie cup to 1/3 juice and 2/3 water. They just do not need that much sugar.

As far as the milk, you could try soy or rice for a little while and see how that goes. Yes it is more expensive, but once you start watching for it to be on sale, you will notice that a local store has a pattern to the sale prices of these products, so you are almost always able to get it at a discount.

Soy may cause loose stools also if it is indeed the milk that is causing your childs problem and not the juice. That is because people who are allergic to milk (lactose issues) will more than likely have the same experience on soy. It took some trial and error for us, but we found that rice milk worked the best for us and then after several months we were able to gradually re-introduce regular milk back into the diet successfully.

My two year old son would drink all apple juice if I let him too! I think it's natural for them to be attracted to sweet thing! He doesn't drink milk at this time and actually never has. He drinks alot of water
However, you do what's best. I give it to him diluted when he is sick.
Pasturized/homegenized cow's milk is highly allergenic, so I don't blame her. Maybe that's God's way of protecting her from it. Try no milk, raw cow's milk or raw goat's milk (closest to breast milk around).
I wouldn't force her to drink it though. It's not worth the risk.

It sounds like you and your daughter both feel that milk is not the best for her - could it be that she is sensitive to milk (or even dairy products in general?) I would check in with a pediatric naturopath and look into options like hemp or oat milk instead. Also - if she can tolerate yogurt, you could try smoothies made with fruit and yogurt. My 19 month old doesn't tolerate dairy, so we do a lot of smoothies. That way we can disguise nutrients that he normally wouldn't eat...

Try adding a little bit of flavored pediasure (vanilla is the most unobvious). It worked with my youngest daughter who had serious constipation problems due to anything but nonfat milk in her bottle. At about 13 months of age, I started with about 1/4 pediasure to 3/4 milk and gradually (and easily) took it away until she was on stragiht milk again.

Hi G.,
I have an 18th month old son and have given him fortified organic rice milk(Rice Dream) since he stopped formula/breast milk at one year. It has the same nutrients as milk- calcium and vitamins- and he loves it! I also have recently given him almond milk which he likes too. You could try either one, I buy them at Trader Joe's and sometimes in bulk at Costco(only the rice milk is at Costco)

I wouldnt worry about the baby not drinking milk. You can make your own ice cream and dishes with milk in it.
cheese sticks.Try putting chocolate in the milk

If the milk is giving her diareah then it would be better if you don't give her milk. One of my daughters is lactose intolerant. When I stopped nursing her she developed serious diaper rash with blisters. I suspected that it was the cows milk so I took her off of it. After the rash cleared up I tried her on the milk again and the rash returned. My doctor said she could not digest the milk so it was going through her system and bringing stomach acid with it which was causing the blisters. There are other ways your child can get her calcium and Vitamin D.such as vitamin supplements, other foods like spinach and broccoli, you could try fortified rice or soy milk. She might be able to eat white cheese too.

Sometimes when a child refuses a certain type of food, it can indicate that his/her body does not tolerate that type of food. Could she possibly have a slight algergy to dairy? Have you tried to get her to take soy milk?

I think what you meant to say is she has the "runs" from the apple juice. I suggest diluting the apple juice and since it is mainly just fruit sugars cut back on the amount given. As far as the milk is concerned, experiment by trying whole milk for a week then switch to a lower % of milk fat. If she is getting diarrhea from the milk then try regular flavor enriched rice milk. Stay away from adding syrups since these are made with high fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes.
Good Luck- R.

Have you tried soy? My daughter was unable to breast feed due to alergies she had with my breast milk. She had to drink soy formula and to this day, she is almost 3 years old, she drinks soy in her cereal and does not drink milk at all. she gets her calcuim from other foods. Maybe milk is something she does not like. My daughter drinks water all the time and juice on occasion.

I had the same problem with my daughter when I took her off breast milk then I found what they call transitional milk for 1 to 3 year olds. Its sweeter than normal milk and they say tastes more like breast milk. I live in Italy but I think they have it in the USA

Breastmilk is much sweeter than cow's milk. Try adding something to sweeten it a bit. I would use fructose, or try mixing it with Pediasure.

What about goat's milk with a teaspoon of brown rice syrup? It would be sweet like the juice and then you can slowly wean her off the syrup. I suggest goat's milk becasue it is less allergenic than cow's milk. meyenberg farms powdered is an easy choice and you can make it fresh as you need it. My son eats goat's milk formula and loves it and i tried, milk and soy formulas before and he just wouldnt eat them. Also if you are worried about calcium there are other ways to get calcium.

Hi, Apple juice gives runs btw and try making her milk with something fun like strawberry or chocolate mix. I know alot of kids love cocoa. If thats the only way to get down milk then what else can ya do?? Besides feeding alot of string cheese which causes constipation. Good Luck

I was in the same boat as you. My son didn't drink milk when I stopped breastfeeding at 17 months. His doctor said that if he got the calcium from other things it was fine. He ate a lot of yogurt and cheese. He loved calcium enriched orange juice so that was a godsend. You might want to talk to her doctor and see what he says. My son is 9 now and still doesn't drink milk. He is healthy and still gets his calcium and vitamins from other foods. I hope this helps! I know it can be fustrating....

You can try Pediasure (i think that is how you spell it) or vanilla soy milk. Both are just as sweet as breastmilk. I had to start my daughter on that when she was almost 1 and now hat she is 14mths, she is drinking regular whole milk (organic that is but sometimes the other). Worth a shot. Good luck!!

When my daughter was very young we realized that she was lactose intolerant. We switched her to soy milk and rice milk. Rice milk is less grainy so if they soy didn't work try the rice. She is now 12 and drinks no milk but still drinks fortified soy. She can now eat small quantities of dairy such as cheese and ice cream occassionally but still can't handle regular milk.

My sister in law had introduced milk to both of her sons by using chocolate milk instead of regular or plain milk. Or if she isn't allergic to strawberry, try strawberry milk. After a period of time, you could use less of the chocolate or strawberry to the point of plain milk.

Hi G.,
Have you tried vanilla soy milk? Not only it is sweat (so kids like it) but it does not have all the bad hormones that come in regular milk. My daughter was also breastfed and rarely ever drank out of a bottle (even though I would pump for her when at work). She didn't care for sippy cups either but she did like to drink from a regular cup. Once we got her used to drinking from a regular cup, we then introduced her sippy cups and she eventually began to like the sippy cups.......just a few ideas :)

I've found that when cow's milk causes tummy trouble that vanilla flavored rice milk might an option when they don't like goat or soy milk.

You mentioned that you think the runs are from her drinking milk. My daughter isn't on cows milk, but I noticed that if I give her alot of juice (more than water), her poop get's pretty loose. Could your daughter possibly be having the runs from juice cause alot of times if kids have issues with constipation, the answer is "give them some juice".

I am not sure what you have been able to do to resolve your issues with the milk and your child not wanting to drink it. I was that way and was allergic to milk when my parents explained to the pediatrician that I was not drinking milk as a child, he allergy tested me and found out I was allergic to one of the proteins in the milk which made me feel ill every time I drank it, hence why as a child I did not want it. I saw that someone else stated it could be an allergy, and thought that I would share my personal experience. I was not lactose intolerant... they checked that too, but they figured out that I was allergic to it. About 4 % of kids in the US are allergic to Milk.. just a thought.

maybe try mixing it with some Neslte to give it a little flavor like the banana or chocolate. Once she gets used to it, start lowering the amount in the mix until it is just milk. My son had the same problem and this worked for him.....
Hope it works :0)

My son is a beautiful, active and very healthy kid - now just 4, and he has never had cow's milk for drinking. He breast fed for the first 2 years, but has always enjoyed soy milk, as well as hazelnut, oat and rice milk. I buy the organic kind - and both the unsweetened or vanilla. There are many brands that are enriched with vitamins to supplement what people usually get in cow's milk, like calcium. His father and my mom are both lactose intolerant, and it has worked well for him.

Apple juice is a very common cause of diarrhea. Especially if you are feeding it to her full strength. It's not likely that it's the milk that is causing the problem because you've stated that she refuses the milk almost entirely. My older children still get "the runs" from apple juice, so it's most likely that and should be reduced or at the least cut in half with water when you do serve it.

I started by warming the milk for my daughter and giving it to her in a bottle and then in time switch it over the the sippy cup.Now we only slightly warm it when it's in a bottle and its bedtime (we're trying to be rid of the bottle now) and then in her sippy cup its only cold milk.She wouldn't drink reg milk either at first so we went with the lactaid free milk and she took it like a charm.Don't know what the taste difference it to her but its gotta be something.Good luck!

I would suggest goat milk. It doesn't cause many of the problems cow's milk does. She may be refusing it because it upsets her stomach. Goat's milk is way easier to digest and better for her anyway.

Hey G.,
I agree, talk w/ your doctor about this. When my son was younger, he had to be on soy formula, but drinks milk constantly now. Your daughter might need to be tested, or you might just need to play around w/ other alternatives until you find something your daughter will drink.

*Also, apple juice is a natural diuretic. My son drinks it daily and has diarrhea due to that. My son's doctor said that it was perfectly normal.

Good luck, and let us know what happens!

Have you tried any alternatives? Like soy milk or almond milk. Your daughter could be allergic too reg. milk. My children drink soy milk and love it. There favorite is the vanilla flavored, or chocolate. Give it a try, you never know.

H. B.

My daughter loves milk with a touch of vanilla Pediasure(I use generic, costs way less). She also likes just a touch of vanilla extract in it. The runs may be the apple juice not the milk, be sure to dilute it heavily. A friend of mine learned this the hard way with a child that was not gaining as a toddler and had to ween him off it once he had a really strong opinion about his likes and dislikes.

Hi G.,
I see you've gotten a lot of good advice. I'd like to add one thing. Check the Rice Milk container for a warning (!) that you should check with your pediatrician first before giving it to a child under 5. I have been experimenting with going non-dairy and our usual soy milk was sold out, so I bought the rice milk. Later, I noticed the warning on the box and called my daughter's doctor's office. The doctor believes the warning is there because rice milk is very low in fat and babies and small children need that fat to properly develop.

My daughter just loves the vanilla soy milk (Pearl brand) - I usually mix it with a bit of the original soy milk, since it is pretty sweet. She also still likes cow's milk, cheese, and yogurt. I've slowly added yogurt back, but I think I'll stick with soy milk/cheese as it seems to help with my dd seasonal allergies and asthma.

HTH!
C.

Hello from a mother of 8 daughters and I have 8 grandchildren as well. I was a stay at home M. like you. Good choice!! As to the milk - don't worry about it. I am very medically trained and have a huge amount of experience with nutrition. Your child will be fine without milk for a while or forever. Just give her something else to drink for now (juice, water, or other forms of milk such as goats milk or soy).If you don't mind chocolate and worry about her calcium intake, just add a little chocolate to milk. A chewable vitamin might be a better choice. She will accept milk in time. Just don't push it right now. And don't worry! You have plenty of other things to think about.

too much apple juice can cause the runs too, we had that problem. I'd suggest trying a different type of milk, maybe lactose free, it's a little sweeter in taste and cow's milk is a major allergen. Or rice milk a lot of kids like better too. Good luck!

G.,

Milk really isn't necessary if your kiddo is eating a wide variety of foods. Water is what my kids drink, and they eat everything they're given because they have a different palate from not having sweet drinks. (Milk is a sweet drink.)
Watch the apple juice, it is a strong drink for little tummies.
Do try a different cup for different drinks. Some kids just get a shock when they're expecting something like water and get hit with sugar in the apple juice.
IMHO kids should be getting their calories from chewing food not swallowing loaded liquids. Give her water and enough time to eat her meals and you'll have a healthier, fitter and happier kid. Collard Greens anyone?

My sister used to not like drinking milk so my dad used to make "magic milk" which was milk with a drop of vanilla in it and a little bit of sugar. Your daughter could also be getting diarrhea from apple juice.
I don't know if that will help or not ... good luck!

Try vanilla flavered Silk milk, I've tried it and its pretty good. Good luck

I've found that my 20 month-old son refuses food when it's not right for him - and he seems to be able to tell even before the food leaves the bowl.

It sounds like your daughter is lactose-intolerant. Try Enriched Original flavor rice milk or soy milk (not vanilla flavored).

My now 4 yr old was the same way..she refused any kind on regular milk. I even tried flavored milk, skim, the pediasure. Nothing would work. She too only wanted apple juice which gave her the runs, and horrible gas. I got her to drink crystal lite orange flavor drink instead of the juices, cause they had soo much sugars in them. I talked to so many pediatritions and they reassured me that she should be getting enough calcium from other sources like veggies and cheese, yogurt, etc. It may take some time, but don't worry she will come around like my daughter eventually did at 3 yr old. Hope this helps or gives u a little encouragement. Check with your daughters doctors, they can help too as far as making sure she is getting enough calcium. There are always the calcium chews too, they taste good, and they think its a treat.

Hi G.,
Perhaps she is associating intestinal discomfort with the milk, since it gives her the runs. Try some goats' milk; you can buy it by the can at WinCo and dilute it like evaporated milk. It is far more digestable than cows' milk. I couldn't nurse well for the first two, and they didn't tolerate commercial formula; so I went to scratch with goats' milk and it was very successful. If it doesn't work, you are only out ~$3 for the can. If it does, you can look for a less expensive source.
L.

She may be lactose intolerant. I was before getting pregnant. Try flavored soy milk. It cames in Strawberry, vanilla, chocolate or regular. Apple juice or any juice for that matter has no benefits. It's full of sugar and is not good for her teeth. You are better off giving her water. Good Luck! You may want to tsalk to a doctor about lactose intolerance.

my 18 month old doesn't like cows milk either. He also loves apple juice! I'm still breast feeding so it isn't a bit issue yet. But my doc recommended that if he quits, to try soy or hemp milk that is calcium fortified. I would guess the runs is from maybe a bit too much apple juice. Dairy (especially cheese) tends to be constipating. To get the calcium they need, they just need 8 oz of dairy a day so that could be yogurt, cheese, etc.

Good luck!

Sometimes I would put a little Karo surup in the bottle
or chocolote. Not alot just to make it a little sweet
Brestmilk is sweet sooooooo.
I have 9 children and it worked for me.

I have a 21 month old who doesn't care for whole milk either. What I started her on a one year was the Next Step Formula. I buy the Parent's Choice brand at Wal-mart. You can give them that til they are 2. My daughter loves it and it is fortified with way more vitamins the whole milk anyway. Try it for your daughter. I also like it because I can prepare it when I want it and whole milk is not souring in the fridge.

I don't want to sound too preachy, but please don't give her milk! First, your baby is telling you that she doesn't like it, doesnt want it doesn't need it. Babies know intrinsically what their bodies need at that age. Second, ccow's milk is horrible for humans, despite what the very well-funded dairy industry has been propagandizing for years. The research is pretty overwhelming that cow's milk does far more harm than good, especially if the cows have been treated with Bovine Growth Hormone. Check out John Robbins "Diet for a New America" or this article http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/bgh.htm on BGH. Even organic milk is not good, because the proteins and sugars in milk are too complicated for human digestive enzymes to break down. If you're really attached to milk, I'd suggest goat's milk, as the chemical structure is much closer to human milk; you might google a few articles comparing the pros and cons. I'm not convinced babies need any milk at all once they're weaned from mama. Nutritionally speaking, Americans generally get more than four times the amount of protein than we really need to be healthy, so don't worry about any lack of nutrients from cutting out milk. THe best answer is always listen to your baby. She can get plenty of protein from the other foods she's eating, and if she likes juice you can always make smoothies (nondairy!!) to supplement the calcium. In short, milk is bad-- don't listen to the dairy industry. Hope this helps. Dismounting soapbox now. Good luck!

Have you tried rice, soy, or nut milks? They might be a good alternative if she has a lactose problem, and some, like almond milk, tastes pretty sweet. good luck!

Try goat milk. Many kids love it, it resembles human milk, more so than cow's (nutritionally speaking), and no allergies or typical dairy reactions.

Some children simply cannot digest lactose (or other components of milk), and if it seems to give your daughter the runs, she likely has that problem. She may not "like" it because her little body knows it's not working.

Ask your pediatrician what to do about this - I don't know if kids this young can safely take digestive enzymes. Don't wait. It's not something to take lightly.

Hi G.,
I'm a Naturopathic physician in the Bellingham, WA area and I work primarily with women and children. I just want to say that it is ok for your dauther not to drink cow's milk. She may not have the enzymes necessary to digest it, you may want to try alternatives to milk: rice milk, almond milk. I usually don't recommend soy because it can be an allergen as well have hormone-like effects. Your daughter may have a food allergy or food sensitivity to dairy or other food types (ie wheat/gluten, corn, etc). There are better ways to get Calcium and vit. D than milk.
Dr. M. ###-###-####)

Goats milk is easier to digest. Both cows milk AND apple juice will produce "the runs". If sweet baby refuses the goats milk there are plenty of other alternative milk products to try. . . nut milks or soy or potatoe or rice. Hope this helps. As far as the juice goes . . . stay away from apple because it is the hardest on the tummy. Try pear juice first then introduce others later.

I haven't gotten to read all of the responses but I thought I would chime in about the soy milk. My son is allergic to all dairy and is sensitive to certain soy milk brands. The one that is working out best for us is the WestSoy Plus Vanilla (organic). You can get it at Trader Joes (1/2 gallon for ~$2.50). More expensive than cow's milk but it is organic and doesn't need to be refridgerated until opened. Just a thought. : )

Hello Goddess :)
You can try almound milk it is lactose free and the same calcium as milk. It is in the health food section . It cost more than milk but better for our bodies :)

Hope this Helps
P. P

Hi G. - I have 2 ideas:
1. Introduce mil into the apple juice, a little bit at a time. We might think this is yukky but you never know, your kid might like it.
2. Have your older child share and feed your baby the milk. You have already noticed probably that littler siblings love what their older siblings do...
K.

I too dealth with this same issue with my now 20 mo. old, who was about 12 mo. when I had the issue. I thought I'd share what I used that eventually got her to drink milk. I use the playtex bottles with liners (they empty out more like a mothers breast) and I warm the milk in a cup in the microwave (about 35 sec.) then transfer to bottle. Anyhow, she loves milk now and is hooked. And just to mention....I have a friend who discovered that apple juice was giving her daughter the runs....so maybe it's not the milk? Anyhow, good luck to you!

I have 2 out of 3 children that are lactose intolerant. My 2nd daughter showed signs with white foamy diarrhea and my 3rd daughter gets gas so bad, at 3 yrs old we joke she still has colic. Lactaid works wonders! It is pricey, almost double regular milk, but it's sweeter and they both love it. If you qualify for WIC, it's allowed with those checks, so it makes it affordable. Also, the 3 year old couldn't drink juice for the same reasons, belly aches and diarrhea, but she loves Fruit2o and has no problems with that. Hope this helps you in any sort of way... having to find alternatives for the last 3 years has been a chore to say the least, and absolutely painful to watch the little one in so much pain.

You can try the alternatives (soy, rice, etc.) and see if she likes it better, but what she gets from milk is fat, protein, and vitamins. If she has a relatively healthy diet otherwise, don't worry about it. There are whole cultures that drink little or no milk, and are perfectly healthy. If she learns to drink water well, she'll probably even be healthier in the long run. Just don't substitute with juice. (I'm a pediatrician)

You might try other types of milk -- my goddaughter really likes rice milk. Her desire for apple juice may be what's giving her the runs -- too much of that will cause it. :) You might add just a small amount of cinnamon as well as diluting it.

Good luck!

Angel

When my daughter wouldn't drink milk I just kept offering it to her. I don't remember how long it took but she drinks it regularly now. She is two and I think that she has been a milk drinker for about six months. My Dr. also said that as long as she is getting the calcium and fat in other ways it would be ok.

How about trying warmed goat milk? It's better then cows milk. Also if sinus problems start up, its a likely sign of sensitivity to dairy.

I'd recommend reading this book: "The Body Knows" by Caroline Sutherland.

Good Luck!
P.S. Soy can act like a hormone, & it's h*** o* a baby's digestive system.

Hello G. B.
I am a Mom to 6 wonderful kids, and two of my sons and husband are lactose intolerant. I am a bio-chemist in the food industry. Sounds like your daughter is having a hard time digesting the sugar (in the juice). You may want to try and see if she is having a dairy reaction. She could be lactose (allergic to the natural sugar in dairy products) or to the protein that is in the dairy.
You can try this, giver he nothing but water. Then giver her cheddar cheese "not the processed cheeses" and if she has diarrhea then she is Lactose. Wait a couple days and then try the protein based milks (soy or rice) and if she has the same she could be having problems with Protein.
After you have tried these things take her back to her doctor and let him/her know what you did and the out comes. They may take it a little bit farther with skin testing.
She also may not need something that is in the milk, and will drink it when needed. Kids will eat and drink what and when they need.
If you would like to learn more about Lactose and protein allergies in dairy, check out the Internet.

Good Luck