Alternatives to Cows Milk

I don't have any milk suggestions... except that milk is not all that important after 1 year. She can get calcium from other foods/vegtables. My mother and brother had extreme milk allegeries and we didn't have much milk in out house. I would stay away from soy in large quanties as the hormones can affect young girls. The main reason for my response is this... if you pediatrician is not supportive...find another!

Just be careful with almond milk because of nut allergies, almonds are a high allergin and is also an allergin trigger for other allergies. They may not be allergic to it but it can intensify other allergies.

J.,

You might want to look into multi-vitamin drops from Meijer, these can be found in the baby section. I used these drops for my son when he was diagnosed with 7 food intolerances (milk is one) and at the time we didn't know how to get him the calcium he needed. The number of drops given is dependent on weight and age, so talk to your pediatrician about the correct dosage (you will need the nutritional information at the appointment with you).

As your daughter gets older and starts eating solid foods introduce her to dark leafy green vegetables, such as: Kale, Bok Choy, Spinach, and others. These veggies have just as much - if not more - calcium than a glass of milk and it doesn't come with all of the fat either. These veggies can be steamed, sauteed, grilled, eaten raw, or any way you want to cook them and they are tasty.

Another way to get vitamin D is to spend a little time outside in the morning sunshine without sunscreen. If your daughter is getting the nutrition she needs then her body will naturally produce vitamin D as a result of the sunshine on her skin. People with darker skin need to spend more time in the sun for their bodies to make the same amount of vitamin D as people with very light colored skin. The darker tone of the skin is like a natural sunscreen and slows down the production of vitamin D.

Good luck with your search for a milk alternative.

-C..

We did enriched vanilla Rice milk. I think the brand is Rice Dream. I bought it by the case at the health food store which was cheaper than the sale price at the grocery store. I liked it too but I only used it for cereal for me. But my sons drank it from the bottle and cup after they were weaned for a couple of years and it had even more vitamins/minerals than the cow's milk. I didn't tell the dr. because I didn't think it mattered when I compared the nutritional content. Remember, you're the mom and you're the one who is responsible for your child's health. You know what's best for your child. You're doing a great job!!

:o) G.
Mom of 2 wonderful boys, 5 & 7

I don't have any recomendations on a type of milk to give her. But if she has an allergy to milk and that is why you are asking then I recommend orange juice fortified with vitamin D. Not sure why no one wants to use cows milk, its been used by us, our parents, our parents parents and so on. I'm fine and so are the millions of other people who drink it.

Why does she need milk at all? I don't give my daughter any liquid milk and she does just fine.

I ensure she gets the fat she needs through daily cod liver oil. (Nordic Naturals is one of the best brands out there and it comes in flavors. My daughter happily takes it every day.) I make sure she gets lots of fruits and veggies, yogurt, and cheese to ensure she is getting the calcium she needs.

Do a little research ... there's no need for liquid milk. You can ensure they are getting all they need through other things. Now that my daughter is almost 22 months old I've started her on a multi-vitamin as well.

How about rice milk?

I don't know the reason why you are not giving her cows milk - potential allergies? but surely it is better to give her something natural/organic rather than giving vitamin supplements? Kids should get a balanced diet so they do not need additional supplements. In Europe there is a saying - Muesli belt malnutrition - meaning that well meaning middle class parents who have read up on a subject think they are doing the right thing by following a certain diet but are actually depriving their kids of certain nutrients they need to thrive and grow. Please think very carefully before omitting things from your kids diet because you think it is a good idea - those doctors have trained for years in their field and usually have the best advice...please follow it.

Try soy milk; it's pretty good; I cook with it when I make meat dishes to avoid dietary restrictions. Why do you not want to give your daughter cow's milk? Are you worried about the growth hormones? I know for a fact that there are several brands that do not put growth hormones in; among them are Bareman's farms (I know I misspelled that), Prairie Farms, Trader Joe's has good milk that is hormone free and so does Whole Foods. Good luck.

There is raw milk. It's still cow's milk but has not been pasteurized. It still has all the enzymes you need, and I can't taste a difference.
Doctors once gave it a thumbs down because of some old old scare that kids got rheumatic fever or something. Not so. Not to mention that was decades ago, and science and technology has proven otherwise.
Rice milk, soy milk are also possible

Almond milk is great, but so are a lot of the other milks. We have also introduced Rice Milk, Hemp Milk and Oat milk. The best advice i received from a holistic pediatrician is to rotate the milks so they don't get too much. And as long as they are getting their vitamins from another source, especially Vitamin D and calcium, then they technically don't need any form of milk. Another thing to make sure they get enough of is protein and fat. Especially the during years 1-2.
We added protien powder and coconut oil to make a smoothie for this purpose. We also all take Cod Liver oil for Fat and Vitamin D. Our family is completely dairy free due to allergies, so we even cook with the other types of milk drink.

My daughter loves Rice Dream (the original flavor which is both organic and enriched with vitamins). Our Costco at 13 mile & Stevenson Hwy sells it by the case which is way cheaper than singles at other places. Good luck!

Hi J.---I agree with the other posts. It was a shock to me to learn how bad cows milk can actually be for a human. My whole family used to drink gallons every week. But because of potential health risks, which includes everything from allergies and Type 1 diabetes to cancer froom too much animal protein. Go to www.strongbones.org and read The China Study to learn more.

I use almond milk for myself. It has less carb in it than rice, although that would probably be desired for a little one. I don't drink any milk, plant or otherwise, any longer. I use it mostly for smoothies and/or cold cereal. Be sure that soy is organic as much of the soy produced these days is genetically modified.

Then be sure your daughter gets plenty of leafy green veggies. She'll get all the calcium she needs from them. It is more absorbable than that found in milk.

Isolated, multi-vitamin supplements don't work very well either, unless it is food based. Multi's are not absorbed well as they lack most of the smaller nutrients needed for maximum absorption. Some are downright dangerous, as they have ingredients in them not listed on the label or they don't have the nutrients in the vitamin that is listed. Some even have lead in them. I do have several articles and some info I can share with you about this subject.

If you would like to know about a whole food supplement, made from 17 different fruits, veggies and grains, backed by independent research showing that it is absorbed, balances the immune system, improves cardiovascular function and actually protects and repairs DNA, give me a call. My goal is to help educate those who would like to learn more about how to optimize their health. It would be my honor to help you do that. Just give me a call. In health, D. ###-###-####

Hi J., It's great that you are researching milk alternatives. What prompted you?

Do you have a reason for not choosing soy?

What other sources of protein are you looking into?

Congratulations and blessings as you enjoy your dear little girl.

M.

My son (due to a milk allergy) is on almond milk and supplement. There are definitely a lot more choices out there now. My brother was allergic to milk as a child and all there was then was soy and apparently it didn't taste good.

I am not opposed to cow's milk. But, my boys refuse to drink it (they drank it from a bottle, but when I switched to cups they stopped!)

Anyway, I tried other milks but they wouldn't drink those either. Now I give them calcium fortified OJ every day and yogurt. I also tried a calcium gummy supplement, which sometimes gets eaten.I would prefer they drink a milk, but that's the best I could do! Just get the calcium in your child any way you can.

I think that is wonderful that you are not willing to give your daughter cow milk. I am considering giving my daughter rice milk when she is 12 months. Good luck.

If your baby is breastfed she doesn't need any kind of milk other than mama's milk. Honestly! To make sure she gets her vitamin D and calcium, make sure she eats lots of green leafy veggies. Fruit smoothies with baby spinach mixed in are very tasty and pack a punch, especially with iron.