My Son Wont Take Regular Milk

I gave my daughter steamed milk (about 100 degrees) to wean her off the breast at around 2 yrs. We,d go to a local cafe and she'd have her "boam"- her word for the foam on the milk, and I'd have my coffee.

I know you are just taking the advice of a pediatrician or someone else, but there is NO reason why a 1 year old needs cow's milk, and some children have sensitivities or allergies to the proteins in cow's milk, which are much larger than in human milk and difficult for human babies to digest--though most manage.

Maybe his own body is telling him "no" to cow's milk. Goat's milk is more expensive, but much closer to human milk as far as digestion goes. You might try that. I even know of one friend who could not afford to buy it in the store, but worked out a trade with a local person who keeps goats. She did some childcare-I believe-once a week and in exchange, she got jars of fresh goat's milk every day!

Soy is another possibility, though it has it's own allergenic potential so go slow introducing it.

It's ok if he doesn't want solids yet. Although all the books and pediatricians seem to say so, there is not some bright line at the magic age of 1 that means you have to suddenly change what works.

None of my three daughters would eat jarred baby food, but they all quickly loved things that had real substance to it. Avocado mashed up is a wonderful food. So is banana. My eldest daughter loved avocado with a bit of soft tofu mashed together when she was 1--she got important oils, nutrients and protein that way. She absolutely would NOT eat even baby food I made from my own garden--I think it was too mushy! Mashing soft foods with a fork worked because it had a different "mouthfeel".

But really, it's ok to let him develop as his own timetable dictates as long as he is healthy and keeps growing.

This is going to sound cruel but, let him get hungry enough to give it a try. Congradulations by the way my daughter turned six on the 12th of this month. Everyone resists new things not just old people. I am sure you will get a lot of responses. I used to mix the milk with rice cereal and either poke a bigger hole in the bottle nipple or make sure it was the type if sippy cup that could handle it.

I would suggest breastfeeding more often. You can still increase your milk supply. Consider it a blessing that your child does not like cow milk, as it has been shown to contribute to ear infections, allergies, type 1 diabetes, obesity, and anemia in children. It is good for cows, but the human body recognizes it as foreign protein, causing histamine reactions and molecular mimicry. My five sons were raised without milk, and have enjoyed superb health. As far as regular food, be persistent, and don't be afraid to let him get good and hungry; most will eventually eat.

Maybe you could try just giving him some finger foods to eat on his own. My 11 month old doesn't like to be fed but will eat it on her own. Good Luck!

Are you feeding him milk in a bottle? My daughter would only drink it in a cup. We found the kind with a straw worked best for her. Also, she often did better when I was not home! Have you tried having someone else give it to him while you are out? I know a lot of people are suggesting goat's milk, which is great, but I would make sure it has been pasturized. I continued to nurse my daughter twice a day after one year until she was 16 months and gave it up on her own. He is getting great things from that as well! She was not a great eater, but has gotten better over time. We also had better luck with finger food type solids rather than pureed baby food. Although, I made a lot of yogurt smoothies! Some kids have texture issues or feeding problems, so it is good that you are taking him somewhere to work on it. Good Luck!

Here are a couple of ideas:
Take the similac and start mixing it with milk. For a couple of days try 70% similac 30% milk. if that works do 50/50 for a few days. if that works then go 30/70 (milk being the 70).
As far as food goes, does he like to feed himself? if so, that might be the way to go, it may be messy but you can turn most of the food groups into "finger food" and since they can't eat too much at a sitting (their stomachs are about the size of their fists)he will get lots of practice. The other thing is to give him spoon foods that are thick so they don't fall of the spoon very easily
Yougurt
large curd cottage cheese
Apple sauce mixed with yogurt
mashed potatoes
mashed sweet potatoes
Put a shower curtain under his high chair, and if it is warm enough, take off his cloths and you will see that with a couple of months, he will be an expert (1 yr olds are more capable then you might think)
D.-mom of 2 young adult sons and 20 years experience with infants and toddlers

Have you tried letting him feed himself? My daughter would not allow us to feed her, from 5 months on. It was hard to let her do it herself, because it meant a huge mess, but she became very good with it in short order and she would eat!
Good luck,
K.

My oldest daughter only likes soy milk. You might try that.

Hi C.,

First off - great job for breastfeeding your son. My first weaned at 18 mo. (now 3 1/2) and I am looking forward to somehow weaning our 2nd (now is 16 mo.) in a couple months or so.
Sounds like 2 situations you have: him not wanting to drink whole milk and also not wanting to be spoon fed solids.
For the first, maybe he doesn't like the taste of straight whole milk, so maybe milk with some formula mixed in for a while until gradually all the way to just whole milk. Or maybe look into soy milk products - I don't know what kind of nutritional value to look for though as we aren't vegetarians. I'm sure there's great advise out there for that. It just tastes different, maybe he'll go for it instead.
For the second, he may not ever want YOU to feed him again. He may want to only feed himself, which is normal but pretty darn messy and you won't know exactly how much actually gets in. Our first refused to be fed and ate a lot with his fingers off the table then later a plate - ok with fork & spoon, but our second it stellar with the utensils a lot of the time and started that all just a couple months after one year.
So, good luck and know that he is getting his best food from you still.

- S.

Hello,

I have heard to give a bit of milk with water first and gradually build up more milk in ratio to water. It seems to work well. As for food , you can always try to give it to him without a spoon by just using your fingers. Make it fun by making noises and sound effects when feeding. Sometimes it helps to be funny and silly. Also I know this sounds gross but a long time ago Indians would chew food in their own mouths , take it out with their fingers and pass to the baby. I did this and it worked great. Now my little one feeds herself most of the time except for the goeey mushy foods. Hope this helps. Good luck! Just be patient thought. All kids have "something" :)

Have you tried warming up the milk instead of serving it cold? Also you can try a different delivery system than the current one you are using (i.e. straw sippy vs bottle).

These two little tricks worked for us but warning: My daughter still insists on warm milk and she's now in grade school.

Good luck

C.,

You might try soy or rice milk. I recently talked with a dietician at a hospital my son went to, and she said the vanilla flavors (which kids usually like better) don't have anymore sugar than regular milk. They also are fortified with the proper nutrients. My son has a milk allergy (among others) so we've had to look into other options. You'd be surprised what's out there. Your son is young enough, so he may not dispute the change of taste as an older child might. If you are at whits end and can't get him to drink anything but formula, I'm sure it would be fine to give it to him awhile longer. Good luck.

J. D

will he eat finger foods?
try those, my kids went through a stage where they wouldn't eat anything off a spoon.
Also, try starting out with 3/4 formula, 1/4 milk and just make the dilution more milk as time goes on. maybe he needs to get used to the taste. Or give up milk all together. it really isn't good for children anyhow, Milk is ment to make a cow grow really big really fast! I know it is comforting for a mom to give their child milk, but he gets your milk enough I bet he'll be fine! :) good luck.

My son will be a year old on Feb 6th and he is still not drinking milk either. The Dr. suggested we transition him by making half milk/half formula bottles but this made him throw up all the time. Enfamil makes a next step formula that works really well for us. We've been mixing it half and half with his Gentlease formula and he's been doing just fine with it. The next step is really great because it's basically a milk substitute in formula form but it has more nutrition. I would definately try it.

As far as eating solids goes my little guy won't let us feed him anything either. Our pediatritian suggested we get him some foods that he can feed himself and that has worked out great for us. We bought a bunch of Gerber Graduate things that he can feed himself like the fruit strips and cereal bars and wagon wheel snacks. He just goes to town. I would try starting him out with some baby mum mum's. They are these rice wafer snacks that disolve very easy in baby's mouth and they are my son's favorite. If he still refuses solids even after all of that you can always try giving him some of the child nutrition shakes in his bottle.

There is a formula for children 9 to 24 months. Maybe that would work. Also try goat milk, some kids just like it better. Good Luck!

My daughter didn't want anything to do with a spoon (or baby food either). Have you tried something that he can pick up? Sometimes, they don't like "baby" food and want to eat what you are eating and do it themself. Start with small pieces of banana or avocado.. It gets messy, but it works out! :)

If you are breastfeeding, you don't need to use whole milk. So you can try other consistencies (1% etc.) There is also the "drinkable" yogurt that may work for you.

It is perfectly fine for him to still have formula but if he isn't taking any solids then that is an issue but it seems like you've already reached out to get the help for him. Regular milk isn't a milestone and children can have formula until as late as needed if your pediatrician recommends it. As you know breasmilk is helping him greatly to get the nutrients her does need, that is provided you are eating well too. I wish yout he best of luck with getting him to eat but I don't have any real advice for you except keep trying and follow the doctor's recommendations.

I have not read the other responses, but wanted to let you know that cow's milk is NOT a necessity for growing a human baby.
Cow's milk is formulated to make a baby cow gain hundreds of pounds per year. If your baby doesn't like it, don't force it on him. There are lots of other options....water is an excellent one. Take this opportunity to teach your son how to drink healthy from the beginning.
My youngest has a dairy allergy and has pretty much never had milk. He does fine. He drinks lots of water, soy milk, rice milk in his cereal, breastmilk, and some juice.
As for calcium, think green veggies. Where do yo think cows get all the calcium that's in their milk in the first place? Good ole green grass! :)

He just turned one, keep up the breastfeeding for atleast another year. he doesn't need to stop that any time soon, and what you make for him is 10,000 times better than anything another species can give him. ;)

As for the food....trying giving him little pieces of food he can feed himself (like cut up bananas, pasta pieces, canned fruit, cheerios etc.). Then he'll feel like a "big boy" if you know what I mean.

As for the milk...don't give up so soon. Believe it or not, even at this young age, kids start testing their power by seeing how far they have to go to get you to "cave in." Are you using whole milk? It's richer tasting so I would definintely start with that. Also...when do you plan on stopping breastfeeding? When you're ready to do that (and I'm not saying you should...that's entirely up to you) it might help too...he will only have one option at that point. Just stay tough with that for a week to 10 days and see what happens. My husband always says "no kid in history has ever starved to death with a plate of food in front of them." My kids can be picky eaters too at times so I know what you're feeling. But I have found that not dramatizing it (by negotiating with them or making the airplane game etc.) and just being consistent works best.

Good luck!

I'm a 38 stay-at-home mom of 2 girls (8 and 5).

L