The Baby Doesn't Like Milk!

@vera5d (4005)
United States
August 28, 2008 8:10am CST
My daughter is 1 year old now, so I am DONE nursing her...she has too many teeth if you know what I mean ;) Anyways, since starting to stop nursing her a few days ago she will not drink milk or formula now...I've tried it warm, I've tried it cold, I've tried mixing the two together, putting in a cup, in a bottle, etc. etc. Any ideas to get her to drink the milk? If you nursed how did you get your kiddos to make the transition? She is going for her check up today so we'll see if the doc has any ideas too :)
6 people like this
20 responses
@paid2write (5201)
28 Aug 08
Milk from a cow may initially be useful to feed to young babies, but when an infant is weaned there is no need to continue. The enzyme, necessary for digesting milk is naturally present in new born infants, but reduces in the human digestive system after the age of five, and anyone who lacks this enzyme may suffer from bloating, cramps, excess wind and diarrhoea when they drink milk. There are many good alternative food sources of calcium, and these are generally much better for a child's health than milk.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
31 Aug 08
That is interesting info - she doesn't mind any other dairy things, she's just mad she can't nurse anymore!
@mikinikih (201)
• United States
28 Aug 08
Have you tried mixing it with yogurt smoothies? Sometimes that tastes more like juice to a kid, and they'll take it more readily. Then you could change the ratio of smoothie to milk over time until it is weaned out. Will she at least eat yogurt and cheese for you? The YoBaby is quite good (made from whole milk). I was blessed with children that were as ready to wean at a year as I was, so I can't speak from experience here, unfortunately. Let us know how it turns out!
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
31 Aug 08
She does like to eat other dairy foods, so I know she is getting enough dairy...but boy is she having a fit if I won't nurse her! I think I am going to have to try mixing juice or something with the milk (pediatrician reccomened carnation instant breakfast) and make my hubby feed her.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
31 Aug 08
That is weird, I replied to this comment but I don't see it :) Anyways, I think I will have to try mixing it w/stuff and making hubby feed it to her she is really mad she can't nurse anymore!
@whittby (3072)
• United States
1 Sep 08
Well, this is so not me. My kids were raised on fruits, vegetables, as healthy as I could afford at the time. But my daughter was well past the time when I wanted to stop nursing. A neighborhood suggested putting Nestle Quick or Hershey syrup in the milk for her. She wouldn't even drink fruit juices at this time so I was really desperate. You know, it worked. She didn't drink a ton of the stuff, but I wasn't worried about her getting liquids.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
1 Sep 08
I think I might try that, the doc said not to, but like you said I worry about her not getting enough to drink! Thanks!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
28 Aug 08
This discussions makes me wish I could find a cute photo we once saw of a little one who crawled up to the cat bowl on the floor and nudged 5 or 6 kittens aside to drink milk out of their bowl...tee hee. Got a cat?
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
1 Sep 08
You know, that's the best idea I've heard yet, I bet that would work. Unfortunately I don't have a cat!
@rustantl (258)
• United States
28 Aug 08
I had the same problem with my daughter who is 21 months now. She still will not drink milk...The only way I can get her to take it now is with cereal...When she was one though nothing would work so i had to supplement it with other dairy products! I am sorry I could not be more help...
• United States
28 Aug 08
Similarly, you can add powdered milk to almost anything (pasta sauce, mac & cheese, anything with a creamy or liquid-y texture).
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
31 Aug 08
She is getting enough dairy for her - she LOVES cheese...but she is throwing a tantrum if you give her milk in a cup!
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
28 Aug 08
My first caused trouble, the others had no problem transitioning. I ended up just not offering anything else. If you are thirsty, this is it. I forced the sippy cup between her lips and showed her that way that there is milk coming out of there. I think that was her problem, not understanding that the milk is inside and all you have to do is put the cup to your mouth, tilt it and it will run out into your mouth, swallow, oh boy! Any demonstration didn't work until we forced it in. I mean we showed her how the milk gets in there, we showed her how to drink from the cup. Nothing worked. Only after we forced it, it was light a lightbulb went on. Crazy kid!
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
31 Aug 08
I think she understands the cup - we've given her cups before and she drinks from them but she is so mad that she wants to nurse and i won't let her!
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
31 Aug 08
Ah, then the perceived lack of personal time with mommy is the culprit. Well, you can try and hold her while she drinks from the cup, have a nice time with her, and slowly reduce that, or you can just stay strong and say, this is it, this is what you get, there is nothing else.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
28 Aug 08
My son was never a big milk drinker. He stopped really wanting forumla at about 10 months of age when he lost interest in the bottle and would maybe drink a 1/2 a sippy cup of milk a day. It wasn't until we tried soy milk that he started to enjoy milk (which I felt better giving him anyway since I am not a milk drinker due to the fact that milk is meant for baby cows and loaded with naturally occurring hormones). I wouldn't worry too much about it. There are better sources of calcium as long as she will eat those and gets about 30 minutes of sunshine a day, I wouldn't worry about the milk drinking.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
31 Aug 08
She gets enoough dairy in other ways...but boy is she mad about not nursing anymore!! I should try soy milk, maybe she would like it better!
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
28 Aug 08
The human animal is the only one that drinks milk after it is weaned. In my opinion the dairy council is the one that insists that milk is the best source for Calcium. Milk is the source of human growth hormones and a lot of allergies in children. Cows are given Tuberculous antibiotics as well as others and that ends up in the milk.There are other milks out there that are just as good for her. Try some rice milk.If she likes it you can learn to make it yourself and it is not as expensive as cows milk.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
1 Sep 08
She sure isn't happy to not be nursing anymore! She gets enough dairy I'm sure of it, but need something to put in her bottle she likes!
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
28 Aug 08
My daughter and then her son both had an allergy to milk, as did I when I was a baby. It seemed to be the butterfat in milk that caused stomach pains. Nothing life threatening, but very uncomfortable to say the least. Finally, with my grandson, we discovered Good Start formula. That seemed to fix the problem. No more crying and refusing the bottle. Apparently it is not an uncommon allergy, just not extremely well known by everyone. You might give it a try if, for no other reason, just to rule out the possibility. Who knows, maybe it will work out. Good luck to you.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
1 Sep 08
She has never had problems with milk products before and unfortunately doesn't like the formula. I am out of ideas with my picky picky baby :)
• United States
28 Aug 08
Poor kid, she'll get hungry sooner than later. Our first little one was a bottle baby until he could grip a sippy cup. We tried to nurse the second one but with a little one running around we went bottle on her too. I'm sure your doctor has some good advice.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
1 Sep 08
Sadly the doc had no good advice...I am going to try a few different things she might like that are sweeter...she is SOOO grumpy that she can't nurse anymore!
@iyah10 (4115)
• Kuwait
29 Aug 08
As of this time my wife also does Nursing with my Daughter even until now that she is 1 year and 3 months old and it takes time or several times also to stopped nursing with my Daughter but before that she let her learn to drink a milk mixed with some chocolate in the glass and we buy for her a special glass with straw in which she is interested to used it ......and if she will not drink then just leave it for the meantime for she will be the one to ask it for you when she is ready for the meantime make a substitute drink for her like juice and have also a juice that are mixed with milk........
• United States
10 Sep 08
My Son is like that hes 2 yrs old and he wont drink milk and ive asked the doctor about it and she told me that since he wouldnt drink the milk to give him things that has milk in it until i could get him to drink the milk.
@piya84 (2581)
• India
29 Nov 08
other thing i wud like to mention..few poeple cant digest milk..esp dat of cow..its their natural tendancy...have u observe ur daughter facing GAS problem after milk feeding[dat of cow]??If it is a case then u can try two things 1 is add little pich of turmeric in milk.It make milk digestable. 2 another do u know how to make curd from milk???U can feed buttermilk to ur daughter instead of milk as it is easy to digest..n contain same amout of calcium also... I am the same case here...i use to hate milk in childhood...i use to run watching cup of milk...i grown up on buttermilk only :)
@piya84 (2581)
• India
29 Nov 08
I think its nthing wrong with dat.I think u shud feed her less quantity of milk and other supplimentary food with it.Let her eat other food little little..ofcourse wich is mild in nature and nt too much spicy. As far as i know its human nature dat we like certain kind of food at certain age ..and its natural..Our body crave for food according to its needs.Body need more milk and calcium when teeth are developing...bones are developing v fast. I think so ur daughter need little or no milk because herbody nt demanding it now .U can make sure she is getting calcium in other form.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
29 Aug 08
i don't have any child yet... so i can't help you much in this matter... but based on what i heard from my friends who already have chidlren, they tell me that they just have to be patient with the kids and let them get used to the transisition... it takes quite sometimes and patience as well... but eventually, the child will get used to it... the rule is to be strict and don't give in to them no matter how hard it is... good luck... take care and have a nice day...
• United States
29 Aug 08
I wish that I could help you out on this one. Just give her juice if she really cannot stand milk. My brother and I drank milk naturally, and we were given juice and water every now and then. As we got older we did not really like milk unless we put it with other things.
@Meljep (1666)
• United States
29 Aug 08
If your child will drink your milk you might try pumping enough until she will drink cows milk. Maybe try a formula that is not very thick, or add applesauce to the formula. Good luck to you
• China
29 Aug 08
first, congratulation. you become a mother now. i'm not mother, but i can offer you an idea. it's said my mother daubed some oil on her mammilla which has smelled special. for that reason, i stoped being nursed. and my mother put sugar in milk, you know baby likes sugar you can have a try.
@razor123 (979)
• India
28 Aug 08
That is something really funny or rather strange. Because all babies and kids love to drink milk. Try mixing it with some chocolate flavor or something like Horlicks. May be she might like the taste of it. I liked mixing milk with Horlicks when i was a kid.
@jccjr5 (62)
• United States
28 Aug 08
Have you tried Soy Milk or Rice Milk? My son could not drink milk and I tried the soy and it has been great. It is also so good for them. You can try the soy in Vanilla and your child may like it because it is a little sweeter. The rice milk is sweeter too. My son could probably drink regular milk now, but he just doesn't like it. So, I stick with the soy.