Addicted to milk, won't eat anything else. Help!

nooze2me

My 20 month old is addicted to cow's milk.  She won't eat anything else.  However, the milk leaves her terribly constipated.  Today, I am refusing to give her milk, offering only whole grain cereal, fruit and toddler juice.  Lunch will be a gerber chicken veggie meal.  DS is currently in the middle of a fit.  What can I do?  Should I just wait until she gives up tantrum and surrenders to hunger?

BTW, she is allergic to eggs, soy, and nuts.

Cassie42

Maybe call your pedi and ask.  If she has been on milk everyday, she is going to throw a fit if you stop it and only offer other things.  I would check with the pedi and ask for suggestions about adding in other foods.  The dr. may suggest carnation breakfast to mix with the milk, that way you know she is getting some extra nutrients, and there is one with added protein.  One of my DS's will only drink milk at breakfast, he won't eat until later morning, so our pedi told us to do the carnation breakfast.  It may also be an issue of just continuing to offer her things and maybe cut back the milk portion.  I know it must be difficult and stressful, but it is probably just a phase and she will eat.  Good Luck!!!

jlw2505

I would not stop the milk totally as she needs her milk but only give her a small amount at a time.  My DD loves milk and would drink a ton if we let her.  She only gets 2 sippy cups a day at home plus some at school and we never fill the sippy cup all the way, maybe a little over half.  She gets it when she wakes up in the morning and with meals and if she has any left after dinner, she gets it at bedtime.  She gets water the rest of the time and will get a juice.water mix once a day after her b-day next month.  At meals, she gets her sippys and food at the same time and she typically drinks 1st and then eats.  If she cries for more milk and its gone, I give her the water and put the milk sippy out of view.  My sister has never given her kids milk or other drink until after they have started eating their food since they always filled up on the drink.  I know its hard but if you give in and give more milk becasue he's fussing, he's not going to learn that he has to eat as he will learn that if he fusses long enough, you will give in.  I know there are a million books out there on feeding your kids that might be helpful but I don't know any good ones to suggest off the top of my head as I've never had this issue but I know my sister has dealt with it.