What if he won't drink milk?

AMYfromKY · October 2010

H is teething and isn't into drinking his milk at all. He's had around 5oz today and isn't wanting anymore. Do I just give him yogurt (which he will eat) and call it an even trade for milk (is that how it works?) or should I offer water for hydration purposes?

MrsBatty · October 2010

You should always offer water for hydration purposes.

Yes, Yogurt and cheese are a fine substitute.

jesssy1204 · October 2010

LO pedi told me that a lot of LOs go on milk strike and not to worry. Yes offer water, and pedi said as long as LO eats dairy its all good. (pedi said the milk strike can go on for weeks...just keep offering it)

AMYfromKY · October 2010

MrsBatty:
You should always offer water for hydration purposes.
Yes, Yogurt and cheese are a fine substitute.

Thanks! We just started giving him water after he finishes his milk, but I didn't know how much to give him.

ncbelle · October 2010

He should always have access to water - we leave a sippy out for kiddo always. It's fine if he doesn't ever drink milk as long as he's getting the fat and nutrients from other sources (like cheese and yogurt).

MrsBatty · October 2010

AMYfromKY:
MrsBatty:
You should always offer water for hydration purposes.
Yes, Yogurt and cheese are a fine substitute.
Thanks! We just started giving him water after he finishes his milk, but I didn't know how much to give him.

Oh my gosh Amy, give him as much as he will take of water.

That is so important.

That should be how it works everyday regardless of how much milk he takes.

katie_cj · October 2010

I would offer yogurt and cheese and water for hydration.

According to my pharmacist, a toddler needs 500mg of calcium a day.

We give Jake two bottles a day and then give him water.

AMYfromKY · October 2010

Thanks ladies! We just gave him yogurt, cheese, and water in place of his before nap sippy so we should be good.

Jen&Joe06 · October 2010

B has a water bottle that is always available for him to drink from.

He sometimes doesn't nurse as often (or take all of his bottle at daycare) so I just make sure he has more cheese and yogurt that day.

macchiatto · October 2010

Yeah, ditto everyone else on offering plenty of water along with yogurt and cheese. I also give smoothies a lot to help boost my boys' dairy intake. (Per smoothie I put in about 4 oz whole milk, a big scoop of yogurt--maybe 2-3 Tbsp?, half a banana and a handful of frozen cherries, blueberries or peaches.) We also sneak it into oatmeal, which they eat almost every day.