Weaning and cow's milk intake

dianachagans · March 2014

Hi ladies! I am in the process of weaning DS (down to just nursing before bed!), but we're having trouble amping up his cow's milk intake. Yesterday he drank 14oz, which is a record, but I find myself offering it (ie shoving it in his face) all day long to get even that amount. Any tips on how to consolidate this and get in a good rhythm?

Also, what are your typical schedules for offering milk? And how much do your LOs drink at this point? TIA!

octobermama87 · March 2014

Well, DS is weaning himself from Breastfeeding right now. I think it's bc of the hormones mostly :-( I'm so sad about this. I was hoping he'd go at least 18 mo. He's down to first thing in the morning and before bed. At first he was flat out refusing WCM completely but now he's drinking one sippy cup (9oz) of chocolate milk in the morning with breakfast. It's the only way he'll take it. I read that it's ok to give him "flavored" milk if that's the only way he'll drink it ( dr's papers at his 12 mo appt).

He still eats cheese and yogurt. And Dr says he's healthy.

colinsfebmommy · March 2014

I wish mine even took milk.....it is the only thing he refuses to put in his mouth....the kid is a dump truck for everything else.

lbonga1 · March 2014

My DD still won't go to sleep without a bottle. It's better at night, but naps are a no-go without one. So I give her a 6 oz bottle of WCM before each of her two naps and bed. When I think she's ready to fully wean from the bottle, I'm not going to be as concerned about giving her milk. I'll offer her yogurt, cheese, and other non-dairy sources of calcium.

Drea926 · March 2014

When we switched to cow's milk, the first week he didn't take much - maybe 16 ounces or so. Once he got used to it, started drinking more. He takes 24 ounces a day - the maximum amount, lol. He gets 3 8 ounce cups a day - one with each meal. He also loves cheese and yogurt.

colinsfebmommy · March 2014

I got him to drink an oz last night lol

happy_un-bride · March 2014

I had to give him bottles to get him to drink milk - won't drink it from a sippy cup. He has water sippys with meals. Milk bottle in the am, during the day at daycare, before bed, and 1 in middle if night if wakes. (I may nurse him for 1-2 of those instead of bottle, if I can).

kbates85 · March 2014

We started WCM right around his first birthday and at first he drank a lot. About a month or so afterwards he drastically decreased his milk intake. Now we won't touch it until about 30 min before bed. At that time he drinks between 7-10 oz. I think I read that the recommended minimum is 8 oz and the max is 24 oz.

dianachagans · March 2014

Sounds like I'm over worried! He gets lots of dairy otherwise through cheese and yogurt. I'm going to keep offering but not force it so much. Thanks for helping me get a handle on this!