how do you get a child to drink 1 pint milk a day?

[Cha]

My dd is just over a year and now only has the morning b/f. Trouble is she is not keen on milk (formula, cow's, goat's, warm, cold - tried everything) and I have no idea how to get the required 1 pint in her a day. I cook with milk and cheese and she has yoghurts etc but no way does it all add up to a pint! I am persisting, and she drinks a little if she's really thirsty and there's no alternative. She loves water and will happily drink that in preference to anything else (apart from mummy's milk that is). Anyone out there had similar problems and what is the answer? Should I just not worry about it? She is mostly veggie but eats some fish at least 3 days a week.

I'm in a similar situation, Cha. My dd is now 17 months old and now only has the morning b/f. She just recently refused to have her bedtime b/f. I have found that the only cow's milk she'll drink is skimmed!! I know this is totally not recommended, but I figure it's better than nothing and contains the same amount of calcium and protein as full fat. She's not really very keen even on this and she'll only really drink it with food. She has some yoghurts/cheese/white sauces, but like you, I don't think she's getting anywhere near a pint. I'd also like to know whether to worry or not??

This is a bit of a radical idea and I understand completely if its not something you would like to do....but how about making her some hot chocolate?Not with the powdered stuff.Just by grating some really good quality chocolate into the milk?
Then she would have the sweet taste rather than the milk taste?
Just a thought.

Hello, this is very similar thread to one I just started about phasing out bottles - ds not keen to drink quantities of milk from a cup. I did become massively less anxious when I read the 'birth to 5' guide (published by the NHS, free from your HV) which says that the minimum recommended milk intake is 12 oz from 1 year. Somehow that seems easier to achieve than a whole pint! And they just suggest giving two portions of milk or cheese based stuff per day if your child doesn't like milk - which again sounds eminently achievable. I'm sure, like most things, we probably worry far more than we need to

sorry if this is a silly question, but is it vital that they have 1 pint of milk a day or is it the calcium and fat you're worried about? If so, there's calcium and fat in other foods. Will think of some and post if this is what is required!

DS stopped BF about 13 mths and refused any milk after that. At first I was worried but tried to compensate with lots of cheese, yoghurts etc. DD copied DS although she does actually like milk. I find she is more receptive to the idea of chocolate milk now. I thik as long as they get plenty of calcium etc it doesn't really matter where it comes from. Also our water is really hard and it occurred to me one day that DS probably gets as much from the water as he would from milk. DS is now 4.5 and perfectly healthy so I really don't think its a problem.

www, I'm sure its not absolutely vital, there are plenty of healthy kids who don't like milk at all! I guess its just a good source of certain nutrients, which if not taken in milk, will have to be made up elsewhere. I'm not a nutritionist, but I would guess the key things are calcium and some of the fat soluble vitamins (A and D). Calcium in particular might be a bit hard to make up elsewhere.

The choc milk is a good idea, Alexmum. Can't imagine why I didn't think of it before! It could replace some of the chocolates / biscuits that ds has. (not that he has a lot, but you know how it is...)

I really do not think you should worry about it - if you try and encourage a milky breakfast, something like porridge (or Ready Brek), she has yogurts (the wholemilk ones would probably be the best bet), white sauces or cheese sauces would also use quite alot of milk and are good with fish. And Alexsmum's idea of the chocolate drink is a good one - could also try whizzing up a banana into some milk for a fresh smoothie.

Hello Cha - I agree with Katherine. In reality it doesnt matter if you get the calcium or fat from milk. Its just the natural thing to assume that it has to come from milk.

Why not buy orange juice with calcium. I give this to all my kids and it has the same exact serving of calcium as milk. Just make sure you getbthe one that says calcium on it. I also mantioned this in the past to someone about buying KRAFT only cheese slices. They have exactly one serving of the recommended amount of milk in each slice. Two or three slices a day and you ve had 3 servings already. Theres also the fat to if its also what your looking for.

Chocolate milk is a great idea and you can buy the strawberry mix too. Hope this helps.

Yes, smoothies, another great idea, thanks.
Actually, yoghurts are another worry. I stopped buying them when someone pointed out all the sugar and additives in the ones aimed at toddlers, Has anyone any ideas for a yummy, wholesome range of yoghurts?

I buy the jumbo pots these days - sometimes the Onken ones, because they seem to have a lot of fruit in them, also the organic ranges in Sainsbury's are quite good - sometimes get the set organic, plain yoghurt and then add my own stuff eg fruit, maple syrup...mmmmm

The Yeo valley yogurts don't have any gunk added to them. They do have sugar, but since my ds rarely gets sweets and biscuits, I figure it's ok. Buy the full fat adult ones as they are much cheaper than the kiddy ones. You could also get plain yogurt and just add fruit to it (we used to add fruit and granola when we were kids). Rachel Organic has yogurts without gunk as well, but they taste pretty bland.
3angels, I don't think the oj with calcium has made it to england.
I found that my ds wasn't overly excited about cow's milk until I totally stopped bfing him. I think the breast milk is much sweeter and therefore more interesting to them. I tried to give him his milk in a plastic cup with a straw to make it more interesting to him...it worked, but it was very messy.

Thanks for the yoghurt info folks. I might buy some telly tubby yogs, wash them out and replace with the organic, as he's always been disdainful of adult ones.

I've seen the OJ with calcium added in the UK. I used to buy it in Tescos when pregnant with DS1.

I've just looked at the Tesco's website and our local store stocks Tescos own OJ with added calcium. Tropicana also do a "plus" OJ which has calcium added.

My 15 month ds hates milk with a vengeance! I give him Weetabix or Ready Brek for breakfast with as much milk as possible. He also has a Petits Filous youghurt at most meals. I know that there is sugar in these, but he has his teeth cleaned immediately after breakfast and dinner, and I usually give him the lunch time yoghurt first. He also has cheese spreads in sandwiches or on crackers, which he loves.

There is also calcium in various other foods, see these sites:

www.veggiepower.ca/caltable.htm
www.vegsoc.org/info/calcium.html
ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5557.html

Cha - if she prefers Mummy's milk then that's what to give her! Easier to do that than worry about other kinds of milk. Just feed her more often. Is this a problem?

Thanks for the reassurance and great ideas. I shall buy some smart plain chocolate (has iron in it, another bonus) and do the chocolate milk thing and will look out for the oj and Kraft slices.
Eulalia - breastfeeding is a problem as she has masses of sharp teeth and although she doesn't actually bite, there are always little toothmarks all round my poor nipples afterwards. Most uncomfortable! As she's had teeth since 5 months, I think I deserve a medal (or at least my boobs do)...

Well, she hated the chocolate milk even more than the normal stuff (strange child) - will have to look out for the oj and Kraft slices next time I'm at Sainsburys. Thanks for the websites too - am just going to them....

cha, try strawberry, banana, or make your own smoothies. I hated drinking choc - still do! I'm the only person I know who can't stand it. I love eating it though.

Cha - Don't stress about it - I did for the first two years of fussy dds life until I realised that it just wasn't going to happen.

I agree with others, calcium and healthy fat can be obtained from lots of other sources (indeed, also in sauces hee hee). Dd only ever got to about 12-14 oz in a day, nowhere near 20.

Also, a friend of mine has a healthy son who wouldn't touch anything but mums milk from age 1. She gave up bf and he gets it from yoghurts, bread, veg etc.

Hope this helps to reassure.

P.S. Dd is on 50th centile weight, 75th height and is healthy and energetic.

Cha - there is also a Danone mineral water which has added calcium - not sure if the other minerals rule it out for kids though.

My ds won't drink milk, won't eat yoghurts or cheese - come to think of it, he won't eat any dairy products, apart from a tiny bit of milk on his cereal. He won't drink 'normal' Danone activ as it tastes milky. But there are flavoured versions of it, which ds loves.

The bottom line is she does not need a pint a dat so do not worry.

That is pint a DAY even

custard's another good one. My 10 month old ds will only drink about 8 - 9 oz milk a day, but will eat custard until he bursts...!