13 month doesn't like full fat cows milk

[Molukmik]

Hi, I'm wondering if any mum's can give me advice please. My 13 month old is being breastfed but I would like him to have some cows milk in a cup. Whenever I've given him any milk he gags and spits it all out. Any suggestions as to how I can get him used to it? Thanks

He doesn’t have to drink it in a cup you could make porridge with it or have it in macaroni cheese, cereal etc it’s totally different to breast milk maybe he’d preferred it warm? If you’re still feeding I wouldn’t worry too much about cows milk as a drink as long as he’s eating and hydrated it’ll come. I think with mine I did a hipp organic milk as he was weaning off (as I did nights and he wanted milk) and used cows in food then he had some here and there but wasn’t really fussed on cups of it.

Can you express and get him to try your milk from a cup?

Or your milk in a bottle then your milk and cow milk mixed in a bottle

Premixed formulas are also worth a try

Can you express and give him a mixture of breast milk and cow’s milk?

DD refused all milk to drink, once I had ended BF. I used it in cooking for her no problem. Even now she won't have a drink of milk, but uses it on cereal etc..

One of my kids has never liked milk. I'm not worried. He is breastfed too so he doesn't need it. He eats cheese and yoghurt quite happily. Maybe you could try warming it up a bit for him, but otherwise I wouldn't worry.

One of my DC didn't like any milk - would gag and spit it out. Gave up in the end - wasn't about to force feed him. He would have yoghurt, semi-skimmed milk on cereal and butter in sauces etc . He's a strapping boy now (who still hates milk!) so no harm done

Just keep on with it, all mine have taken a while to like it. Just keep offering but don't force it, and he can get calcium through food as others have said.

I used it in cooking and gave lots of calcium rich foods, he eventually decided he liked to drink it at about 18 months old.

I wouldn't bother if he doesn't like it, there's no need to drink milk.

My DD wouldn't take cow's milk at all, she just didn't like it (weaning at about the same age at the time). The GP said it doesn't matter if she doesn't have milk, so she didn't after I stopped bf, until she was quite a bit older. It didn't affect her health at all.

have you tried semi-skimmed?

Keep trying, but my DS would not accept cow's milk in a cup (from anyone) until he stopped BF aged 2. He loved yoghurt and cheese though, so I wasn't worried about his calcium intake.

My 17 month has always been the same but it’s not a problem for us, I personally hate the taste too and would hate to be forced to drink it. He has it in porridge and has other calcium rich foods plus is still breast fed. A lot of weaning material really stresses the importance of cows milk which puts pressure on us and makes us feel like we’re doing something wrong if they don’t drink it. It’s really not that important.

Why do you want him to have it? There is no need. My kids never drank cows milk, they were FF and then went on to cheese and yoghurt. Apparently I had cows milk once threw up and I've never had it since.

Does he have to drink it? Mine would have the odd cup of I wasn't around for the day but unless you're wanting to stop BFing I wouldn't bother.

Even if you are wanting to stop BFing he might take a while after you've stopped BFing to accept Cow's Milk. Both of mine had a 2 week window after stopping BFing before happily accepting Cow's Milk.

My son was breast fed and never liked milk he did like milk alternatives I also give him vitamin gummmies now aswell he's 3 x

They're not supposed to have semi skimmed until 2yrs old. Something to do with the lack of fats so not nutritional at all for them

I actually start mine off with semi skimmed and then swapped to full fat. A couple of weeks on semi skimmed won't hurt, especially if you make sure they're getting good fats in their diet and calcium.

Maybe your little one isn't ready for cow's milk yet?

Our baby has all the necessary nutrients they need when exclusively breastfeed, so I won't worry much if he/she won't take cow's milk.

There's no harm in trying though if you think that's good for your little one and if you're planning to stop BFing soon.

Good luck!🙂