Milk Strike!!

[mlm4ncsu]

My DD is 14 months old and has refused to drink milk for the past 5-6 days. She has been drinking whole milk for about 3 months, and we've not had any trouble like this before - she transitioned to it very well, even to a sippy cup. She would usually drink her milk in the morning when she woke up or before her nap, then agan later in the day before a nap, and then at night before bed. In between and with meals, she'd drink juice - mostly white grape juice watered down. Now, I tell her she needs to drink her milk before she can have her juice and she'll take a sip and let it run out of her mouth. She'll go to the frig. and stand there crying and pointing wanting her juice. For a few nights, I gave in and just let her have her juice so she would go to sleep. Last night, I didn't let her have any juice, but she still wouldn't drink any milk. She fought it more than usual but ended up going to sleep without anything to drink. Should I be concerned about this yet? Any suggestions about getting her to drink her milk?

[RachelinLA]

I wouldn't worry about it. There are other calcium rich foods you can give her. Off the top of my head brocolli is one of them... I'm sure you can do a google search and find tons more.
From all my friend's and my own kid's it seems that every kid goes on a milk strike at one point! I guess it makes sense, I mean if you drank the same thing all the time you'd get bored too! lol. Anyway don't worry about it, just keep her hydrated and she'll start to love milk eventually!

[ChamomileFriend]

I know they make OJ with calcium, I am sure other juices come with it, too. When ds first got a taste of juice it was all he wanted for a while, we just kept watering it down until it was really all just water and then he started asking for milk again.
Now he knows he can have a little bit of juice sometimes, but 9 times out of 10 all he can have is milk or water.

[luvmy4sons]

Well...I have a very different opinion about cow's milk than most. I think it can actually be NOT good for you. I think calcium fortified OJ could easily fill the ticket along with other raw foods if she will eat them. And I also agree that often these spells will pass. If not maybe there is a reason why her body doesn't want it. They say toddlers do actually eat what their bodies need. "THEY"...not sure who "THEY" are. But that is what I have heard. LOL!

[mamallama]

I've seen too many cases where kids drink so much juice and it gives them dirrhea and makes them sick. Also they get addicted to the sugar and they want nothing else.

Personally I give my children milk and water. That's it until they are about three years of age and then I will only let them have some juice every once in a while. We also do not give any soda to our dd (who is almost four). I guess I am just strict...but a good kind of strict imo.

[RachelinLA]

We don't give much juice but when we do it's all natural and/or sugar free. We get Juicy Juice and Natural Apple Juices and Orange Juices. There is never any soda in our house and the majority of the time our kids drink water. They actually prefer water. I love the fact that my kids will drink lots of water - I was the same way as a kid, and my mom didn't allow soda in the house either. This is not to say they will never have it - but as long as I am buying the groceries it won't be in my house ;).
And I've heard that about milk too...
Just wanted to let you ladies know you're not in the minority :). Except that I do buy milk... lol...

[JoyLynn]

None of my four kidlets ever have milk. Scotty is 14 and has grown up without it. Chloe', my seven year old, just had milk for the first time a few weeks ago at her grandmother's house. She couldn't even choke it down. [whatblah] My kids are allotted exactly three glasses of unsweetended apple juice per day, and they aren't tall glasses, either. The rest of the time they drink water and don't even ask for anything else. It's what they were raised on. :wink:


Nondairy Foods with Calcium

Getting enough calcium can be a especially hard if your kids are allergic to milk. These nondairy foods can be good choices for kids with milk allergies who need calcium:

Salmon
Tofu
Rhubarb
Sardines
Collard Greens
Spinach
Turnip Greens
Okra
White Beans
Baked Beans
Broccoli
Peas
Brussel Sprouts
Sesame Seeds
Bok Choy
Almonds

Calcium Fortified Foods (many are loaded with sugar, so look out! :shock: )

Calcium fortified breakfast cereal, including General Mills Whole Grain Total, Total Raisin Bran, Total Vanilla Yogurt, Total with Strawberries, and
Calcium fortified orange juice
Calcium fortified soy milk
SunnyD with Calcium
Instant oatmeal
Calcium fortified bread, English muffins, etc.
Calcium fortified drink mixes, such as Pediasure or Carnation Instant Breakfast
Other calcium fortified breakfast cereals, including General Mills Golden Grahams

[loveflag]

Joy [welcomewave]

[luvmy4sons]

None of my four kidlets ever have milk. Scotty is 14 and has grown up without it. Chloe', my seven year old, just had milk for the first time a few weeks ago at her grandmother's house. She couldn't even choke it down. [whatblah] My kids are allotted exactly three glasses of unsweetended apple juice per day, and they aren't tall glasses, either. The rest of the time they drink water and don't even ask for anything else. It's what they were raised on. :wink:


Nondairy Foods with Calcium

Getting enough calcium can be a especially hard if your kids are allergic to milk. These nondairy foods can be good choices for kids with milk allergies who need calcium:

Salmon
Tofu
Rhubarb
Sardines
Collard Greens
Spinach
Turnip Greens
Okra
White Beans
Baked Beans
Broccoli
Peas
Brussel Sprouts
Sesame Seeds
Bok Choy
Almonds

Calcium Fortified Foods (many are loaded with sugar, so look out! :shock: )

Calcium fortified breakfast cereal, including General Mills Whole Grain Total, Total Raisin Bran, Total Vanilla Yogurt, Total with Strawberries, and
Calcium fortified orange juice
Calcium fortified soy milk
SunnyD with Calcium
Instant oatmeal
Calcium fortified bread, English muffins, etc.
Calcium fortified drink mixes, such as Pediasure or Carnation Instant Breakfast
Other calcium fortified breakfast cereals, including General Mills Golden Grahams

[loveflag]

Joy [welcomewave]

Go Joy! :D

[Madre]

We use non fat milk in cereal and for some cooking, but I never look at it as a valuable source of protein. I tend to think that the idea that it's necessary to drink milk is an overrated one. Cow's milk is more suited to calves rather than to humans.

[mlm4ncsu]

Thanks for the responses! She drank a little more milk yesterday, but I'm going to try and not worry about her getting a "certain" amount, especially as long as she eats well and stays hydrated. Her juice is mostly water with just enough juice to give it flavor, but I may try something more natural or unsweet that is calcium fortified. Sometimes I just get caught up in doing things "by the book" rather than just letting it work itself out (I am a "fixer") :wink: !
DH and I have discussed the issue of whole milk with our ped. and he says that is "best" until age 2. DH wanted to do goat's milk b/c of all the additives/steroids/etc. that is in cow's milk. Others told us that reduced or non-fat milk was okay. So to solve our confusion, we just decided to go with our ped.

[luvmy4sons]

Thanks for the responses! She drank a little more milk yesterday, but I'm going to try and not worry about her getting a "certain" amount, especially as long as she eats well and stays hydrated. Her juice is mostly water with just enough juice to give it flavor, but I may try something more natural or unsweet that is calcium fortified. Sometimes I just get caught up in doing things "by the book" rather than just letting it work itself out (I am a "fixer") :wink: !
DH and I have discussed the issue of whole milk with our ped. and he says that is "best" until age 2. DH wanted to do goat's milk b/c of all the additives/steroids/etc. that is in cow's milk. Others told us that reduced or non-fat milk was okay. So to solve our confusion, we just decided to go with our ped.

You know there are so many opinions out there. So many chiocies. It is hard to wade through it all sometimes. :? You just have to do your best! I so get it! :lol: It will all work out! :D

[Madre]

Some interesting info to sort through:

www.notmilk.com