How can I get my 20 month old to drink milk?

Question

She absouletly HATES milk, white, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, banana she hates them all the only milk product she likes is cheese. Her doc says it was fine but when I took her for her needles the health nurse was very concerned for her. She said to cut her juice intake from 1 liter to 1/4 cup and to get her milk to go from 0 to 2 cups a day.

I don't know what to do. She made me feel like a horrible mother.

Answer 1

My daughter isn't too fond of milk, I get her to drink it by telling her that if she doesn't want it I'll drink it myself.  Once I start pretending to drink her milk she starts yelling to have it back and usually finishes the cup.  I get her to put her pajamas on the same way, by telling her that if she doesn't want to wear them that I'll put them on ;)  I know, I'm exploiting the toddler 'Mine!' phase, but it avoids alot of battles.

Answer 2

Try yogurt.  There are some really good kid friendly flavored yogurts that have calcium and my doctor suggested using them if my boys didn't want to drink milk.  Also try the milk in cereal - she might like it if it is flavored a bit from her cereal.  If she likes cheese then give it to her for the calcuim - you can sprinkle it on a salad or make some homemade mac and cheese (it's easy to do and kids love it plus there is milk in the cheese sauce too).

Soy milk is good too, and it comes in several flavors.  My kids love it and actually prefer it to regular milk.

You can try making a yogurt smoothie for her where she won't really taste the yogurt at all if she gives you a hassle about the yogurt.

And while I don't know you, don't be harsh on yourself and say you're a horrible mother.  If you are concerned enought to ask questions and find some solutions then you are a good mother.

The nurse is right though about juice.  It will just fill her up and is loaded with sugar.  If she absolutely has to have juice then make it up in a 1/3 to 2/3 water cup and then cut it back to just a splash of juice for taste.