My 2yr old son is a really good eater but still wants lots of bottles of milk during the day?

Question

My son wants a 9 ounce botltle of milk first thing in the morning when he gets up at 7am, then has a wee bit of breakfast. Then about 10 or 11 wants another 5 ouces, then has lunch at around 12-1pm. Then he wants another 5 ouces to go for a nap at 2pm. Then another one around 5pm he still eats his dinner and then has 2 more bottles before bed. I usually only give him about 5ounces each time during the day but at bed time its two 9 ounce bottles before bed. He was 9lbs when he was born and i breast fed for the first 8 months. Most people think hes about 3 yrs old because hes soo tall, but not fat in the slightest! I offer him juice or water all the time so hes not thirsty but he prefers milk. I've also tried watering his milk down during the day to try and put him off but he just hands me it back and demands a "new one". Is this ok for him to have so much milk? Will he gradually grow out of it?

Answer 1

Milk is actually digested as a food. It fills the tummy up. So if he is drinking that much milk and NOT eating other foods, I'd cut him back. You are the mommy and if you think he's having too much, he's having too much. Tantrums don't win when it comes to health.

Good luck. I know it's easier said than done!

Answer 2

Milk is okay, but not in bottles, only in a cup.

Answer 3

Drinking alot of milk is not a bad thing....its better then him not drinking it at all.   I am in the process of getting my 19 month old off the bottle, as of right now she only gets one for nap and bed, other then that she gets something to drink out of a sippy cup, being juice, water, or milk....she doesn't like milk out of a cup but if she is despite enough then she will drink some milk.  

It just takes time with the whole bottle weaning...but him drinking milk isn't bad.  He just really loves his milk.

Answer 4

Wow!  I think that is way too much milk.  I have read that too much milk can cause iron deficiency (anemia) in children.  I think you should put your foot down and offer him water or juice in place of a few of those bottles.  If he refuses the water or juice then he must not be that thirsty, right?  Also, if he stops drinking so much milk he'll probably eat more regular food, which would be much better for him.  You're the parent and are in charge.  You don't have to give in to his demands for more milk.  Just explain to him that he's already had enough and too much milk isn't good for his tummy, or something like that.  Also, if you wean your son from the bottle, and try a sippy cup that would probably help.  When my daughter switched to a cup, she drank less.  I think he just wants to suck on the bottle.  It's more of a comfort.  Try sippy cups.  Playtex brand are my daughter's fave and they don't leak!

Answer 5

I would try to get him to drink it from a sippy cup but I think it is fine. My oldest is the same way, she is now 9.5 and still drinks a ton of milk and is not overweight at all either. She drinks at least 5 to 6 cups a day sometimes more.

My youngest however LOVES water, she drinks almost a gallon a day.

I have to force each to drink the opposite. My oldest water and my youngest milk.

I think it is fine as long as it is 2% or less. I recently about a year ago switched us all to 1% because it is better for you but at his age I think 2% is fine. I would however make sure he still gets some water every day as well. I just tell her no more milk until you have drank a glass of water.

Edit:  as far as outgrowing it my daughter never has, my younger sister (22) is the same way even at her age she still loves milk and drinks a lot of it.

Edit:  She did not ask when to take her son off the bottle! I said he should try to use a cup, but my youngest still had a bottle at that age, it was the only way she would drink milk, from a cup she only wanted water.

Answer 6

Bottles of milk????????????????????????????? Take the bottle away now. I took all of my kids bottles away at 1 year old. Tell him from now on they don't make bottles for 2 year olds and have sippy cups for him. He'll cry at first for a day or two but then he'll be fine.

Answer 7

First of all, why is your two-year old still on a bottle? He should have already transitioned to sippy cups. Secondly, you are giving in to him for your own benefit. Children his age do not require that much milk anymore and it will interfere with the way he eats. I suggest getting him off that bottle and giving him water. no matter how many tantrums he has DO NOT GIVE IN.

Answer 8

Dont take it away, my son does the same, just make sure he eats his veggies and fruits. He'll be fine. They still babies.

B.S. too much milk doesnt cause anemia!!!

Answer 9

i added a sour flaver to my youngest son's milk in the bottle and told him that the bottles made the milk yucky and offered him a cup of normal milk. after 3 days her "threw out"  the "broken" bottles and never asked for one again..

Answer 10

He is drinking too much milk and the Dr. says kids should be off the bottle at 12 mo. Try giving him a cup and you should only be offering milk/juice with meals and water in between.