How to make my son drink his milk?

@Beruang (1309)
Malaysia
November 8, 2008 4:19am CST
I have a 1.5 years old toddler who is already started to eat normal food. He is still breastfeeding especially at night before he goes to sleep or when he wakes up at night. My wife and I have been trying to give him formula milk since the mothers milk is somewhat depleted and we want to make sure that he is not hungry since some days, he would just eat very little food. We have tried many ways. We put the milk in the normal bottle. We put it in his sippy cup. We out in a normal glass, cup and mug and still he would just take a few sip and he would not want it anymore. He would preferred plain water as well as any other drinks that we drink such as our hot chocolate and stuffs. So, one day I bought a pack of chocolate flavored milk formula and we thought that since he loves our chocolate drinks, he would then love his own chocolate milk. We were wrong. He did not even like the chocolate milk and would not even want it anymore after the first taste. I have tasted both of his milk and they are both delicious, as far as my taste is concerned but somehow he still prefer water and his mother's milk. So, we have run out of ideas and hopefully, since I see there are lots of mothers here at myLot, you can give me some suggestions as to how can I get him to drink his milk. Thanks for you help and cheers!
1 person likes this
8 responses
• United States
10 Nov 08
I have never nursed a baby but more than a couple months so I have no advice there. Though it sounds like you may need to consider weaning him completly from nursing. I would not worry about the milk so much especially if you can get him to eat other things like Cheese & Yogurt to take the place of a glass or two of milk during the day. My kids prefer their milk room temperature so I'm always zapping it in the micro; wich yet the extra step can get annoying. They also do enjoy having a dash of honey and other things like choco syrup, ovaltine, carnation instant breakfast, or generic strawberry or chocolate powder (not hot chocolate) but similar to Nesquick added. I try to add a very minimal amount to their milk. My oldest is 6 & w/ being in school is finally kicking the habit of needed something for flavor added to her milk. GL!
1 person likes this
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
10 Nov 08
Thanks for sharing that information. I really appreciate that. Cheers!
• United States
10 Nov 08
My cousin is having the same problem. Im not sure how but most of luck to you
1 person likes this
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
10 Nov 08
You can check out some of the responses above and you might for some good tios there. Cheers!
@trixyteddy (1070)
• India
9 Nov 08
Have you tried feeding him his milk in his sleep? My sons liked their milk, so I had no problem. My second son used his feeding bottle right upto the age of three. This kind of helped me. They normally give up the bottle on their own. You could feed him warm milk before he wakes up, and then feed him again when he just falls asleep. If he is in the middle of his sleep, he might not drink. I hope you succeed.
1 person likes this
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
9 Nov 08
That is interesting. I might give that a try too. Thanks and cheers!
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
9 Nov 08
Have you tried warming the milk up...Just a thought because it sounds like a similar situation that I know of, and the only problem was they didnt warm the milk...everything is fine now..
1 person likes this
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
9 Nov 08
I would give that a try. Thanks and cheers!
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Nov 08
I have a son who is a very picky eater, and I can't get him to drink milk either. Instead, I put milk in as much of his food that I can, so that he gets it in his regular diet. But my situation is somewhat different from yours. Granted, you say he's already eating "normal" food, so he should be able to get his vitamins and nutrients from that. Drinking just water is fine I would think. Talk to his paediatrician to make sure of course. One thing I remember researching about toddlers and their eating habits (from when my boys were that young), is that you cannot judge their nutrition intake on a daily basis, but you should look at it on a weekly basis instead. I don't know if any of this will help, but I do wish you the best of luck in dealing with this situation.
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
9 Nov 08
Thanks for the information. I guess based on on the information given by the responses that I got so far, they are about the same and lots of things I have learned here so far. Cheers!
@ayenacsi (910)
• Philippines
8 Nov 08
I also had the same problem with my son who was then about the same age as yours. One day he just didn't want to drink his milk anymore, we also tried everything even the milk in tetra pack. He just didn't want to have anything to do with milk anymore. Even the choco flavored ones... The pedia then told us not to worry cause there are a lot of substitutes for the nutrients he's missing, like cheese and other stuff I can't recall right now. But now that he is three years old, he's grown fond of Chuckie. He always grabs one when I take him with me in the local grocery. I wish you have more luck than me...
1 person likes this
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
8 Nov 08
Thanks for sharing that information. we tried to give him those cube cheese and cheese stick and he didn't seem to go for that too. He loves plain rice and plain water... and his mother's milk, of course
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
8 Nov 08
Well at 1.5 yrs old he doesnt need to be drinking formula anymore since he's eating regular food etc....and if he doesnt like cows milk then I wouldnt worry about it since all the nutrients etc he can get from plenty of other sources... If however its concerning you that much I would just talk to his doctor about it..
1 person likes this
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
8 Nov 08
Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate that. Cheers!
@wujinbo (341)
• China
8 Nov 08
if he doesnt drink his milk ,maybe he hates his milk.or you can choose another milk ,it will be much better.why your son does it like this ,it is hard to say.you should take the doctor's advice ,he will give you a best answer .because only the doctor knows about the baby's physiological drive...
1 person likes this
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
8 Nov 08
As far as the doctor is concerned, there is no specific milk brand to be used. Cheers!