BWLO: milk transition tips

TeacherTiff

We've been trying for a week or two to get N to drink milk with meals. He'll take a sip then wrinkle his nose, shake his head, and throw the cup. And repeat.

The pedi's advice was to not give him ANY other liquids. Well, that's fine and all but he refuses to drink milk and I'm not going to not give him water when he's whining and reaching for mine because he's obviously thirsty.  

I'm sure he'll "get it" eventually, but did anyone discover anything to make the transition a little easier? I thought about a flavoring but I don't want him to get hooked on that either...

amybyrd

We dud 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk fir a few days then 1/2 and 1/2, then 1/4 and 3/4 then full, no luck with the zippy cup so she still gets bottles but it went faster than I thought . Even the cold temp hasnt been an issue

naylon511

We did it really slow 7 oz formula, 1 oz milk, then 6/2, then 5/3, etc.   We did it a few days to a week at a time.  I realize this only helps you if you have breast milk expressed to do this....

TeacherTiff

Yeah, I wish I had thought of that. I don't have any pumped and I'm weaning him- we're down to morning and night only- so I don't think I could pump much even if I tried.

Jennrs

We hardly ever give Neena milk. She mainly has water and breastmilk. And, very rarely we will give her some whole milk.

Why is your pedi. wanting him to have milk so badly? Are you still breastfeeding? If so, do you think it's absolutely necessary for him to drink the cow's milk? Could you give him other dairy foods like yogurt, cheese, etc...? How about almond milk or other helathy fats? Upon re-reading what I just wrote, it kind of sounds snarky---that's not my intention at all. :-)

Here's some articles:

http://www.askdrsears.com/content/does-my-toddler-need-cows-milk 

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/toddler-foods.html

ETA: Breastmilk always comes straight from the boob. I don't produce enough to pump and put it in her sippy.

TeacherTiff

Jennrs:

We hardly ever give Neena milk. She mainly has water and breastmilk. And, very rarely we will give her some whole milk.

Why is your pedi. wanting him to have milk so badly? Are you still breastfeeding? If so, do you think it's absolutely necessary for him to drink the milk? Could you give him other dairy foods like yogurt, cheese, etc...? How about almond milk or other helathy fats? Upon re-reading what I just wrote, it kind of sounds snarky---that's not my intention at all. :-)

Here's some articles:

http://www.askdrsears.com/content/does-my-toddler-need-cows-milk 

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/toddler-foods.html

We're still nursing 2x a day but the last session is getting shorter and shorter. I think that my supply is just slowly dwindling away with the pregnancy and all. I'm "okay" with it, as we made it to my goal and I never intended to nurse all the way through the pregnancy. He does eat yogurt and cheese but he's SUPER picky about food right now. Some days he hardly eats anything! I haven't tried anything other than WM, but I'll give it a try. And, read those articles. Thanks! (And, I didn't take any of that as snarky- no worries). 

Lisa and Mickey

Collin is the same way and since I'm still nursing I haven't worried too much about it, but I have done some looking into it and I feel like I read a suggestion to start with almond milk because it has a better flavor and then to mix with whole milk the same way you would with formula. I'll have to go back and see if I can find where I got that though so I don't give you bad info. I'll let you know!

morrigan08

We are having issues with milk right now, but it does not bother me. She rarely has some at home, and I just think she prefers water (fine by me!). She does have yogurt and cheese so I know she is getting calcium. Still breastfeeding, so it is probalby why I am not worrying.

I would try almond milk also. Really tasty. I think we may try it this weekend.  

MrsL628

This has been a struggle in our house too.  We did what a couple of the other ladies have mentioned, mixing formula with milk until she got used to it.  She loves it in a bottle, no problem, but flat out refused it in a sippy every time.  It's only been within the past week or so at daycare that she's started taking sips here & there.

TeacherTiff

That's one problem I don't have (the bottle) since he's never taken one. He's been on sippy cups since 4 months or so.

Those links say they only don't need WM if they are nursing 3-4 times a day at least which he is definitely not. And although he does eat yogurt, cheese, etc. it isn't daily since he is apparently the pickiest eater ever, so I do feel like he needs something. We'll try the almond milk. 

Thanks all! 

heatherkj

We are having issues as well. Nora is flat-out refusing all bottles right now. Last week, we started trying to slowly mix in cow's milk with breastmilk--little by little, as is recommended. She just won't have it. Now, she's even refusing breastmilk bottles. I actually think it is related to her teething--she's cutting her two front top teeth, and has been a pill about it.

I talked to our pedi's office yesterday and they recommended feeding her foods that are naturally watery--applesauce, for instance--to get in some extra liquids. We are down to the morning and bedtime nursing sessions, too, so she hasn't been drinking anything during the days. And I am running out of my freezer stash, so I'm not sure what we're going to do.

She has her 12mo well baby on Monday morning, so I'm hoping to talk to our pedi about it more at length then.