Alternative Calcium Sources for Kids Who Don’t Like Milk

Help! I weaned my one-year-old and now he won’t drink cow’s milk! 

Have you been there? Are you dealing with this right now?

If there is one thing that I have learned from raising multiple children, it’s that each little one is born with his own very strong, very personal preferences. No two kids are alike, and half of the “fun” as they grow is discovering the individual personalities of each of our babies.

My first two boys have always loved milk. In fact, milk and water have basically been the only beverages that they consume…with a stray juice box thrown in here and there at parties, restaurants, and picnics. Plain white milk or cold water has just always been their preference.

So imagine my surprise when I finally weaned Spencer (he was not particularly willing to make this change, and so it was much later than I would have otherwise liked), and he was unwilling to drink cow’s milk in lieu of nursing. Knowing that the calcium and fat in whole milk are essential components of a healthy growing child’s diet, I mentioned this to his pediatrician and then began exploring alternative sources of calcium to make sure that he was consuming everything that his little body needs.

His pediatrician basically assured me that (a) he is consuming an otherwise balanced diet and is getting his nutrients from a variety of foods, so he’s probably just fine; and (b) I should continue offering the milk (even if it comes in the form of chocolate milk initially) until he gets used to the taste and texture of the cow’s milk. Apparently it is quite different from breast milk, so there can be an adjustment period until some kids decide that it’s “acceptable”!

And here are the ways in which I have personally handled the situation:

• First, don’t stress about it! His doctor’s advice was very reassuring to me and took the pressure off of me constantly trying to force milk into his little gullet. I offer it with every meal, but if he pushes it away or only takes a few sips…that’s ok. I know that he’s getting fat and calcium from other areas of his diet (read on for details, below!).

• Offer the milk in a variety of ways. Spencer is so incredibly concerned with doing everything that his older brothers are doing, so I have experimented with giving him milk in different types of sippy cups, in water bottles that look like his brothers’ water bottles, and in cardboard boxes with straws. He definitely drinks more milk when it’s served in a portable box like his brothers get in their lunch boxes!

• Look for alternative ways to sneak whole milk into his body. Spencer doesn’t love straight milk, but he adores smoothies. I’d say that I make him a smoothie for breakfast or snack just about every day, and I always use whole milk and whole milk Greek yogurt in the mix. Here are a couple of his favorite “recipes”: Bananas Foster Protein Shake and Jack-O-Lantern Smoothies. He also loves a version of the Bananas Foster Shake when I add almond butter, peanut butter, and/or chia seeds. It’s amazing how much good stuff you can cram into one little drink!

• Another favorite way to serve him whole milk? Stirred into oatmeal. Instead of using water as called for on the package, I use whole milk. It gives the oatmeal a nice, creamy texture that he enjoys, but he’s eating his milk instead of drinking it plain.

• Does your baby like chocolate milk or vanilla milk? As his pediatrician said…that’s fine! Start by giving him the flavored milk that he enjoys, and then gradually decrease the amount of the chocolate that you add to the milk as he gets used to the taste/texture (or dilute it with even more plain whole milk). Spencer doesn’t love chocolate milk either, so this hasn’t been our method of choice, but it’s a nice option if it works for you and your child. I imagine it wouldn’t take too long before you can eliminate the chocolate flavoring entirely, since kids’ palates are constantly changing and adapting.

• Offer calcium-fortified orange juice. Spencer is my first baby who really loves orange juice, so that’s an easy way to be sure that he’s getting the appropriate amount of calcium in his diet (plus plenty of vitamin C!).

• Feed your child other cow’s milk dairy products, including cheese and whole milk yogurt. Spence loves dairy products, so these are staples in his diet. Trader Joe’s sells a really great whole milk Greek yogurt in plain or a variety of flavors, and the Stonyfield YoBaby or YoTot pouches that he can feed himself are another favorite.

And now for some Alternative Calcium Sources for Kids Who Don’t Like Milk! Once your little one is old enough to consume larger portions of other non-dairy calcium-rich foods, some good options to try include:

• White Beans and Black Eyed Peas (add them to pasta or soup, or use them to make hummus – which Spencer loves)
• Dried Figs (serve them to your child as a snack when they’re old enough to chew them, blend them into smoothies as a natural sweetener, or use them to make a jam)
• Bok Choy and Kale (cook like a stir fry, flavored with garlic and salt, and serve as a simple side dish)
• Blackstrap Molasses (use as a sweetener in baking or drizzle over pancakes like syrup)
• Almonds (since nuts are hard for little ones to chew, try almond butter instead. I blend it into smoothies, and Spence loves to eat it plain by the spoonful!)
• Cheerios (they have 114 mg of calcium in 1 cup!)
• Broccoli
• Edamame (a great finger food when they’re cooked and soft!)

[Tweet “Your Kid Doesn’t Like Milk?! Here are some great alternative calcium sources! #parenting #healthy #kids”]

I hope that this list helps you to worry a little less and just enjoy the quick time that they’re young. I know that’s what I’m trying to do!