My toddler has gone off milk

Sometimes toddlers lose interest in their milk. So far, they’ve grown up quite contentedly drinking it, being comforted by the familiar taste and getting valuable nutrients, but toddlers like to assert their independence, especially once they see that there are lots of other tempting foods around! So below we've got some tips on ways to get milk into your toddler's diet. If you need any advice about your toddler’s need for milk, just give us a call.

Sam, nutritionist

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Is milk still important for my toddler?

Milk is still an important part of your growing toddler’s diet. Although they’ll now probably be eating three meals a day, milk still has lots of important nutrients essential for keeping them healthy. As a guideline, they’ll need a minimum of 350 ml (just over half a pint) of milk, divided into drinks, cereal and cooking, as well as the other dairy products they eat each day. The maximum they should have is 600ml (just over a pint), so they don’t fill up too much.

Unlike cows’ milk, Cow & Gate Growing Up Milk contains 28 essential nutrients for growing toddlers, including vitamin D and iron. It’s suitable from 12 months to 3 years to complement your toddler’s diet.

Tips to get milk into your toddler’s diet

Lots of toddlers go through a fussy-eating phase, especially when it comes to milk. But as a mum, you have permission to be sneaky! Here are some ideas to get milk and dairy into your toddler’s diet:

Offer a milky but tempting bowl of cereal such as muesli to start their day.
Use warm milk as part of their bedtime routine. Sit together as part of your quiet time before bed – your toddler with a cup of warm milk and you with a cup of tea. Or why not try Cow & Gate Good Night Milk?
Give them a change of beaker or an exciting cup to use especially for milk to make it fun.
Try changing the way they have their milk – if your toddler usually has cold milk, try warming it up or vice versa.
Use foods which you’ve added milk to, like mashed potato, custard on puddings, rice pudding, or white sauce on vegetables or pasta.

Use other dairy foods

Use cheese on pizza, as a cheese spread on crackers or try cheese on toast.
Give your toddler dairy for dessert; offer yogurt, rice pudding or ice-cream.

You can find out more by reading our fussy eaters article… but always remember to stay as relaxed and encouraging as possible when it comes to feeding.

^{Important Notice}

^{Breastfeeding is best for your baby. Follow-on milk should only be used as part of a mixed diet and not as a breastmilk substitute before 6 months. Use on the advice of your healthcare professional. Make sure your baby's teeth are cleaned after the last feed at night.}

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