My toddler is refusing milk

Toddlers need their daily requirement of calcium, and milk is one of the best sources to meet their daily intake. So how do you deal with a toddler who refuses milk? Here are a few tips to encourage your toddler to drink up.

As your toddler grows up and learns to assert their independence, it’s common for them to lose interest in their milk. Although up until now they’ve happily enjoyed the familiar taste of milk and the comfort it brings, it’s often the first thing to go once they learn the meaning of “no” – especially as they begin to realise there is a whole other world of tempting alternatives available.

Yet milk still plays a valuable nutritional role in your toddler’s diet. If they aren’t keen on drinking milk straight from their beaker, there are ways to make sure they get enough. For example, milk served with cereal or as part of a sauce still counts as towards their intake, and simple tricks like heating their milk will give them a nice bedtime treat. Read on to discover why milk is so important and get tips on ways to include milk in your toddler’s diet.

Your growing toddler may be eating three meals a day, but their milk is still important as it provides them with a lot of nutrients.

Giving them three dairy servings a day (120ml milk counts as one serving) divided into milk drinks, cereal, cooking and other dairy products will ensure they get many of the nutrients that are essential for keeping them healthy.

Getting milk into your toddler’s diet

Many toddlers go through a fussy-eating phase, especially when it comes to milk. Try these tips to encourage your toddler to enjoy more milk:

Start their day with a milky bowl of muesli or porridge Include warm milk in their bedtime routine; sit together and let your toddler enjoy their milk while you wind down with a cup of tea.

A new beaker or an exciting cup that’s used especially for milk will make it seem like more of a treat. If your toddler usually has cold milk, try warming it up or vice versa.

More than just milk

Aptamil Junior with Pronutra Growing up Milk is nutritionally superior to cows’ milk, and is suitable for toddlers aged from 1-3 years. It contains our unique blend of GOS/FOS prebiotics. Just 300ml will provide your toddler with more than half of the iron they need each day, plus vitamins D and C which are essential for your toddler’s healthy development.