The goal for milk
is about 2 full servings of dairy products per day for adequate calcium intake (to build those bones!). So maximum 2 cups of milk per day. If your child drinks more than this, their little tummy gets full from the milk and your child will consume less solid foods. This is one of the common causes I see of “picky eaters”.
Also try to keep milk at scheduled meal and snack times once your child is in this routine (at about 1 year), to protect their appetites and teeth. If your child does not like cow’s milk, you can try fortified almond or hemp milk once they are two. Before the age of two, it’s best to stick with breastmilk or formula if they continue to refuse cow’s milk (but you can continue to offer it!). You can also try different cups (sippy cup, cup with straw, cup with no lid) and different temperatures for the milk. Yogurt and cheese are also good sources of calcium, but are not often fortified with Vitamin D like fluid milk.
