How much milk does your 2YO drink? Is mine drinking too much?

[spicemonster]

My DS turned 2 in March. Since I stopped bfing when he was about 7 months old, I have given him a bottle of milk (was formula, now cows) when he goes to bed and when he wakes up. He has 200ml at a time.

Should I be trying to wean him off it or will he just stop of his own accord at some point?

Because of teeth, I now give him his evening bottle before I brush his teeth but he quite often wakes up in the night and always asks for milk.

Ideas, suggestions, views welcome.

[LilRedWG]

DD is three and still has a 250ml bottle of milk morning and evening, plus milk on her cereal. I see no problem.

[weaselm4]

When my DS asked for milk in the night (sorry I can't remember what age this was, but definitely before two), I just gave him water. Was probably lucky, but got away with it! Might be worth trying that first.

[spicemonster]

I have tried that weaselm4 - he sadly clocked it and now holds the bottle up to check it is actually milk! I could try giving him very dilute milk I guess so it looks like milk but is pretty weak.

That's good to hear LilRedWG. Maybe I shouldn't worry at all but I thought I'd check to see what other people do.

[Kayzr]

My 2yo has a 250ml bottle morning and evening too. Plus on his cereal when he has cereal too.

[ramalama]

ds 21 mo doesn't drink any

he has cereal for his breakfast sometimes for supper

actually none of mine have been big milk drinkers

but thy eat loads of yoghurts, custards, cheese

and they're all ok

[harleyd]

ds2 is 2 and a half
prob drinks about a pint a day

[MrsTittleMouse]

My DD1 (2) still drinks a lot of milk. I give her lots of water during the day, but she still has milk in the morning and evening. We've found that at this age, we can explain to her what happens. When she was ill this winter we got into the habit of giving her milk when she woke in the night (sore throat and dehydrated) and she carried on wanting it when she was well. So DH sat her down and explained that after she'd cleaned her teeth that there was no more milk. She asked for it a couple of times, but the transition was way easier than we'd ever imagined possible.

[Elibean]

dd2 is a big milk lover - she had problems with swallowing from about 18mos to 2 yrs (tonsils and ENT issues) and pretty much lived on the stuff for a few months: its hard to get her to cut down, and its often as much about comfort as it is about nourishment. She always has at least 500mls of milk per day, sometimes more, and is only now at 2.5 beginning to forget to ask for milk every time she's upset/tired/hungry.

I rarely give it at night any more, but she often asks for a bottle after lunch - and I give it to her, though semi-skimmed and not more than about 100mls (unless she's ill).

[peanuthead]

I've been wondering about this since MIL (of course) started on about DD being too old for milk. She's 20 months. I understood that they should have alot of full fat milk til at least 3.

DD still has hers in a bottle which is probably not good - but then even my mum who has previously suggested perhaps we should get her off the bottle changed her mind when she saw the state she got into when offered a cup.

She has about 200 ml 3 times a day ie after breakfast, after nap and before bed. And eats OK but is a typically fussy toddler.

I just think there's so much necessary fat ie energy and vits and mins in milk that it should go into her.

[Piffle]

As you know spice Finn is same age
Drinks 4 oz waking
Milk in cereal
8oz before nap
3 oz with afternoon tea
8oz before bed

Sometimes 4oz in night
He eats well and drinks well

[jellybelly25]

Same here too - just over 2yo has 8oz bottle ffirst thing and last thing (before teeth cleaning here too) and I was also wondering if we should be getting rid of the bottles... But whilst she will have a few sips of milk from a cup or beaker, I don't think she'd get through nearly as much and I sort of like her to have it as it's so nutritious.

So in answer no I don't think it's too much, but I do think beyond 2 is quite old for bottles...Not that it bothers me enough to try and get it off my dd yet.

[spicemonster]

I sort of agree re the bottles jellybelly - I could give him his nighttime milk in a sippy cup now he drinks it standing up (he used to drink it like a baby on my lap) but I might keep the morning one just because it's the fastest way to get him to drink it and it means I can go back to sleep quicker!

He doesn't have bottles any other time of day. Thanks for all the replies - seems it's entirely normal which is reassuring

[LilRedWG]

I don't think that you are ever too old for milk - DH still has a glass of it before bed every night.

As for the bottle. It's not ideal, but DD loves it - she even gets us to give it her. It's her comfort and way of clinging onto that last bit of babyhood. During the day she drinks from cups and glasses. She has had a SALT review and the therapist said that the bottles were having no bad effect on her at all, so whilst she is happy I think we'll let her be.

[BlueBumedFly]

My DD still has milk morning, before a nap and at night. She is 2 but does not have any other dairy (her choice) and does not eat cereal so I am keeping with the milk as long as she will take it.

On a good day she can down a total of 600ml in total!