Feeding FAQ: 12-18 months – Milk Feeding Problems

My 1-year-old daughter refuses milk from a beaker at breakfast.

My daughter won’t take milk from a beaker in the morning. She still takes 250ml cow’s milk from a bottle in evening. She drinks lots of water from a beaker throughout the day. How do I get her to take milk from a beaker as I will have to drop the bottle at night as well and she still needs her milk intake?

At present she is offered milk at breakfast with toast, porridge with fruit and yoghurt or scrambled eggs on toast. She takes a full protein meal at lunch followed by yoghurt or a banana and a vegetarian tea such as macaroni cheese.

There is a question similar to yours which concerned a slightly older child but with the same problem. Look in Development: 18-24mths: Behaviour. The question has the title “My daughter will not take milk from a beaker only a bottle”.

The problem can take time to resolve as it is usually the actual sucking on a teat, rather than the milk itself which is a problem. Continue to offer milk to her but look for ways to make it more enticing. Using a straw can often help as the novelty is enough to get a small child to suck. Also try using a two handled cup with a small amount in the bottom rather than a beaker with a spout.

Try playing tea parties with teddies and pretend tea sets so she gets used to the idea of drinking rather than sucking.

Keep persisting with the problem but don’t make an issue out of it in front of her, although you know she needs to get rid of her bedtime bottle soon as well. Small children very easily pick up on our tension and will play on it. If the milk is refused take it away with no comment. You are probably aware that she needs to have a minimum of around 12ozs a day including milk used in cooking and on cereals, so plan the foods she is offered accordingly, providing some of this total in a way you know she won’t refuse.