Toddler won’t drink milk? You are in good company. Many parents switch to whole milk at the first birthday and get a pushed-away cup, a milk-only-from-a-bottle protest, or a toddler who simply stopped liking it. The good news: what your child needs is the calcium, vitamin D, protein and fat, not milk in a cup. Our baby feeding schedule by age shows how milk needs change up to 12 months; this guide picks up from there.
Below: what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the CDC recommend for 1- to 2-year-olds, what to offer instead, and when to check in with your pediatrician. For more on bottles, solids and toddler meals, browse our feeding guides.
Quick answer: what to do if your toddler won’t drink milk
Stay calm and cover the nutrients another way. The CDC says children 12 to 23 months need about 2 servings of dairy a day, and the AAP says yogurt and cheese can meet that need. Keep offering milk with meals, in a cup, without pressure, and ask your pediatrician whether your child needs a vitamin D supplement.
Why toddlers turn down milk
- The taste is new. Cow’s milk tastes different from breast milk or formula, and toddlers often need several tries with anything new.
- The cup is new. The AAP suggests finishing the move from bottle to cup sometime between 12 and 18 months. Some toddlers will happily drink milk from a bottle but refuse the same milk from a sippy, straw or open cup.
- They are eating more food. After the first birthday, meals take over from milk as the main source of nutrition, so a smaller appetite for drinks is expected.
How much milk does a toddler need?
Less than many parents think. These are the official numbers for ages 12 to 24 months:
| Guideline | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Whole cow’s milk | About 16 ounces (2 cups) a day | AAP |
| Upper limit of milk | No more than 16 to 24 ounces a day | AAP |
| Dairy in total | About 2 servings a day (milk, yogurt or cheese) | CDC |
| Calcium, ages 1 to 3 | 700 mg a day | AAP |
| Vitamin D, ages 1 to 3 | 600 IU a day | AAP |
| Water | 8 to 32 ounces (1 to 4 cups) a day | AAP |
What to offer instead, and how to keep trying
- Serve dairy foods. The AAP says a child who cannot drink cow’s milk can meet their dairy needs with yogurt and cheese. Plain, whole-milk yogurt is an easy start; see our guide to yogurt for babies and toddlers.
- Offer milk at meals, in a cup. The AAP suggests giving milk with meals rather than as a snack. Put it on the table every time, let your toddler choose, and do not pressure or bribe.
- Change one thing at a time. If the bottle was the favorite, the AAP suggests starting with the milk your child already drinks in the cup, then moving away from the bottle gradually.
- Choose a plant milk carefully. Other than soy milk, the AAP does not recommend plant-based milks in place of dairy milk. If you use one, the CDC advises an unsweetened, unflavored product fortified with calcium and vitamin D, chosen with your child’s doctor.
- Skip toddler milks. The AAP says that for most children, toddler formulas offer no nutritional advantage over a well-balanced diet.
If milk is only one of many foods your toddler refuses, our guide to picky eaters has calm, practical mealtime tips.
When to talk to your doctor
Bring it up at the next visit, or call sooner, if:
- your toddler also refuses yogurt, cheese and other dairy foods, so you are unsure about calcium;
- you are wondering about a vitamin D supplement (the AAP says to talk with your pediatrician before giving any supplement; see our guide to vitamin D drops);
- your toddler gets a rash, hives, vomiting or diarrhea after dairy;
- you plan to use a plant-based milk as the main drink;
- you have any worries about your child’s growth or weight.
Call your pediatrician the same day if your toddler is drinking very little of anything and shows signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth, no tears or far fewer wet diapers than usual.
Frequently asked questions
How much milk should a 1-year-old drink?
The AAP suggests about 16 ounces (2 cups) of whole milk a day from 12 to 24 months, and no more than 16 to 24 ounces. Too much milk can leave less room for iron-rich foods, because milk is low in iron.
Can I give my toddler oat or almond milk instead?
The AAP does not recommend plant-based milks other than soy in place of dairy milk for young children. Many contain added sugar, and homemade versions are not fortified. Talk to your pediatrician before making a plant milk the main drink.
My toddler only drinks milk from a bottle. What now?
Move gradually, as the AAP advises: offer milk in a cup at meals first, then drop the other bottles one by one, with naps and bedtime last. Make sure every caregiver follows the same plan.
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Sources
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Recommended Drinks for Children Age 5 & Younger
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Cow’s Milk Alternatives: Parent FAQs
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Your Toddler Only Wants Milk?
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): From Bottle to Cup
- CDC: Cow’s Milk and Milk Alternatives
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.