My 16-month-old DD has been on soy milk since turning one, after reacting to cow's milk formula at 8 mo. (supposedly due to a milk protein sensitivity). She eats a small amount of regular (cow's milk) yogurt everyday, and I also give her cheese, but not huge amounts. I'm afraid to increase her dairy intake because it gave her terrible diarrhea as an infant. Her pediatrician told me not to even bother trying her on regular milk, because he said soy milk is just as healthy (not sure I agree with this). Anyway, she was still on 2 bottles a day up until last week, when she got a bad cold and ear infection and was refusing to drink the bottle, I think because it was hurting her ears. Prior to this, I had tried unsuccessfully to get her to take milk out of a sippy cup, but she would just taste it and then refuse. She drinks juice and water easily from the sippy cup. I've tried different types of sippy cups but have had no luck. When she got sick and refused to drink her milk, I ended up giving her soy yogurt instead and that seemed to go okay. She now has this first thing in the morning instead of her bottle. My concern is that (after reading all the nutritional info. on the yogurt as compared to the milk) she won't be getting enough calcium as well as fat, considering that soy products are lower in fat anyway. I have tried to add calcium from other non-dairy sources (kid's bread, etc.) and give her yogurt for her snacks, but it is a real struggle without much milk in there. She's still doing the bedtime bottle, but I would like to eliminate it as the doctor says it could lead to more ear infections
I would love for her to transition to a cup for milk, but honestly she doesn't really seem to miss it too much, at least in the morning, and prefers water or watered-down juice. Thanks
Jenny
