replacing morning milk - any ideas...

[*Becky*]

I am going to cut down Henry's dairy intake for a week or so to see if it makes any difference to his runny noses. At the moment he has a cup of milk when we get up and he watches a programme while I make tea etc. It is a big deal to him as he is a very routine kind of chap. I would like to keep this 15-30 min time before breakfast if at all possible and just wondering what else I could give. Does anyone give juice first thing? Thought maybe if I got a good quality freshly squeezed apple juice and diluted it he could have that....thinking aloud really....what do you think?

[~*Nicole*~]

I would. Or just water if he'll go for it. DD would likely take whichever was offered. If you did water and he was still not happy (milk and juice with the calories provide a more full feeling obviously) you could give him a small, ready made snack. DD loves to have a granola bar or a cup of cheerios or something like that when I need to buy time for a more proper meal or something of the sort. That could satisfy him enough, help you cut out dairy and give you time to get things ready.

[rach321]

We do watered down juice - doesn't seem go matter what flavour!

[Mom to M&M]

Why not soy milk? Or rice milk? Or almond milk?

[*Becky*]

well he already has goats milk. I guess I could try another milk but he does have a lot of dairy and I am not sure he actually 'needs' it.
bx

[Mom to M&M]

True. I just know at that age DD never would have gone for having her morning milk replaced. But something like soy milk or rice milk would have been an acceptable alternative. BTW - goat's milk is very similar to cow's milk and could cause/factor into the congestion as well.

[*Becky*]

I just know at that age DD never would have gone for having her morning milk replaced.

I know and that is what I am a bit worried about.....

[Mom to M&M]

But soy milk or rice milk could be made into an acceptable and exciting alternative. Rice milk mixed with a bit of coconut milk is super yummy. Or a small smoothie?

[*Becky*]

I guess the other thing is we just go straight into breakfast - I just like a little time to wake up!

[Mom to M&M]

I agree - hence why DD had milk first until she was well over 3! Now she just waits and has milk or juice or water with breakfast 30-60 minutes after waking.

[*Liz*]

J has water and a snack pot with dry cereal, cheerios, fruit, dried fruit etc in it. He sits and nibbles as he plays tractors. Breakfast is about 1hr after wake-up.

We started this when he dropped the milk all by himself, but then wanted breakfast at 6.15am. I didn't fancy it that early - so here we are  .

Could that work??

[MummyToBen]

We do the same as Liz, Ben has a tiny handful of dried cheerios/all bran in a bowl while he's playing, and he's then quite happy waiting until breakfast time.

xx

[*Becky*]

I think I will try that. I know he will be cross at first as it has been his routine for ages and ages. It is a case of finding something he likes as much as milk which is why I thought of juice as it has a novelty factor. He does like cheerios so maybe juice and a small cup of them.
I guess I feel bad as I would like him to drop the milk rather than me remove it but I know that he won't. He has never dropped any milk of his own accord, he would drink milk all day and night if he could and I have a feeling it is not doing him much good at the moment....but could of course be wrong.
thanks girls

[Mashi]

Are you trying to remove milk completely or just cut down the amount? IF you are just cutting down the amount can you not let him keep what he drinks in the morning and remove it from other places in the day?

[*Becky*]

I am just trying to cut back a bit, it is by far his biggest food group and I am interested to see if it helps with this constant runny nose. He only has milk am and pm x