Watered Down Milk?

[Miss A]

I have a DCM who recently requested that her almost 2 year olds milk be watered down to help with BM issues. I have never once had this request, and I am not sure how I feel about it. As it is, we only do 8 ounces of milk per child per day, and when they have finished their allowed amount it is solely water offered to them. *I am not on the food program*

Had anyone else had this request? How did you handle It?

[Rockgirl]

I wouldn’t do that. There are other ways to tweak his diet to help with BM issues...more veggies and fruit, more fiber, etc.

[Blackcat31]

I have a DCM who recently requested that her almost 2 year olds milk be watered down to help with BM issues. I have never once had this request, and I am not sure how I feel about it. As it is, we only do 8 ounces of milk per child per day, and when they have finished their allowed amount it is solely water offered to them. *I am not on the food program*

Had anyone else had this request? How did you handle It?

"Sorry mom but I don't believe in adding things to something already healthy so instead I will make a point of simply offering more water in general during the day."

I am not a fan of parent created concoctions.

I would suggest she consider adding additional fruit and/or fiber instead to the child's diet to impact his BM's....

[Ac114]

If she’s really that concerned then she should do away with milk altogether. We as humans do not need cows milk to survive. I would increase water intake, add more fruits/veggies that are high in fiber and cut out foods that have dairy or at least limit them.

[Miss A]

My entire group has had BM issues since they were babies. As they progressed to table foods we hoped it would get better, and now it seems that it is hit or miss with consistently soft easy to pass BM. That is why I moved to offering lesser amounts of milk at meals and adding in more water throughout the day.

I also agree with adding in more fruits and veggies, and offering high fiber choices as well. I have tweaked my menus and added in more fruit and veggie options, and cut back on extra dairy products as meal componets.

Plus, I personally would not drink watered down milk, so there is no way I would ask a child to do so.

[storybookending]

They did this for the neice for her nighttime bottle for a few months after switching her from formula to whole milk as she was taking in way more ounces than recommend. I had another dcb that I know they did this for at home as well for the same reason. I don’t serve whole milk so they just stopped sending it here and he got what the big kids drink but they stuck with whole and home and did half milk/half water. I never got why but whatever.

[hwichlaz]

If I weren’t on the food program I’d do it. Milk is for baby cows...and both water and milk are safe to drink....so I can’t really think of a reason not to.

[MomBoss]

I think parents give way too much milk at home. My group has so many BM issues...

[happymom]

If I weren’t on the food program I’d do it. Milk is for baby cows...and both water and milk are safe to drink....so I can’t really think of a reason not to.

This.

My kids ask for ice in their milk. It's not really different.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

My entire group has had BM issues since they were babies. As they progressed to table foods we hoped it would get better, and now it seems that it is hit or miss with consistently soft easy to pass BM. That is why I moved to offering lesser amounts of milk at meals and adding in more water throughout the day.

I also agree with adding in more fruits and veggies, and offering high fiber choices as well. I have tweaked my menus and added in more fruit and veggie options, and cut back on extra dairy products as meal componets.

Plus, I personally would not drink watered down milk, so there is no way I would ask a child to do so.

I would not water down the milk either. I'm not sure that would even be allowed for the food program. Of course, plenty of water and veggies will help, but I personally think a lot of constipation in children has to do with lack of activity, too many processed foods, and way too early potty training. Adding some water to milk will probably do very little for their digestion. And, of course, there is always the chance that they are feeding way too much milk in the evening to keep him sleeping at night, so they want you to limit it during the day. Just something to keep in mind.
***sorry, just saw you are not on food program��

[Baby Beluga]

While I don't think watering down the milk will help with constipation, I don't think it would harm anything either and I would be okay doing it.

Sounds like parents need to find the root cause of the constipation though. A few less ounces of milk per day isn't really going to make a difference.

[Blackcat31]

I would not water down the milk either. I'm not sure that would even be allowed for the food program. Of course, plenty of water and veggies will help, but I personally think a lot of constipation in children has to do with lack of activity, too many processed foods, and way too early potty training. Adding some water to milk will probably do very little for their digestion. And, of course, there is always the chance that they are feeding way too much milk in the evening to keep him sleeping at night, so they want you to limit it during the day. Just something to keep in mind.
***sorry, just saw you are not on food program��

I agree! I think the BM issues are always an underlying issue for lack of something. Routine, balanced diet, exercise etc.... ALL culprits for sure!


I guess I just don't understand why adding extra water to the day instead of adding to the milk isn't the automatic solution?

Why add anything to anything else?

Water is pretty good all on it's own.

[daycarediva]

If she’s really that concerned then she should do away with milk altogether. We as humans do not need cows milk to survive. I would increase water intake, add more fruits/veggies that are high in fiber and cut out foods that have dairy or at least limit them.

I think parents give way too much milk at home. My group has so many BM issues...

This. I am on the food program, and I would just ask for a pedi note to reduce/substitute the milk and do away with all other dairy. Add more water, fiber, and outside play.

SO MANY KIDS with poor diets on miralax regularly!!!

[Rockgirl]

I agree! I think the BM issues are always an underlying issue for lack of something. Routine, balanced diet, exercise etc.... ALL culprits for sure!


I guess I just don't understand why adding extra water to the day instead of adding to the milk isn't the automatic solution?

Why add anything to anything else?

Water is pretty good all on it's own.

It’s funny how many parents have told me, “Oh, he won’t drink water.” ALL of my dc kids drink lots of water. Their water cups are available anytime, and they all drink it regularly. Nothing else is offered here between meals, so it’s water or nothing.

[Ariana]

I currently have an infant with bad constipation who refuses to eat veggies and drink water. I have zero control over what happens at home but mom told me she loves dairy. While here I do not feed her any dairy and give tons of blueberries to get things moving. One day it was so severe I had to give her watered down apple juice . I have never served juice in my daycare ever! She had a massive poop and was happy for the rest of the day. I am not on a food program. She is here 8 hours and drinks maybe 2 ounces of water

It is a tough spot to be in when a child refuses to drink water and needs to poop. If this was affecting the kids mood (whiny and irritable) I would porbably try to water the milk down or give some watered down fruit juice. I would also make sure the parents were trying to do better at home.