Introducing Dairy to Your Baby - Questions about Giving Your Baby Yogurt, Cheese & Milk
Many Parents wonder when they can offer their babies Dairy Products such as Yogurt and Cheese. Other common questions are "should I give my baby full fat dairy products?" and "Can I use Milk in recipes that my baby will be eating?" We have compiled a list of common questions and answers concerning giving your baby yogurt and cheese and dairy products in general.
Do I worry about my baby getting fat if I give whole milk dairy products?
Your baby needs fat!!!!!!! One of the reasons why formula and breast milk are so nutritious is due to the high fat content. Fat and fatty acids are essential for brain development to name one reason.
DO NOT GIVE baby 2%, 1% or low fat dairy products until after 2 years old unless you are otherwise instructed by your baby's doctor.
Some doctors recommend waiting to give lower fat dairy products until after the baby has turned 3 years old.
When and how can I introduce yogurt to my baby and why can my baby have yogurt or cheese but not milk?
Yogurt may be introduced as early as 7 months old, (the typical age recommendation is 8 months old) depending on your baby’s pediatrician and your baby’s propensity to allergies.
Yogurt is a great way for baby to get calcium and the “bacteria” in yogurt that is so good for our digestive systems.
Yogurt is also a great way for baby to get the fat that is so highly needed during baby’s first year.
The majority of yogurts on the market are made low fat or non fat. Whole Milk Organic yogurts are available (Stonyfield Farms makes one w/o any preservatives or sugar/sweeteners) and should be given.
Always read the labels and watch for added sugars, starches and other additives.
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Unlike Whole Cow Milk beverage, your baby is not at risk of formula/breast milk being replaced by Yogurt or Cheese. The medical community worries that if Whole Cow milk is introduced to an infant prior to 1 year old, that parents would stop formula and/or breastfeeding and use Milk as the replacement. This would possibly be dangerous to your baby's health!
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Lactose is already broken down with the culturing of the yogurt or cheese and milk proteins are either removed or limited thus it is typically easier to digest; people with lactose intolerance often are be able to handle cheese and/or yogurt without trouble. The same is true for some people with a milk protein (either to the casein or the whey) allergy.
Whole Milk does not contain enough nutrients, vitamins or minerals for it to adequately sustain a growing infant. We are told to NOT give baby milk until after 1 year of age mostly because milk is NOT enough to meet all of baby's specific nutritional requirements during the first year of life. Babies should be on breast milk or formula or a combo of both until after 1 yr old.
Yogurt & Your Baby - Information about giving your baby yogurt.
Learn how to Make Your Own Homemade Yogurt
Can I Use Milk in Recipes that my Baby will be eating?
Using milk in a baked good recipe, like offering yogurt and cheese, will not risk weaning your baby to milk from formula and/or breast milk. Milk in a baked good, or otherwise cooked, recipe is considered safe for the baby who is 8 months of age+ and who has no familial history of dairy allergies.
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What about Dairy Allergies?
If you, your family members or your baby have a history of allergies to milk (to the milk protein) and/or a history of lactose intolerance; introducing dairy in any form prior to 1 year is probably not a good idea.
As most babies can outgrow these types of allergies, if you hold off until after 1 yr, the risk of developing these allergies is significantly decreased!!
Also note that an infant who has a true allergy to the milk protein(s) may also have allergies to other foods - soy being one of the most common. Learn more about Dairy Allergies and other Allergy information
When and how can I introduce cheese?
Cheese is very good for baby and may be introduced as early as 8 months providing there are no dairy allergies. Begin by offering the lighter tasting cheeses (Colby, Jack, American).
If baby cannot mash/grasp, melt cheeses over vegetables or add to veggie/meat purees. If baby can mash/grasp and has had Baby Finger Foods, cut cheeses into small bits and offer to baby as a snack.
Cheeses also may be offered via the old classic grilled cheese sandwich or mac-n-cheese – again, this will be dependant on how baby is with mashing/grasping other foods.
Learn more about Feeding Cheese to Baby
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Why should I wait until after 1 year to introduce milk?
One of the main reasons you should wait until after baby is 1 year old to introduce milk as a formula/breast milk replacement is that milk/dairy hinders the absorption of iron in the body. Milk is also much harder for baby to digest than breast milk or infant formula.
Milk by itself does not contain all the nutrients of breast milk or formula and should never be used as a substitute until after 1 year of age. The cooking of the food that contains the milk will aid in breaking down the milk proteins so that many babies who are 8 months+ are able to have baked goods that contain milk.
Will my 1 year old (and up) get enough calcium if she/he does not drink a lot of milk?
Calcium is found in so many foods that if baby doesn't drink milk, that's not really a bad thing.
Cheese is very good for baby and is a good source of calcium as is yogurt.
Other foods that contain calcium are tofu, broccoli, certain beans such as kidney beans, whole wheat/white bread, canned salmon etc.
Just check on the labels of any foods you buy and you will be surprised to see calcium!
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