Introducing Dairy to Infants: Is Yogurt & Cheese Safe Before 1 Year?

Why can my baby have yogurt and cheese before she turns 1 year old but she cannot have whole milk? Are yogurt and cheeses special?

The answer to the above question is yes and no, yogurt and cheese are “special” in one way yet quite simple in another. The two most common reasons for babies being allowed to consume dairy products (not whole milk)prior to age 1 year old are:

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!

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 and properly sustain an infant’s growth. Indeed, prior to 1 year old, the consumption of a lot of dairy products may put baby at risk for iron deficient anemia. Milk impedes the proper absorption of iron. Iron intake is one thing that an infant can not afford to have cut down or cut out of the diet.

“Infants fed whole cow’s milk receive inadequate amounts of Vitamin E, iron, essential fatty acids, and excessive amounts of protein, sodium, and potassium. These levels may be too high for the infant’s system to handle. Additionally, whole cow’s milk protein and fat are more difficult for an infant to digest and absorb. The most dramatic effects are on iron levels in the body. Infants fed breast milk or iron fortified formula have normal iron levels. Recent studies show infants often have depleted levels when started on cow’s milk at six months of age.” MerckSource Dairy Facts – Infants

Introducing yogurt and cheese to your infant is typically ok’ed around 8 months of age. This recommendation relies on the absence of dairy allergies in the baby and/or within the baby’s family. When first offering cheese, select a mild cheese such as Colby, Monterrey Jack or “American” cheese. You may either shred or cube the cheese and offer it as finger food. Melt some cheese into some of your baby’s vegetables or dinner mixes for a new taste and added texture.

Selecting a Whole Milk Yogurt is the most beneficial for your infant as babies need fats in their diets for proper growth! You can buy Plain Whole Milk Yogurts made by such companies as Stonyfield Farm, Cascade Fresh and Brown Cow.

Stonyfield Farm makes the YoBaby brand that many parents know and love! However, using a large container of Plain Whole Milk yogurt will save you money (and save on added sugar) and give you the flexibility of adding your own flavourings to baby’s yogurt. As long as baby has had the fruits/veggies that you wish to mix in with the Yogurt, you are unlimited in what you use. Some of our favorites are:

Yogurt and Blueberries

Yogurt with applesauce and a dash of cinnamon

Yogurt with peaches and bananas together (and separate)

Yogurt with Wheat Germ and no other addition

Yogurt and mashed avocado

Yogurt blended with any fruit and water to create a baby-smoothie (using water makes for a thin mix that may slide through a Sippy Cup with ease)

Margaret Meade is the Owner/Editor of http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com and http://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com. She continues to make baby and toddler food, study nutrition and expand the website weekly. The goal of the website and her articles is to get parents to disengage from the myth that commercial baby foods are superior and magical. In doing so, parents may become less reliant on not-so-healthy pre-packaged foods as their children grow! It is so easy to make your own baby food and once you begin, good healthy eating habits will automatically flow!