Yogurt, Cheese and Your Baby - When to Offer Your Baby Yogurt and Cheese

One of the most commonly asked questions when it regards feeding your baby is, "What is the magic of yogurt and cheese that makes it OK to give to my baby before 1 year old? My pediatrician said not to feed my baby dairy prior to the age of 1 year old!"

The truth is, there is no great magic in yogurt or cheese. It is unfortunate that many medical professionals neglect to properly explain why it is fine to offer your baby cheese and/or yogurt earlier than the age of one year old. The most common reasons for it being allowed prior to age 1 year old are:

Unlike Whole Cow Milk beverage, your baby is not at risk of breast milk and/or formula 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 be dangerous to your baby's health!

If there is any "magic", it is that yogurt and cheese do have the advantage of lactose being broken down. As lactose is already broken down with the culturing of the yogurt or cheese, it is typically easier to digest. Many people with lactose intolerance are often be able to eat 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.

Why is Milk not recommended before age 12 months?

The medical community believes that many people would stop formula feeding and/or breastfeeding and start their kids on whole cow milk earlier than 1 year old, unless they were told not to. This is typically why pediatricians and nutritionists say that other milk products such as cottage cheese, cheeses and yogurt are fine.

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 large amount of dairy products may put baby at risk for iron deficient anemia. The most dramatic effects of whole cow milk are on iron levels in the body. Infants fed breast milk or iron fortified formula have normal iron levels. 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. 

Additionally, whole cow's milk protein and fat are more difficult for an infant to digest and absorb. “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." mercksource health

When will I be able to offer my baby yogurt or cheese?

Cheese is typically recommended at an age when your baby is able to mash foods with his or her gums or between 7-8 months old. Melted cheese makes a wonderful edition to a finger food meal of veggies and meats! As regards the introduction of yogurt, most pediatricians recommend starting your infant on yogurt around 7-8 months of age. Some pediatricians also recommend yogurt as a great first food (from 6 months+). Selecting a whole milk yogurt is the most beneficial to 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. You can also Make Your Own Homemade Yogurt! 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 flavorings to baby's yogurt.

The above information applies to those who do not have a known milk allergy or a lactose intolerance, or a familial history of same. As always, you should thoroughly discuss the introduction of foods with your baby's personal pediatrician!