When can you introduce yogurt into your infant’s diet? 

Are you wondering when it’s safe to give your baby yogurt? Here’s what one Pediatrician wants you to know about first foods and why yogurt can be a nutritional and beneficial treat for your little one!

Starting solids with your little one is such an exciting and huge milestone in your baby’s development! However, many new milestones, like starting solids, can come with a bit of hesitation and questions. What foods are safe to start first? When can we introduce dairy? Is yogurt safe to give as a first food?

First of all, YES, yogurt can definitely be added to that list of first foods, but let’s break down the basics of transitioning to solids with your baby!

First, let’s talk about the major signs your baby is ready to experiment with solid foods.

Most babies are ready to start supplementing their daily intake of breast milk or formula with solid foods when they are around 6 months old. But before you introduce any food to your baby, they must have good head control. Also, make sure they have some interest in solid food and are developmentally able to take food from a spoon. Choking hazards are ever present at this age, so be mindful of the consistency and size of the foods you’re testing with your baby!

Speaking of choking hazards, many parents have a huge hesitation when transitioning their infants to solid foods because of the risk of choking. In this regard, yogurt is a great first food for baby! The soft, smooth consistency of yogurt is super easy for babies to swallow and often calms parents’ nerves during the early days of foods exploration!

Now, let’s answer some burning questions about introducing dairy to your baby’s diet.

If you do plan to introduce a food like yogurt to your baby, another question you want to ask yourself is whether you have a family history of a cow’s milk allergy. If you do, you should consult your pediatrician before initiating any dairy product. 

Many parents are still nervous about introducing dairy as a first food because of the recommendation not to start cows’ milk until after 12 months of age. It’s true that babies cannot digest cow’s milk as easily or completely as breast milk or formula. Cow’s milk also does not have the ideal proportion of fats and nutrients that your baby gets from breast milk or formula.

However, the small amount of cow’s milk in a serving of yogurt won’t hurt your baby. Since yogurt is made by fermentation, its proteins can be more easily digested by your baby’s little belly. This ease of digestion is why feeding yogurt to babies under 1 year old is recommended, while offering straight cow’s milk is not.

All in all, yogurt is a pretty safe bet for baby’s first food as long as there is no history of dairy allergies or issues. Just keep in mind, as with all new foods, you should wait 3 to 5 days between each new food being offered in order to track any reactions back to a specific new food item.

Are there other benefits to starting with yogurt as a transitional food for babies?

Many times, when we think about introducing solids to our babies, we first think about fruit and vegetable purées or maybe a little bit of oatmeal. Yogurt is actually a great addition to this list since it has protein and many important nutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and B vitamins – all vital nutrients your baby needs to grow and thrive! Many yogurts are also fortified with vitamin D, which is particularly helpful for bone health and development and even more important for babies who are partially or fully breastfed!

Yogurt can absolutely be a nutritional and beneficial addition to your baby’s diet. Babies starting solids is such an exciting time for your family. Enjoy the process and have fun introducing new foods and textures to your baby!

Dr. Katie

Always consult with your pediatrician for any concerns or dietary guidance.

This post was sponsored by Stonyfield YoBaby but all opinions are of my own.