These foods are high in protein and calcium. Milk itself is also a good source of vitamin D, as it is added to the milk we buy.
You can introduce yogurt and cheese once your baby is six months old, as long as they continue to eat a variety of iron-rich foods.
Yogurt
- Let your baby enjoy the taste of plain unsweetened yogurt, or add fresh, canned or frozen fruit. Sweetened yogurts contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners, which your baby doesn’t need.
- Do not give your baby yogurt containing honey. There is a risk that honey could make youra baby very sick with botulism, a type of food poisoning. Honey is safe for children over 12 months of age.
Cheese
- Grate cheese before you give it to your baby.
- Do not give your baby processed cheese slices and spreads because they have more sodium (salt).
Milk
Do not give your baby cow milk before nine months of age. Cow milk is low in iron and is not recommended for infants under nine months.
You can start giving whole cow milk (3.25% M.F.) to your baby when they are 9-12 months old, as long as they are eating a variety of iron-rich foods two or more times each day. Offer whole cow milk in an open cup, not a sippy cup.
Cow milk should not replace breastmilk: At 6-12 months breastmilk continues to provide energy, nutrients and health benefits. Breastmilk changes as youre baby grows. It contains more than 200 unique, active substances that protect your baby’s health. These include antibodies, live cells, hormones and special growth factors. These are not found in cow milk.
For Breastfed Babies
- Continue to breastfeed your baby, based on their cues, up to two years and older.
- You can:
- Offer whole cow milk to your baby between 9-12 months of age, or
- Wait until your baby is 12 months or older
If you do introduce whole cow milk before 12 months, offer only small amounts. The cow milk should not replace a breastmilk feeding. You should still expect your baby to breastfeed as often as before. Breastfeed according to the baby’s cues.
- By 12 months,your baby should be eating a variety of healthy foods.
- See the section on Vitamin D for information about vitamin D supplements for breastfeeding babies.
For Babies Fed Infant Formula
- At 9-12 months, you can:
- Continue to use infant formula,
- Offer whole cow milk along with infant formula, or
- Give whole cow milk instead of infant formula
If your baby is not regularly eating a variety of iron-rich foods, wait until closer to 12 months before introducing whole cow milk.
- By 12 months, your baby should be eating a variety of healthy foods, including whole cow milk.
Type of Milk to Offer
- If your baby is drinking cow milk, continue to give them whole milk (3.25% M.F.) until they are at least two years Do not give them 2%, 1%, 0.5% or skim milk. Do not give your baby unpasteurized milk and milk products. They can make your baby very sick.
- Pasteurized, full-fat goat milk may be used instead of cow milk. If using goat milk, make sure it has added folic acid and vitamin D.
Caution: Fortified soybeverages,or other plant-based beverages such as rice, almond, cashew, oat, coconut, etc. should not be given in place of whole milk in the first two years.These beverages do not contain the right amount of nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop.
FAQs
These foods are high in protein and calcium. Milk itself is also a good source of vitamin D, as it is added to the milk we buy. You can introduce yogurt and cheese once your baby is six months old, as long as they continue to eat a variety of iron-rich foods.
Is yogurt good for a 6 month old baby? ›
Babies and yogurt
It's exciting when your baby makes the leap from breast milk and formula to solids, and one of those exciting new foods is yogurt. If you're wondering if your baby can have yogurt, most experts agree that 6 months is a good age to begin eating the creamy and yummy concoction.
What is the best food for a baby of 6 months? ›
You can start weaning with single vegetables and fruits – try blended, mashed, or soft cooked sticks of parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear. You could also try baby rice mixed with your baby's usual milk. Make sure any cooked food has cooled right down before offering it to your baby.
Why can babies have yogurt and cheese but not milk? ›
Digestion: Yogurt and cheese undergo a culturing process that breaks down the milk proteins. This makes the protein in yogurt and cheese easier for babies to digest, while still being a good source of calcium and vitamin D.
What should a 6 month old eat a day? ›
From 6–8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to three times a day. Your baby can eat anything except honey, which they shouldn't eat until they reach 12 months old. You can start to add a healthy snack, like mashed fruit, between meals.
Which cheese is good for babies? ›
Cheese can form part of a healthy, balanced diet for babies and young children, and provides calcium, protein and vitamins. Babies can eat pasteurised full-fat cheese from 6 months old. This includes hard cheeses, such as mild cheddar cheese, cottage cheese and cream cheese.
What yogurt is safe for 6 month old? ›
Offer full-fat (whole milk), pasteurized, plain yogurt. Greek yogurt is perfect for this age and will be easiest for babies to self-feed. Let baby scoop up the yogurt with their hands and/or eat from a pre-loaded spoon (passing the spoon in the air will make it easier for baby to grab).
How many times a day should I feed solids to my 6 month old? ›
When first starting solids, breast/human milk or formula should still be baby's primary source of nutrition. We recommend one mealtime per day at this age, though if you and baby have the time in your day and both enjoy being at the table, you are welcome to offer solids twice a day.
Which fruit is best for baby brain development? ›
Top 10 foods for a child's brain development
| Food |
|---|
| 7 | Beans |
| 8 | Colourful and dark green vegetables, especially broccoli |
| 9 | Colourful fruits especially blueberries, strawberries, red/purple grapes |
| 10 | Water |
6 more rowsBest first foods for baby
- Avocados. BabyCenter parents are all about avocado as a first food. ...
- Bananas. Known as a good source of potassium, this grab-and-go fruit also contains vitamins B6 and C, fiber, and magnesium. ...
- Blueberries. Blueberries are bursting with antioxidants. ...
- Broccoli. ...
- Lentils. ...
- Meat. ...
- Prunes. ...
- Sweet potatoes.
So, when can babies eat eggs? Start offering eggs around the same time you start your baby on solid foods, after 6 months of age. Your little one's menu can begin with purees and very soft food (like infant cereal) and then expand to include more textured foods, such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, and meats.
Can babies eat yogurt every day? ›
During the first year of life, you should focus on offering your infant a variety of flavors and textures. 15 Doing so should ensure that they get a reasonable amount of anything you offer. If your baby loves yogurt, you can give it every day, but make sure you offer other foods throughout the rest of the day.
What will milk cheese and yogurt give you? ›
Milk, cheese and yoghurt provide calcium in a readily absorbable and convenient form. They also have various health benefits and are a good source of many nutrients, including calcium, protein, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and zinc.
What finger food can a 6 month old eat? ›
finger food ideas from 6 months
- Cooked veggie sticks like carrot + parsnip (well-cooked, super soft and cut to the size + shape of an adult index finger)
- Cooked broccoli trees or cauli florets (halved or quartered lengthways)
- Banana or mango fingers.
Q: How often do 6 month old babies sleep? A: An average 6 month old baby needs 3 naps per day, with 2 - 3 hours of awake time in between sleep periods. The period of wakefulness before the first nap tends to be the shortest of the day, and most babies are ready for that first snooze after 2 hours of wake time.
How much should a 6 month old weigh? ›
From birth to 6 months old, babies should double their birth weight. The average weight for boys at 6 months is 17 pounds 8 ounces (7.9 kilograms) and the average for girls is 16 pounds 2 ounces (7.3 kilograms).
How much yogurt to give a baby? ›
The serving size for a child age eight to 12 months is 1/4 to 1/2 cup of yogurt. Toddlers (ages 12-24 months) need two or three servings of dairy a day, which is equivalent to 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 oz cheese, and 1/3 cup of yogurt.
What are the best first foods for babies? ›
Solid foods may be introduced in any order. However, puréed meats, poultry, beans and iron-fortified cereals are recommended as first foods, especially if your baby has been primarily breastfed, since they provide key nutrients. Only one new single-ingredient food should be introduced at a time.
Does yogurt help babies? ›
Benefits of Yogurt for Babies
“[These] are bacteria that are good for the gut and promote a healthy gut microbiota,” Scott says. In addition to probiotics, yogurt is also loaded with protein and many nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and B vitamins.
