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Yogurt, cheese and milk

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 soy beverages, 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.