When Can Babies Have Yogurt & Cheese? | Starting Dairy Foods Safely

Confused about when yogurt and cheese are okay, and why plain cow's milk has to wait until age one? Here's the short answer first.

💡 Yogurt and cheese can usually start around 7-8 months, as long as they're plain unsweetened yogurt and low-salt, pasteurized cheese, starting with a single spoonful and building up to 50-70g per serving. But cow's milk as a drink waits until 12 months. Yogurt and cheese are fermented and processed, making them easier to digest as a small ingredient in solids, whereas drinking plain cow's milk is a different matter.

Once that distinction clicks, most of the confusion clears up. Below we'll cover how to choose products, amounts by age, why milk is delayed, and how to introduce dairy safely.

Why "Plain and Low-Salt" Is the Key

Standing in the dairy aisle feeling overwhelmed by choices? The rule for baby dairy is simple: cut the sweetness and cut the salt.

Always choose plain, unsweetened yogurt. Sweetened cups and drinkable yogurts contain too much sugar for a baby, and getting used to sweetness early can shape later eating habits. If you want a touch of sweetness, mix in mashed banana or apple instead. This matters because a baby's palate is still forming, and added sugar offers no nutritional benefit.

For cheese, pick pasteurized, full-fat, lower-salt options such as mild cheddar, cottage cheese or cream cheese, and check the label for sodium. Regular slices and processed cheese are high in sodium, which strains a baby's immature kidneys. That's why salty cheese should wait, while low-salt cheese can begin at 7-8 months. Skip mold-ripened soft cheeses such as brie and camembert, soft blue cheeses, and any cheese made with unpasteurized milk, because of the risk of listeria.

⚠️ Sweetened yogurt cups, regular slices, and processed cheese are high in sugar and sodium and aren't recommended. Check labels for "unsweetened" and "low-sodium."

How Much by Age?

Start with a single spoonful and increase slowly as your baby accepts it. Here are the common age-based guideline amounts used in Japan and Korea.

Age	Yogurt (plain)	Cheese (low-salt)	Approach
7-8 months (middle)	50-70g	Small amounts	One spoon, then increase
9-11 months (late)	About 80g	A little more	Use as finger food too
12 months+ (toddler)	About 100g	More variety	Whole cow's milk as a drink OK, up to 16 oz (480 ml) a day

These amounts are targets, not requirements. You can spoon-feed yogurt plain or mix it into mashed fruit and purees, and low-salt cheese can be melted into porridge, or cut into pieces no larger than half an inch (about 1.3 cm) before it is offered as finger food. For a first try, give a small amount on its own without mixing, because that makes any allergic reaction easier to identify.

Why Can't Babies Drink Cow's Milk Before 12 Months?

This is where parents get tripped up: "If yogurt and cheese are fine at 7 months, why wait until one for milk?" The key is the difference between cow's milk as a drink and dairy as a food.

The reasons milk shouldn't be a main drink are clear. Cow's milk is low in iron and too high in protein and sodium, which strains an under-one baby's immature kidneys and can cause iron-deficiency anemia. In some babies it can also trigger small amounts of intestinal bleeding. That's why milk as a beverage waits until after 12 months.

Yogurt and cheese, by contrast, have their proteins partly broken down by fermentation and processing, making them easier to digest, and they're eaten in small amounts as an ingredient rather than as a main drink. Using a little milk in cooking (in porridge or baked goods) is also fine as long as breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition. We cover the transition to drinking milk after age one in a separate guide.

👉 See our guide to transitioning to cow's milk after 12 months

How to Introduce Dairy Safely for Allergies

Cow's milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in infants. Yogurt and cheese contain milk protein and can trigger the same reaction, so introduce them as carefully as any new food. If your baby has eczema or an already-diagnosed food allergy, check with your pediatrician before starting.

Start with a small amount, one spoonful, on its own, and introduce each new dairy product 3-5 days apart, one at a time. This matters because if a rash, vomiting, or diarrhea appears, you can identify which food caused it. Offer a new food in the morning when clinics are open, so you can get care if needed. If you notice rash around the mouth, hives, or unusual fussiness, stop and consult your pediatrician. If your baby has trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the lips, tongue or face, vomiting that is severe or comes with other symptoms, or turns pale, blue or limp, call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away. These can be signs of anaphylaxis.

Track New Foods with BebeSnap

For allergy-prone first foods like yogurt and cheese, logging when and how much you gave brings peace of mind.

• One-touch record of the first date and amount
• Note rashes or digestive reactions to trace the cause
• Share an accurate introduction history at checkups

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When can I start giving yogurt?
A: Plain unsweetened yogurt can usually begin around 7-8 months. If your baby has eczema or an already-diagnosed food allergy, check with your pediatrician before starting. Start with a single spoonful and build up to 50-70g per serving, reaching about 80g by 9-11 months. Avoid sweetened yogurt, which is high in added sugar; the AAP advises avoiding added sugars before age 2. Never give honey, including honey-flavored yogurt, before 12 months.

Q: Why can't babies drink cow's milk before 12 months?
A: Cow's milk is low in iron and high in protein and sodium, which strains an under-one baby's immature kidneys and can cause iron-deficiency anemia or small intestinal bleeding. That's why milk as a drink waits until 12 months. Using a little milk in cooking, such as in porridge or baked goods, is fine.

Q: Which cheese should I choose?
A: Choose pasteurized, full-fat cheese with lower salt, such as mild cheddar, cottage cheese or cream cheese, in small amounts from 7-8 months. Skip mold-ripened soft cheeses such as brie, soft blue cheeses and unpasteurized cheese because of listeria. Regular slices and processed cheese are high in sodium and aren't recommended for babies, because their kidneys are still developing.

Q: How do I check for a dairy allergy?
A: Give a small spoonful on its own and introduce each new dairy product 3-5 days apart, one at a time. This makes it easier to spot rash, vomiting, or diarrhea and identify the cause. Offer it in the morning when clinics are open, and stop and consult your pediatrician if you see any reaction. For trouble breathing, swelling of the lips or face, or a limp baby, call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away.

References

• AAP HealthyChildren - Recommended Drinks for Young Children
• CDC - How Much and How Often to Feed Your Baby
• Nemours KidsHealth - Feeding Your 8- to 12-Month-Old
• AAP HealthyChildren - Why Formula Instead of Cow's Milk?
• NHS - Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
• NHS - Your baby's first solid foods