When and How to Give Baby Yogurt, According to Experts

Starting baby on solids is an exciting milestone in their development, but it might leave you wondering what foods you can introduce and when—like yogurt, which is a staple across many diets. So when can babies have yogurt?

Good news, yogurt lovers: Yogurt is actually one of the best foods to start with when it comes to introducing solids, especially since many babies and toddlers wind up liking it. “Isabel wants to eat yogurt all the time,” shares The Bump community member ela81. “I try not to open the refrigerator when she’s around because she’ll have a tantrum if I don’t let her have one.”

Ready to serve baby yogurt? Here, we asked experts to walk us through the basics. Read on to learn how soon you can give it to your little one, how much to give them, the benefits of yogurt for babies and the best ways to prepare baby yogurt for your little eater.

Key Takeaways

• Babies can start eating yogurt around 6 months old, and it can be a great way to introduce them to solids.
• The best yogurt for babies and toddlers is full-fat, whole milk yogurt that’s unsweetened and free of additives, such as sugar, flavorings and dyes.
• You want to avoid varieties with added fruit and chunks, as these can be choking hazards. Avoiding additives is also a great way to eliminate other ingredients that could cause any potential allergic reactions.
• There’s no minimum amount of yogurt babies need to eat. Instead, the best way to serve it is to offer it to them plain or mix it with other mashed or pureed baby food, such as fruits.

When Can Babies Have Yogurt?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in addition to breast milk and formula, parents should start supplementing baby’s diet with soft, solid foods when they’re around 6 months old—and yogurt makes for a perfect first food. In fact, not only can babies have yogurt as early as 6 months, it’s also a baby food with several health benefits (more on this below), says Denise Scott, MD, an Oklahoma-based pediatrician.

Best Yogurt for Babies

Wondering if all baby yogurt is created equal? According to Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, a nutrition expert and New York Times best-selling author in New York City, the best yogurt for infants is plain, unsweetened, whole milk yogurt. (You also want to ensure the yogurt is made with pasteurized milk, though most commercially sold yogurt is.) Scott adds that babies should be given full-fat yogurt until they’re 2 years old, since “they need fat for their developing brain.”

When shopping at the grocery store, don’t worry about buying baby-specific yogurt. “There really is no difference between these and regular yogurts,” Scott says. In general, she recommends avoiding yogurt that has anything added to it, such as sugar, flavorings or dye.

Parents can opt for regular or Greek yogurt, as well as labneh, which is a strained yogurt common in Middle Eastern cuisines. “Just make sure that it’s the consistency of yogurt and not soft cheese,” Scott adds.

Benefits of Yogurt for Babies

Yogurt has long been touted for its role in achieving a healthy gut, including for babies. Most yogurt sold in US grocery stores is made from pasteurized milk with added live cultures, also known as probiotics. “[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.

Another benefit of yogurt for babies? It’s an ideal first food, thanks to its smooth texture, Largeman-Roth says. Plus, she points out, you can combine it with various fruits and vegetable purees to help baby discover new flavor profiles, and even potential allergens, like peanut butter.

How to Prepare Yogurt for Babies

Wondering how to prepare yogurt for your little one? The good news is there really isn’t any special preparation required. Here’s what to know about offering yogurt to babies at 6, 9 and 12 months old.

Yogurt for babies at 6 months

When giving yogurt to a 6-month-old, the most important step is ensuring the yogurt is free of harmful added ingredients, such as big chunks of fruit and honey for kids under a year old. Other than that, Scott says, you can offer baby plain yogurt while it’s still cool or at room temperature, and there’s “no need to add anything to it.”

Wondering how much yogurt to give baby? Largeman-Roth says there’s no defined amount. “Complementary foods, like yogurt, don’t need to be measured out,” she explains. “Baby isn’t eating solids for growth at this point—they’re more for food exploration, exposure and development of oral-motor skills.”

Yogurt for babies at 9 months

At 9 months, babies can have yogurt mixed with other baby foods, Scott says, such as mashed or pureed fruit, apple sauce or smooth, thinned peanut butter. That said, none of these additions are a necessity, she adds. “It’s fine to simply continue to offer plain yogurt.” At this age and through 12 months, she and Largeman-Roth both say a serving size between a quarter and half cup of yogurt is sufficient for baby.

Yogurt for babies at 12 months

One baby’s a year old, you can continue to give baby yogurt as you have been, with other mashed foods mixed in or plain. You can also slowly incorporate other additions, such as honey (which you weren’t able to do until this point!) and small pieces of fruit. “This is healthier than buying yogurt with added fruit,” Scott says. However, avoid nuts, whole fruit pieces and crunchy items, all of which can pose choking hazards—more on that below.

At this age, it’s okay to offer yogurt as a snack daily or several times a week, Largeman-Roth says.

Things to Keep In Mind When Giving Baby Yogurt

A common concern parents have when baby starts solids is avoiding any choking risks. Luckily, plain yogurt without anything added is generally not considered a choking hazard and is typically a good consistency for baby. However, all solids are potential choking hazards when babies first start them, Scott warns. “Babies don’t yet chew and can sometimes take more in their mouths than they can handle.” That’s why babies and toddlers should never be left unattended while eating, and should be seated in an upright position, not laying down or playing.

You’ll also want to keep an eye on the ingredients when giving baby yogurt. With all the types of yogurt available these days, you want to ensure you’re picking one that’s safe for baby to consume. Below, some ingredients Scott recommends avoiding:

• Added chunks: These could be fruit, chocolate, nuts, granola or something else. Though these chunks are fine for older kids, they could pose a choking hazard for babies and toddlers.

• Added honey: Honey can cause a rare but serious condition called botulism in infants younger than one year old. It’s usually safe to offer toddlers yogurt with honey after their first birthday, but check with your pediatrician beforehand.

• Added sugars: Along with honey, you’ll want to steer clear of yogurt with added sugar. According to the most recent USDA dietary guidelines, children under 2 years old shouldn’t be given any added sugars. “It’s best to avoid yogurt with added sugars at any age and to add your own ingredients to the yogurt,” Scott says.

Allergic Reactions to Look For When Giving Baby Yogurt

Another common concern when starting baby on solids? Food allergies. “Since yogurt is made from milk, and milk is one of the most common sources of food allergies, yogurt can be a source of allergens,” Scott says. (An added benefit of serving yogurt without anything in it is that it’s easier to tell if baby is allergic to the yogurt vs. another ingredient.)

The signs of an allergic reaction in babies can be varied, but the most common ones to look for include:

• Vomiting
• Rash on the face or body
• Flushed (red) skin
• Coughing or wheezing
• Any swelling around the face, lips or tongue
• Difficulty breathing
• Diarrhea, especially with blood in the stool

These signs can develop immediately or up to two hours after consumption, Scott notes. If you see an allergic reaction, stop giving baby yogurt. For severe reactions, like breathing difficulties, parents should call 911 and seek medical attention. For more mild reactions, Scott recommends calling your pediatrician, who may recommend an antihistamine, such as Benadryl. They can also best advise you on next steps and whether allergy testing should be done.

Baby Yogurt Recipes to Try

Looking for ways to get more creative in how you’re offering baby yogurt? The good news is you can probably give them a taste of the ways you’re eating yogurt yourself. “While I was off for the summer, we both had our yogurt for breakfast every morning,” shares The Bump community member bmf8140. “Bennett loves it!” Check out a few easy (and nutritious!) recipes below for ideas.

Yogurt melts

One of Scott’s favorite recipes for serving baby yogurt is with yogurt melts. “They’re a terrific snack, introduce yogurt in a different form and they’re easy to make,” she says. To make yogurt melts, all you need to do is puree fresh or frozen fruit—adding water to thin the mixture out if needed—then fold the puree into full-fat, plain yogurt. Deposit small, nickel-sized dollops of yogurt into a mold or use a teaspoon and parchment paper. Freeze the sheet or mold for around three hours. Serve the desired amount of yogurt melts, letting them sit out at room temperature for up to five minutes before serving. Store the rest of the yogurt melts in the freezer.

Frozen peach yogurt

Expand baby’s food palate with this easy recipe from MJ and Hungry Man. You’ll need peaches, a banana, full-fat yogurt and lemon juice. Blend everything together, then transfer it to a freezer safe container or baby popsicle molds. This one’s a great treat for those hot summer months!

Yogurt bark

Yogurt bark is another great way to serve yogurt to older babies and toddlers, Scott says. To make it, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread a container or full-fat, plain yogurt in an even layer on top. Add in small pieces of chopped blueberries, strawberries or other fruit, as well as mini chocolate chips or oats, then freeze the bark for at least three hours before breaking it into smaller pieces to serve. Let the bark sit out for a few minutes before handing it to baby, and also ensure none of the ingredients in the bark are big enough for baby to choke on. Store the rest of the yogurt bark in the freezer.

Greek yogurt pancakes

This pancake recipe from Feeding Our Toddlers is great for toddlers who may not like yogurt served on its own. You’ll need a few more ingredients for this one: whole greek yogurt, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, salt, baking power and butter. Combine the ingredients to make a batter, then cook the pancakes in a buttered pan. Serve and put any leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.

Overall, yogurt can be a healthy first food for baby. It’s a great way to introduce baby to dairy, has some great health benefits and can be served in a myriad of ways. However, as is true with all new foods, Scott recommends introducing one new food at a time and watching closely for signs of allergies.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.