Drinks & extras Food Library
When can babies have almond milk?
Can babies have almond milk?
Babies should not drink almond milk before 12 months, and it should never replace breast milk or formula. Unsweetened almond milk can be used in cooking from 6 months, for example in oatmeal or baked goods. After 12 months, almond milk is low in protein and calories, so it is not a good main milk for toddlers unless your pediatrician advises it.
How to serve almond milk by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Do not offer almond milk as a drink. A small splash of unsweetened almond milk can be used to thin a smooth vegetable puree or to cook iron-fortified cereal, Almond milk contains very little almond protein, so it does not count as introducing tree nuts. Use thinned smooth almond butter or finely ground almond for that.. Breast milk or formula stays your baby's main drink.
7–8 months
Still do not offer almond milk as a drink. You can cook thicker oatmeal with unsweetened almond milk, stir it into lumpier mashes, or use it in soft pancakes. Breast milk or formula stays your baby's main drink.
9–12 months
Keep using unsweetened almond milk only in foods, such as porridge, muffins or mashed potatoes. Offer water in an open cup with meals, and keep breast milk or formula as the main milk.
12 months +
After 12 months, a small amount of unsweetened, calcium-fortified almond milk in an open cup is fine as an extra drink. For the main milk, the AAP recommends whole cow's milk or fortified soy milk; talk to your pediatrician if your toddler needs a dairy-free option.
Why it’s good
Almond milk is mostly water, with very little protein and fewer calories than cow's milk, breast milk or formula. Fortified versions add calcium and vitamin D, and almonds give a little vitamin E. Because it lacks protein and fat, almond milk cannot meet a baby's or toddler's needs as a main drink.
Safety notes
- Never use almond milk, or homemade nut milk, to replace breast milk or infant formula before 12 months; this has caused serious malnutrition in babies.
- Choose unsweetened almond milk; flavored and sweetened versions contain added sugar, which is not advised before age 2.
- If almond milk is your toddler's main milk on medical advice, pick a calcium and vitamin D fortified version and ask your pediatrician how to make up the missing protein and fat.
- Homemade almond milk is not fortified and spoils quickly; keep it refrigerated and use within a few days.
- Serve as a drink in an open or straw cup with meals, not in a bottle at bedtime.
Introduce almond milk on its own, then keep it in
Almond milk is made from almonds, a tree nut and one of the Top 9 allergens, though the amount of almond protein is small. Introduce it in a small amount and watch for hives, swelling, vomiting or breathing trouble; a negative reaction to almond milk does not prove a baby tolerates almond butter or other tree nuts.
Almond milk for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about almond milk for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have almond milk?
Babies can drink small amounts of unsweetened almond milk after 12 months. Before 12 months, almond milk can be used as an ingredient in cooked foods, but not as a drink.
Can babies drink almond milk?
Babies under 12 months should not drink almond milk because it lacks the protein, fat, iron and calories they need. Breast milk or formula should be the only milk drink in the first year.
Is almond milk a choking hazard for babies?
No, almond milk is not a choking hazard because it is a thin liquid. Offer almond milk to toddlers in an open cup in small sips while seated.
Is almond milk a common allergen?
Yes, almond milk comes from almonds, which are tree nuts and part of the Top 9 common food allergens. Introduce almond milk carefully and watch for allergic symptoms.
How do I serve almond milk to a 6 month old?
For a 6 month old, use unsweetened almond milk only as a cooking ingredient, for example to make oatmeal or soften a vegetable mash. Do not give it as a drink or in place of breast milk or formula.
Can almond milk replace cow's milk for toddlers?
Almond milk is not a good replacement for cow's milk for most toddlers because it has very little protein and fat. Fortified soy milk is usually the preferred plant milk, so talk to your pediatrician or a dietitian if your toddler cannot have dairy.
How much almond milk can a toddler drink?
Toddlers can have a few ounces of unsweetened almond milk as an occasional drink alongside a balanced diet. Large amounts of any milk can fill a toddler up and push out iron-rich foods.
Can I mix almond milk into baby cereal?
Yes, you can mix a little unsweetened almond milk into baby cereal or oatmeal from 6 months. Mixing cereal with breast milk or formula instead adds more nutrition.
Is homemade almond milk better for babies?
Homemade almond milk is not better for babies, because it is not fortified with calcium and vitamin D and can carry bacteria if stored too long. Keep homemade almond milk for cooking and use it within a few days.
Is almond milk good for toddlers?
Almond milk is not a good main milk for toddlers; it has very little protein, fat and calories compared with whole milk. After 12 months, a small amount of unsweetened, calcium-fortified almond milk in an open cup is fine as an extra drink. For the main milk, offer whole milk or ask your pediatrician.
Is almond milk good for babies?
No, almond milk is not a good drink for babies under 12 months and should never replace breast milk or formula. It lacks the protein, fat and calories babies need to grow. You can still use a splash of unsweetened almond milk in cooking from 6 months, such as in oatmeal or iron-fortified cereal.
The takeaway
- Babies should not drink almond milk before 12 months, and it should never replace breast milk or formula.
- After 12 months, a small amount of unsweetened, calcium-fortified almond milk in an open cup is fine as an extra drink.
- Choking risk is low. Tree nut is one of the Top 9 allergens: offer a small amount first, watch for a reaction, then keep it in the diet regularly.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Peanut Allergy: What to Know About the Latest Prevention Guidelines American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Recommended Drinks for Young Children Ages 0-5 American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS
- The Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW; American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2019;143(4):e20190281
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.