Drinks & extras Food Library
When can babies have ice cream?
Can babies have ice cream?
Ice cream is best saved until after 12 months and kept as an occasional treat, since added sugar is not recommended for children under 2. Before then, frozen plain yogurt or blended frozen fruit gives a similar cold treat without the sugar. Ice cream contains dairy, a Top 9 allergen, and may also contain egg, nuts, wheat or soy.
How to serve ice cream by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Skip ice cream at 6 months. For a cold treat, freeze plain whole milk yogurt mixed with smooth mashed banana or berries, let it soften a little, and offer it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Keep skipping ice cream. Try homemade frozen yogurt with roughly mashed fruit, or a soft 'nice cream' of frozen banana blended smooth, served slightly melted on a preloaded spoon.
9–12 months
Keep offering homemade frozen yogurt or a soft mashed fruit 'nice cream' made from frozen banana blended smooth. Serve it slightly melted so it is soft and easy to scoop with fingers or a spoon.
12 months +
If you choose to offer ice cream, give a small scoop of a plain flavor without hard mix-ins, as an occasional treat rather than a regular dessert. Serve it in a bowl with a spoon, and save cones and chunky toppings for older toddlers.
Why it’s good
Ice cream has some calcium, protein and fat from milk, but it is mostly a source of added sugar and adds little a toddler cannot get from plain dairy. Plain full-fat yogurt, cheese and milk are better everyday dairy choices. Ice cream is a food for enjoying, not for nutrition.
Safety notes
- Avoid ice cream with hard or round mix-ins like whole nuts, chocolate chips, candy pieces, cookie chunks or whole grapes, which raise the choking risk.
- Do not give ice cream sweetened or swirled with honey before 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism.
- Homemade ice cream recipes that use raw, unpasteurized eggs are not safe for young children. Use a cooked custard base or pasteurized eggs.
- Check labels for allergens. Besides dairy, many ice creams contain egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat (in cookies and cones) or soy.
- Do not use ice cream as a regular teething remedy or bedtime treat. The sugar sits on new teeth and raises the risk of cavities.
Introduce ice cream on its own, then keep it in
Ice cream is made with milk, a Top 9 allergen, and often contains other allergens such as egg, nuts, wheat or soy, so it is not a good food for introducing any allergen for the first time. Introduce each allergen on its own first, then watch for hives, swelling, vomiting or wheezing if you later offer ice cream.
Ice cream for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about ice cream for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have ice cream?
Babies can have ice cream after 12 months as an occasional treat. Health guidelines recommend avoiding added sugar before age 2, so ice cream is best kept small and rare. Frozen plain yogurt or blended frozen fruit are good options before then.
Can babies have ice cream?
Babies under 12 months are better off without ice cream because it is high in added sugar. A small lick will not harm a healthy baby, but frozen plain yogurt or fruit gives the same cold treat with more nutrition.
Is ice cream a choking hazard for babies?
Ice cream itself melts quickly, but it is rated a moderate choking risk because of what often comes with it. Mix-ins like nuts, candy and cookie pieces, and hard cones, raise the risk, so serve plain ice cream in a bowl and save toppings and cones for older children.
Is ice cream a common allergen?
Yes, ice cream is a common allergen source because it contains milk, one of the Top 9 allergens. Many ice creams also contain egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat or soy, so read the label carefully, especially for children with known allergies.
How do I serve ice cream to a 6 month old?
Ice cream is not recommended for a 6 month old. For a cold, creamy treat, freeze plain whole-milk yogurt mixed with mashed fruit and serve it slightly softened on a spoon.
Can ice cream help a teething baby?
Ice cream is not a good teething remedy because of its added sugar. For teething babies over 6 months, a chilled teether or softened frozen plain yogurt on a spoon are better choices, and soft chilled fruit pieces can be held from 7–8 months.
What is the best ice cream for toddlers?
The best ice cream for toddlers is a simple, plain flavor like vanilla with a short ingredient list and no hard mix-ins. Homemade banana 'nice cream' or frozen yogurt with fruit are lower-sugar options toddlers enjoy just as much.
Can toddlers eat ice cream cones?
Toddlers can try soft wafer or cake cones once they are good at biting and chewing, usually after 18 months to 2 years. Crunchy sugar and waffle cones break into hard, sharp pieces, so wait until your child chews well and always supervise.
Is frozen yogurt or gelato better than ice cream for babies?
Store-bought frozen yogurt and gelato also contain added sugar, so they are not much healthier than ice cream for babies. Homemade frozen yogurt made from plain yogurt and fruit is the better choice under 12 months.
The takeaway
- Ice cream is best saved until after 12 months and kept as an occasional treat, since added sugar is not recommended for children under 2.
- If you choose to offer ice cream, give a small scoop of a plain flavor without hard mix-ins, as an occasional treat rather than a regular dessert.
- Choking risk is medium. Dairy 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
- Choking Prevention 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
- Botulism Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- 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.