Dairy Food Library
When can babies have cow's milk?
Can babies have cow's milk?
Babies can drink cow's milk from 12 months, but milk can be used in cooking and baking from about 6 months. Before 12 months, breast milk or formula should stay the main drink because cow's milk lacks the right nutrients and can raise the risk of iron deficiency. Cow's milk is a Top 9 allergen, so introduce dairy early through foods like yogurt and cheese.
How to serve cow's milk by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Do not offer cow's milk as a drink yet; breast milk or formula stays the main drink. You can use pasteurized whole cow's milk in cooking, such as in smooth oatmeal, mashed potatoes or vegetable purees served on a spoon, and offer plain whole milk yogurt.
7–8 months
Keep breast milk or formula as the main drink and still skip cow's milk in a cup. Use pasteurized whole cow's milk in cooking for thicker porridge, lumpy mashes, soft scrambled egg or soft pancakes, and offer yogurt and soft cheese.
9–12 months
Keep using whole cow's milk in cooking and baking, and keep breast milk or formula as the main drink. Wait until 12 months to offer cow's milk as a drink, and practice open-cup sips with water, breast milk or formula before then.
12 months +
From 12 months, offer pasteurized whole milk in an open or straw cup with meals, about 16 to 24 ounces (2 to 3 cups) a day at most. Too much milk can fill toddlers up and lead to low iron, so offer it with food rather than all day.
Why it’s good
Cow's milk gives toddlers protein, calcium, vitamin D (when fortified), vitamin B12, potassium and fat for brain growth. Milk is low in iron and can lower iron absorption when toddlers drink a lot. Whole milk is usually recommended from 12–24 months unless your pediatrician suggests otherwise.
Safety notes
- No cow's milk as a main drink before 12 months. It lacks enough iron and other nutrients and can strain a baby's kidneys.
- Only serve pasteurized milk. Raw milk can carry E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella and other germs that are especially dangerous for young children.
- Limit milk to about 16 to 24 ounces a day for toddlers. More can crowd out iron-rich foods and contribute to iron deficiency anemia and constipation.
- Offer milk in an open or straw cup rather than a bottle after 12 months, and avoid bedtime bottles of milk, which can cause tooth decay.
- Plant milks like almond, oat or rice milk are not equal swaps for cow's milk. Fortified soy milk is the closest option; ask your pediatrician if your child cannot have dairy.
Introduce milk on its own, then keep it in
Cow's milk is one of the most common food allergies in babies, so introduce dairy through foods like yogurt and cheese from around 6 months and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, wheezing, or blood or mucus in stools. Lactose intolerance is different and uncommon in babies; talk to your pediatrician if you suspect either.
Cow's milk for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about cow's milk for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have cow's milk?
Babies can have cow's milk as a drink from 12 months. Before then, milk can be used in cooking and baking from about 6 months while breast milk or formula stays the main drink.
Can babies drink cow's milk before 12 months?
Babies should not drink cow's milk as a main drink before 12 months. Cow's milk is low in iron and does not have the balance of nutrients babies need, though small amounts in cooked foods are fine.
Is milk a choking hazard for babies?
Milk is not a choking hazard when served in an appropriate cup. Babies learning to use an open cup may cough or sputter at first, which is normal, so offer small amounts and sit with them.
Is milk a common allergen?
Yes, cow's milk is a common allergen and one of the Top 9 food allergens. Cow's milk protein allergy is one of the most common food allergies in babies.
How do I serve milk to a 6 month old?
To serve milk to a 6 month old, use pasteurized whole cow's milk in cooking, such as stirring it into smooth oatmeal or mashed potato served on a spoon. Do not replace breast milk or formula with cow's milk as a drink.
How much milk should a toddler drink?
A toddler should drink about 16 to 24 ounces, or 2 to 3 cups, of milk a day. Drinking more can reduce appetite for iron-rich foods and lead to low iron and constipation.
Should toddlers drink whole milk or low-fat milk?
Most toddlers should drink whole milk from 12–24 months for the fat they need for growth. After age 2, many children can switch to low-fat or skim milk, so check with your pediatrician.
How do I know if my baby has a milk allergy?
Signs of a cow's milk allergy include hives, vomiting, swelling, wheezing, eczema flares, or blood or mucus in stools. Call your pediatrician if you see these, and call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Is raw milk safe for babies?
No, raw milk is not safe for babies or toddlers. Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria that cause serious illness, so always choose pasteurized milk.
What milk can toddlers have if they cannot have dairy?
Unsweetened fortified soy milk is the closest nutritional match to cow's milk for toddlers who cannot have dairy. Oat, rice and almond milks are much lower in protein, so ask your pediatrician or a dietitian for guidance.
The takeaway
- Babies can drink cow's milk from 12 months, but milk can be used in cooking and baking from about 6 months.
- From 12 months, offer pasteurized whole milk in an open or straw cup with meals, about 16 to 24 ounces (2 to 3 cups) a day at most.
- Choking risk is low. 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
- 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
- Preventing Listeria Infection 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
Track every new food in your baby’s passport
Track the first 100 foods and the Top 9 allergens. 7 days free.
More dairy foods for babies
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.