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Learn moreMilk (Cow)
Dairy
Age Suggestion
12 months
Iron-Rich
No
Common Allergen
Yes
Warning
Compared to breast milk or formula, cow’s milk is nutritionally incomplete, which means that it does not provide all the nutrients babies need to thrive, and the digestive systems of babies may not well tolerate cow milk protein in large quantities. For these reasons, refrain from serving cow’s milk as a beverage until after a baby’s first birthday. Incorporating small amounts of cow milk as an ingredient in solid food (such as in oatmeal) however is fine.
When can babies have cow's milk?
Cow’s milk may be introduced as an ingredient in solid food as soon as baby is ready to start solids, but wait until around the first birthday to offer milk as a drink. A small sip is fine, but drinking milk takes away room in the belly from breast milk and formula, which are baby’s main sources of nutrition through the first year.
There are thousands of mammal species on our planet, all of which produce milk to feed their young. Only a handful of these species have been domesticated and their milk used as a regular part of the human diet, the most common of which is the cow. Human consumption of cow milk is an ancient practice, but more recently, industrialization has affected the dairy industry both positively—making milk more widely and cheaply available—and negatively in the diversity and lifestyle of dairy cattle.
How do you serve milk to babies?
Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.
4 months old +:
For most babies, allergen introduction can begin once they show all of the signs that they are ready to start solids, which is typically around 6 months of age. However, if your baby is at increased risk of food allergy, your doctor may recommend allergen introduction as early as 4 months of age. Start with a small amount (such as ¼ teaspoon) of food containing milk, such as yogurt, and gradually increase the quantity offered as long as baby shows no symptoms of an allergic reaction. Once milk is successfully introduced, offer it in solid food meals regularly (ideally twice a week) to help prevent a milk allergy from developing. Subscribe to the Solid Starts App for step-by-step guidance, including quantities, schedules, and answers to common questions.
6 to 10 months old:
To introduce cow’s milk, offer a very small portion of food containing milk, such as yogurt, on a spoon or your fingertip. Gradually increase the quantity offered as long as your baby shows no symptoms of an allergic reaction. Subscribe to the Solid Starts App for step-by-step guidance, including quantities, schedules, and answers to common questions.
Once cow’s milk is successfully introduced, keep food containing cow’s milk in the diet regularly (ideally twice a week) to help prevent allergies from developing. At this age, cow's milk may be added to age-appropriate foods like porridges or pancakes, but not served as a drink. Breast milk and formula are baby's main drinks to provide important nutrition in their first year of life.
11 months old:
At this age, it is okay to offer small sips of cow’s milk in an open cup to practice feeding skills and get baby used to the new taste of cow’s milk, if desired. That said, it is also completely fine to not serve cow’s milk as a drink and continue focusing on breast milk or formula.
12 months old +:
At this age, cow's milk may be offered as a drink. Some children love drinking milk, so aim to keep milk intake at or below 16 oz (~480 mL) per day so that the child has an appetite for a variety of other nourishing foods. If the child doesn’t like to drink milk or your family doesn’t serve it, don’t stress: it’s not necessary to offer cow's milk as a drink, as the nutrients in cow's milk can be found in many foods, such as yogurt, cheese, dark leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. That said, keeping food containing cow’s milk in the diet regularly (ideally twice a week) helps prevent cow’s milk allergy from developing.
24 months old +:
Offer cow’s milk as a drink, as desired, and continue to serve cow’s milk in the form of foods like yogurt and cheese. Some children love drinking milk, so aim to keep milk intake at or below 20 oz (~600 mL) per day, so the child has an appetite for a variety of other nourishing foods. If the child doesn’t like to drink milk or your family doesn’t serve it, don’t stress: it’s not necessary to offer cow's milk as a drink, as the nutrients in cow's milk can be found in many foods, such as yogurt, cheese, dark leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. That said, keeping food containing cow’s milk in the diet regularly (ideally twice a week) helps prevent cow’s milk allergy from developing.
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Is milk a choking hazard for babies?
No. Milk presents a low risk when safely prepared for a child’s age and developmental ability, though, in theory, an individual could choke on any food. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve milk in an age-appropriate way as described in How to Serve. As always, create a safe eating environment and stay within reach of baby during meals.
Learn the signs of choking and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.
Is milk a common allergen?
Yes, cow’s milk is a common allergen. Dairy products from other animals such as sheep, goat, and buffalo may provoke similar allergic reactions to cow’s milk dairy products. The good news: milk allergy often gets better over time, and the majority of children with milk allergy outgrow it before reaching adulthood. Even among children who are not yet able to drink cow’s milk, around 75% are able to tolerate milk that has been fully baked into a cake or muffin.
Although most babies will never experience an allergic reaction to food, delaying introduction to common food allergens like cow’s milk may actually increase the risk of an allergy developing. However, introducing food containing milk early in infancy and serving it regularly, including through the toddler years, can help prevent a milk allergy from developing.
Babies who drink a standard infant formula (not hydrolyzed or elemental) containing cow’s milk are already being exposed to cow’s milk as an allergen. However, babies who are breastfed or drinking a non-dairy or elemental formula do need to introduce milk.
For most babies, common allergens such as milk can typically be introduced at home as soon as baby is developmentally ready to begin solids. Start with a small amount prepared in an age-appropriate way in solid food. Learn more in How to Serve. For step-by-step guidance on how to safely introduce cow’s milk, subscribe to the Solid Starts App.
Babies with eczema or an existing allergy to another food are at increased risk of developing a milk allergy, especially if introduction is delayed. The early introduction of cow’s milk products (ideally beginning between 4 to 6 months of age) is especially important for these babies, even if they are not yet developmentally ready to self-feed.
If baby has known food allergies or severe eczema and is already 7 months of age or older, it’s not too late! However, consider consulting your doctor before introducing milk at home, as you may be advised to introduce the allergen under medical supervision for safety reasons.
How do I tell if my baby has CMPA?
Cow’s milk protein allergy (also known as CMPA) is a type of allergy to the proteins in milk, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Learn more about signs of CMPA in babies.
How do I know if my baby is lactose intolerant?
Lactose intolerance is uncommon in babies, toddlers, and younger children overall. However, sometimes babies and children can experience temporary lactose intolerance after gastrointestinal illness. Signs of lactose intolerance can include bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, and other discomfort. Talk to your doctor if you suspect your baby is experiencing lactose intolerance.
Is cow’s milk an FPIES trigger?
Milk is a recognized trigger for food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, also known as FPIES. FPIES is a delayed allergy to food protein which causes the sudden onset of repetitive vomiting and diarrhea to begin a few hours after ingestion. This is termed acute FPIES. Left untreated, the reaction can result in significant dehydration. When milk is in the diet regularly, FPIES can present as persistent reflux, weight loss, and failure to thrive—this is termed chronic FPIES. Symptoms generally improve with elimination of milk from the baby’s diet. Thankfully, like other forms of milk allergy, FPIES that presents early in life is generally outgrown during the toddler years.
Is milk healthy for babies?
Yes, although it does not offer the same complete nutrition that breast milk and formula do, so only use cow’s milk as an ingredient in solid food for babies. Hold off on milk as a drink until after baby’s first birthday, since breast milk and formula are the most important source of baby’s nutrition through the first year.
Milk is rich in protein, fat, and carbohydrates, all of which can play a supporting role in baby’s growth and development. It’s also rich in calcium, zinc, choline, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins A, B6, B12, and D. Together, these nutrients help support baby’s bone development; eye, skin, and immune health; energy, and more. Other milks from animals like sheep, goat, and buffalo milk are similarly nutritious as cow’s milk.
Is it safe for babies to have raw milk?
No. Babies have immature immune systems that are still developing, and raw milk can harbor bacteria and other contaminants that can increase the risk of foodborne illness, and babies are more likely to get very sick. Pasteurization–the process of heating a food to a certain temperature to kill bacteria–helps reduce the risk of foodborne illness and makes food safer to eat. For these reasons and more, many medical organizations recommend that all milk for human consumption should be pasteurized.
Our Team
Written by
Dr. Rachel Ruiz
MD, FAAP, CLC
Dr. Sakina Bajowala
MD, FAAAAI
Kim Grenawitzke
OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT
Venus Kalami
MNSP, RD, CSP
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