Almond milk
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- yes
- Iron
- low
In food only, as a drink after 12 months
Contains allergens
Each new allergen is offered on its own and watched for two hours. Our allergen introduction guide is available in Turkish for now.
When can babies eat almond milk?
Almond milk can go into your baby's solid foods as an ingredient once baby is ready for solids. Do not give it as a drink before the first birthday, because it cannot stand in for breast milk or formula.
Almond milk keeps well and has a mild taste. Today it is popular as a dairy-free choice.
Some plant protein, iron and healthy fats come with it. Added calcium, vitamin D and B12 appear in fortified products. It cannot match the complete nutrition of breast milk or formula.
Age note
The source suggests 12 months for drinking it. Using it as an ingredient in food is possible from 6 months.
How do you prepare almond milk for babies?
Between 6 and 11 months, use almond milk only inside foods such as porridge and purées. Between 11 and 12 months, small sips from an open cup are fine for practicing drinking skills. Offering no milk at all is perfectly acceptable too.
After 12 months it can be a drink. Drinking milk is not required, since the same nutrients come from many other foods. If your child drinks plenty of almond milk, pick a fortified one.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · How to use as an ingredientmash
Stir almond milk into foods such as porridge or mashed vegetables. Do not offer it as a drink. Breast milk or formula stays the main drink in the first year.
12 months
12 months · How to serve as a drinkmash
Offer it in small amounts in an open cup. Keep daily milk to about 480 ml (16 oz) or less so the child stays hungry for other nourishing foods. If your child drinks a lot, pick a product fortified with calcium and vitamin D.
Is almond milk a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
As a liquid it carries a low choking risk. Serve it in a way that suits the age, in an open cup, and stay close while baby drinks.
Almond milk is a liquid, so the choking risk is low. Still, any food can cause choking in theory. Prepare it in an age-suited way and stay near while your baby eats or drinks.
Is almond milk a common allergen?
Almond milk is made from almonds, a common allergen. Most products hold very little allergenic protein, so almond milk is not enough to introduce almond or to keep up exposure after an allergy has been ruled out. Use almond butter or finely ground almond for that purpose.
If your baby has severe eczema, has had an allergic reaction, or you suspect a nut allergy, talk to your doctor before offering it.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about almond milk
Can almond milk replace breast milk or formula?
No. It lacks the complete nutrition a growing baby gets from breast milk and formula. In the first year, use it only as an ingredient in foods.
How much almond milk can a toddler drink?
After 12 months, keep total daily milk at about 480 ml (16 oz) or less so your child stays hungry for other nourishing foods.
Is almond milk enough to introduce almond?
No. Most almond milk has very little allergenic protein. Use almond butter or finely ground almond to introduce it.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- NHS. (n.d.). Feeding guidelines for infants and young toddlers.
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
The Lokmini app
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com