Strained yogurt
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- yes
- Iron
- low
Milk allergen · fermented · thick texture
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 strained yogurt?
When can babies have strained yogurt?
Strained yogurt can be offered once baby is ready for solids, from about 6 months. Choose plain, unsweetened yogurt made from pasteurized milk. The NHS lists full-fat, plain or unsweetened yogurts as a good choice because they have no added sugar.
What is it and why is it useful?
Strained yogurt is yogurt that has had its watery whey drained off. In Turkey it is also called torba or kese yogurt. Dairy foods like yogurt provide protein and calcium. The thick texture stays on a spoon, which helps baby feed themselves.
How do you prepare strained yogurt for babies?
Preparation basics
Choose plain, unsweetened strained yogurt. Do not add salt or honey. Honey is not given in any form before 12 months. WHO advises limiting free sugars and salt for children aged 6 to 23 months. Fruit-flavored ready-made yogurts contain sugar, so stir mashed fresh fruit into plain yogurt instead.
Serve on a preloaded spoon, mix into a purée or use as a dip. Fat and salt content differ between products. Check the label on packaged yogurt.
Use in Turkish cooking
Salt-free and garlic-free cacık, or haydari-style mixes with mashed vegetables, are fine after 12 months. Set aside a separate unsalted portion for your baby before salting the family's yogurt dishes.
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.
Prep time: 5 min
6 months
6 months · How to prepare as a puréemash
Offer plain, unsweetened strained yogurt made from pasteurized milk on a preloaded spoon, or stir it into fruit and vegetable purées. The thick texture also works for dipping age-appropriate foods. Cow's milk protein is a new allergen, so give a small amount the first time, in the morning.
9 months
9 months · How to servemash
Keep serving strained yogurt on a spoon or as a dip. The thick texture makes it easier for baby to self-feed with their own spoon. Flavored ready-made yogurts contain sugar, so mash fruit into plain strained yogurt instead.
12 months
12 months · How to servemash
Serve strained yogurt on its own, in salt-free cacık, or in vegetable mixes similar to haydari. Cow's milk as a drink starts after 12 months. Yogurt and cheese are suitable from 6 months, independent of that.
Is strained yogurt a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Strained yogurt is soft and smooth, so the choking risk is low. Hard or round foods served with it can be risky. Stay with your baby during meals.
Choking risk
Strained yogurt is soft and smooth, so the choking risk is low. The risk comes from foods served with it. Whole grapes, hard raw vegetables and nuts must be prepared in an age-appropriate way. The CDC advises seating your baby upright and watching them during meals.
Is strained yogurt a common allergen?
Allergen status
Strained yogurt contains the cow's milk allergen. The NHS advises introducing cow's milk, in cooking or mixed with other foods, from about 6 months, one allergen at a time and in very small amounts. If tolerated, it becomes part of the regular diet.
Give it in the morning the first time and watch through the day. Yogurt and cheese are fine from 6 months. Cow's milk as a main drink starts after 12 months.
Signs of a reaction
Diarrhea, vomiting, cough, wheezing, throat swelling, rashes and eye irritation can be signs of an allergic reaction. Throat swelling or trouble breathing is an emergency. If your baby has eczema or there is a family history of food allergy, talk to your doctor before introducing it.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about strained yogurt
Is strained yogurt different from regular yogurt?
Strained yogurt is thicker because the whey has been drained. Both can be given from 6 months if they are plain, unsweetened and made from pasteurized milk. The thick texture makes it easier for babies to use a spoon on their own.
Can yogurt replace milk feeds?
No. Yogurt is a complementary food. Breast milk or formula remains the main milk source between 6 and 12 months. Cow's milk as a main drink starts after 12 months.
Can I sweeten it with honey or molasses?
No. Honey is not given before 12 months. WHO advises limiting free sugars between 6 and 23 months. Use mashed fresh fruit to sweeten instead.
What should I do if I suspect a milk allergy?
If you see signs of a reaction, stop the yogurt and talk to your doctor. Call emergency services for throat swelling or breathing trouble. For babies with eczema, ask a health professional before introducing 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.). Preparing food safely for babies.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- Halken S, Muraro A, de Silva D, Khaleva E, Angier E, Arasi S, et al. (2021). EAACI guideline: Preventing the development of food allergy in infants and young children (2020 update). European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. doi:10.1111/pai.13496
- Türkiye Ulusal Alerji ve Klinik İmmünoloji Derneği. (n.d.). Besin Alerjisi, öncelikli 10 besin.
- NHS Best Start in Life. (n.d.). 6 months: Feeding your baby.
- NHS. (n.d.). Food allergies (weaning).
- NHS. (n.d.). Foods to avoid giving babies and young children.
- T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı, Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü. (2022). Türkiye Beslenme Rehberi (TÜBER) 2022, anne sütü ve tamamlayıcı beslenme sunumu.
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.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com