Dairy for Infants & Toddlers

A nutritious diet is critical for healthy growth and development in early childhood.

Nutrition needs

Why nutrition matters in the first few years.

The first 12 months of life is the fastest growth period in a human’s life – a baby’s weight can triple by their first birthday.

Making sure your baby is fed properly is critical for normal growth and development.

Breastfeeding provides the healthiest start for babies as it provides an optimal balance of nutrition that cannot entirely be replicated through any other means of nutrition.

In fact, in Australia, it is recommended infants are exclusively breastfed until around six months of age and continue to 12 months and beyond for as long as the mother and child desire.

If a baby is not breastfed or partially breastfed, infant milk formulas should be used to replace breastmilk or alongside breastmilk to provide nutrition until 12 months of age.

The Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) state that at 6 months of age, your baby needs additional iron from food and is developmentally ready to take on the challenge of learning to eat.

Breast milk or formula, however, continues to be the main source of nutrition while your baby explores new foods. By about 12 months, your baby should be eating foods similar to those eaten by the whole family. This includes breads and cereals, fruit, vegetables, legumes, dairy foods, meat, fish and eggs.

Dairy and milk: when to introduce

When to introduce dairy foods to babies is a common concern among parents. Regular-fat yoghurt, cheese and custard can be introduced around the age of six months along with other solid foods. Regular-fat dairy products (compared to low-fat products) provide the extra energy babies need for growth.

Once you’ve safely introduced dairy and there’s no sign of allergic reaction, it’s important to keep including it regularly in your baby’s diet.

By regularly offering your infant allergenic foods (one to two times per week), you greatly reduce their risk of developing an allergy. Always speak to a healthcare professional for personalised advice on allergens.

Using milk before 12 months

Milk should not be given as the main drink to infants under 12 months of age but small amounts can be used when making solid foods like cereals and custards for babies aged around six months.

Introducing milk as a drink

Regular-fat milk may be introduced at around 12 months of age and continued as children get older. Low-fat and reduced-fat milks are not recommended for children under the age of two. Either regular or reduced-fat varieties of milk can be given to children over the age of two.

How much dairy do toddlers need?

Toddlers aged 1-2 years need 1 to 1 ½ serves of dairy a day to meet their nutritional requirements.
Toddlers aged 2-3 need 1½ serves of dairy a day to meet their nutritional requirements.

What counts as one serve of dairy?

1 cup (250mL) milk
¾ cup (200g) of yoghurt
2 slices (40g) cheese.