What kinds of dairy products can I give my 10 month old? Can he have cheese and cottage cheese?
Hi M.,my twins just turned 10 months today and ive heard that yo-baby yogurt is very good and organic. Cant wait to have thm try it.
The typical "starter" dairy product for most kids is yogurt, as the cultures improve digestibility. If you have a history of food allergies in your family, it may be best to hold off until at least 12m old.
A great resource on feeding guidelines is Dr Sears "The Baby Book". And of course, your ped can answer questions, too.
My son started dairy when he was 6 months old. He is now 18 years old and has no allergies. I think each child is different and you need to decide.
With my doctor's blessing, we began giving my son yogurt, string cheese and some "cheese toast" when he was around 9 months old. Just be careful - too many dairy products can cause constipation, so make sure he's not eating too much of one thing. At that age, it can be hard to get a good amount of fiber into him to balance things out. It seems like all kids love cheese! It can also be a little salty so offer him some water during meals, too. Good luck!
Whole fat yogurt is best, if you do give cheese, make sure it is organic or free from hormones, mild and white (typically use dyes for "yellow" cheese). Do hold off on cottage cheese and whole milk until he is 12m old, they do not build their digestive enzymes to digest the milk molecules until 11m and 3wks (so there is a reason!!)
Good Luck,
J. W. MPH
Wellness Educator/Lifestyle and Wellness Coach
