Dairy can be introduced to your baby from six months and I have previously written about how you might add this food group to your baby. Check out my advice blog on Introducing Dairy to your Weaning baby. Offering yoghurt and which type of yoghurt is a frequent question on my Weaning Wednesday Q&A each Wednesday over on our Instagram channel.
Types of Yoghurt and which one might be best for your baby:
Plain Natural Yoghurt Full Fat
This is the best type to offer to your baby. Plain and not sweetened. It's best to add in your own fruit when serving yoghurt to baby either by adding in puréed or mashed fruit.
Full fat is always the best option for your baby or toddler because young children, especially those under the age of 2, need the energy provided by fat.
Check out some of my recipes using full fat yoghurt.
Plum and Ginger Yoghurt: This naturally sweet plum and ginger yoghurt recipe is perfect for the whole family, including your weaning baby. It is great as a delicious healthy snack at home or on the go, and makes a great topping for Muesli or Homemade Pancakes! This 10-minute recipe makes 3 baby portions.
Frozen Yoghurt Fruit bark: This yummy frozen treat is a fun and refreshing snack for kids and adults alike. Quick and simple, they are a great healthy alternative to ice cream and my girls loved helping me make them. We made a big batch to keep for warmer days. This versatile recipe can be adapted by puréeing the fruit and adding to the yoghurt mix.
Greek Yoghurt
The Greek yoghurt on our shelves is usually a Greek ‘style’ yoghurt and so its a natural yoghurt that has a more creamy texture. However, it tends to be high in protein and isn’t recommended for your baby but can be included in recipes like hummus.
Baby Fromage Frais
Advertised usually as sugar free they are not technically sugar free because the natural fruits ferment and so they can often contain as high as 14g per 100g. Remember a product should be 5g per 100g if it is to be considered a low sugar option. This is also usually a Fromage Frais ‘style’ rather then actually Fromage Frais and so you are paying a lot more for something you can prepare yourself using natural yoghurt and adding in some fruit.
Kids Yoghurts
It's important to remember that if the yoghurt contains fruit (even a natural source) it will be high in sugar usually above 10g. Again the best option is to make it yourself. We don’t always have the time so I would suggest you limit these to one per day. Always read the label when choosing there are some yoghurts on the market targeted at children with a very high amount of sugar.
Key Considerations:
- Texture - if you are choosing a yoghurt with added fruit make sure your baby is able to manage the chunks.
- Sugar content - check to see the sugar content per 100g. A rule of thumb is anything above 5g is high in sugar but for Yoghurt there will be sugars naturally present in the plain yogurts usually around 5-6g/100g.
- Kids yoghurts - remember although the packaging looks cute it's not always the best option. Make your own using natural yoghurt and store in our Weaning portion pots for out and about.
Our Weaning Advice page provides information and advice on weaning your baby. It includes recipes, tips, and articles on a variety of topics related to weaning, such as introducing finger food, adding herbs and spices to baby food, and healthy snacks for your baby, and lots more
