Whole milk yogurt has fat, which babies need for proper brain development, according to the AAP, and it’s a good source of calcium and protein. Dr. Swanson recommends incorporating yogurt without any added sugar into a balanced diet of breast milk or formula, along with a range of fruits, vegetables, and meats (which can be replaced with other sources of protein, such as beans and lentils, if your family doesn’t eat meat).
If you feed your baby yogurt and she develops vomiting, a rash, excess gassiness, diarrhea, or blood or mucus in the stool, stop feeding it to her and consult your pediatrician, says Dr. Swanson; your child may have an allergy to protein in cow’s milk. According to the National Institutes of Health, cow’s milk allergies aren’t common — only 2 to 8 percent of babies have one — but it’s important to check with your child’s doctor anytime you notice these symptoms.
I plan to offer my baby plain yogurt with a little fruit or veggie puree stirred in to help mellow the flavor a bit. It took my oldest daughter a little time to learn to like the natural tang of plain yogurt, but now it’s a food that she likes so much she often asks to have it for dinner!
