What kind of yogurt is best for a baby?

Plain, unsweetened, full-fat yogurt made from pasteurised milk. Fat matters for babies, and plain yogurt lets you control sweetness by mashing in fruit yourself. Greek-style plain yogurt is fine and is thicker, which some babies handle more easily.

How much sugar is in baby yogurt pots?

It varies widely. Pots aimed at babies and toddlers are often flavoured with fruit purée, juice concentrate, or added sugar, and the total sugars line includes both the natural milk sugar and anything added. Read the ingredient list: if a sweetener appears before the fruit, that pot is sweeter than it looks.

Can yogurt be a baby's first allergen exposure to dairy?

Yes, yogurt is often how dairy is first introduced in solid form. Offer it on its own, early in the day, in a small amount, and watch for a reaction. If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, speak to your paediatrician before introducing dairy.

Is honey-flavoured yogurt safe for a baby under one?

No. Honey should not be given to babies under twelve months because of the risk of infant botulism, and that includes honey used as an ingredient in a flavoured yogurt.

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Nutrition

When can babies have yogurt?

Short answer: from around six months, once solids have started, as long as it is plain, full-fat, and made with pasteurised milk. Yogurt is not the same as cow's milk as a drink, which usually waits until twelve months. The tricky part is not the age — it is how much sugar sits in the pots marketed at babies.

When can babies have yogurt?

Babies can usually start plain, pasteurised, whole-milk yogurt at around 6 months, at the same time as other solid foods. Yogurt is fine well before cow's milk as a drink, which waits until 12 months, because the fermentation and protein structure make it easier to handle.

Choose plain full-fat pasteurised yogurt; the fat matters for growth under two.
Flavoured baby yogurt pots can carry several teaspoons of added sugar per pot.
Yogurt counts as introducing dairy, one of the major allergens, so offer a small amount at home earlier in the day.
Cow's milk as a main drink still waits until 12 months.

What to pick in the chiller

A quick read of the six kinds of yogurt you will actually meet.

Yogurt	Verdict	Why
Plain full-fat yogurt	Best everyday choice	No added sugar, useful fat, easy to mix with fruit you choose.
Plain Greek yogurt	Good	Thicker and higher in protein; still unsweetened.
Baby or toddler fruit pots	Check the panel	Often sweetened with purée, concentrate, or sugar.
Low-fat or diet yogurt	Not for under-twos	Babies need the fat; low-fat versions often add sweeteners.
Honey-flavoured yogurt	Avoid under 12 months	Honey carries an infant botulism risk.
Unpasteurised or raw-milk yogurt	Avoid	Risk of listeria and other pathogens for infants.

Introducing it well

Start small and plain

A teaspoon or two of plain yogurt on its own is enough for a first try. Mash in fruit later, once you know dairy suits your baby.

Sweetness adds up quietly

Fruit purée, juice concentrate, cane sugar, and syrups all sweeten a pot without the word 'sugar' appearing first in the list.

Full fat until two

Fat supports growth and brain development in the first two years, so skip the low-fat pots aimed at adults.

Pasteurised, always

Check the pack says pasteurised, especially for artisan, farm-shop, or imported yogurts.

General guidance only, not medical advice. Dairy is a common allergen — talk to your paediatrician before introducing it if your baby has severe eczema, a known food allergy, or a strong family history of allergy.

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Keep reading

Frequently asked questions

When can babies have yogurt?: Most paediatric guidance places plain, pasteurised, full-fat yogurt among the foods you can offer from around six months, once your baby has started solids. That is different from cow's milk as a main drink, which is generally advised from twelve months. Check with your paediatrician if there is a family history of dairy allergy.
What kind of yogurt is best for a baby?: Plain, unsweetened, full-fat yogurt made from pasteurised milk. Fat matters for babies, and plain yogurt lets you control sweetness by mashing in fruit yourself. Greek-style plain yogurt is fine and is thicker, which some babies handle more easily.
How much sugar is in baby yogurt pots?: It varies widely. Pots aimed at babies and toddlers are often flavoured with fruit purée, juice concentrate, or added sugar, and the total sugars line includes both the natural milk sugar and anything added. Read the ingredient list: if a sweetener appears before the fruit, that pot is sweeter than it looks.
Can yogurt be a baby's first allergen exposure to dairy?: Yes, yogurt is often how dairy is first introduced in solid form. Offer it on its own, early in the day, in a small amount, and watch for a reaction. If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, speak to your paediatrician before introducing dairy.
Is honey-flavoured yogurt safe for a baby under one?: No. Honey should not be given to babies under twelve months because of the risk of infant botulism, and that includes honey used as an ingredient in a flavoured yogurt.