The short answer
Plain, unsweetened yogurt, suitable pasteurized cheese, and pasteurized whole cow’s milk can be part of a varied diet from 12 months. Offer milk in a cup with meals or snacks, and avoid letting dairy drinks displace other foods. Individual advice may be needed for allergies, growth concerns, or a very restricted diet.
In this guide · 12 sections
Keep in mind
- Yogurt and cheese are foods; milk is a drink, and they need not be treated as interchangeable.
- Choose pasteurized, plain products without added sugar; compare salt in cheese.
- Offer milk at routine times so it does not crowd out meals and other food groups.
Yogurt, cheese, and milk are not the same thing
Milk is a drink, while yogurt and cheese are foods that can be eaten with a spoon, by hand, or as part of a family meal. They all belong to the dairy group but play different roles at the table.
At 13 to 18 months, the aim is a varied diet that also includes foods such as vegetables, fruit, grains, eggs, meat, fish, or beans. Dairy should fit alongside these foods rather than becoming the whole meal.
How can you serve yogurt?
Plain, pasteurized yogurt is a practical option. Serve it on its own, mix it with fruit, or offer it alongside a family meal.
Check the label on flavored or fruit yogurts because they may contain added sugar. If your child does not like plain yogurt at first, try it again another day or pair it with a familiar food instead of adding sugar.
How can you serve cheese?
Offer pasteurized cheese in small pieces your child can manage, or add it to a meal. Choose a texture that matches your child’s chewing skills rather than giving a large, hard piece.
Look for pasteurization and compare salt on the label; a ‘kids’ product’ label does not guarantee that a cheese is low in salt. A suitable cheese already used by the family may be a convenient choice.
When and how can you offer milk?
After 12 months, plain, unsweetened, pasteurized whole cow’s milk can be offered in a cup. It can go with a meal or at a regular snack time.
A toddler does not have to drink a large amount of milk for dairy to be part of the diet. Yogurt and cheese also provide dairy foods, and appetite varies from one child to another.
Why is whole milk usually suggested?
Young children need dietary fat for growth and development. US CDC guidance includes plain whole cow’s milk as an option after 12 months.
This is general guidance, not a rule for every child. Ask your child’s clinician about milk type if there are growth or weight concerns, or a family history that affects the recommendation.
Why do pasteurization and added sugar matter?
Raw or unpasteurized milk and dairy products can carry harmful germs. Choose products made with pasteurized milk, including when preparing yogurt at home.
Plain products are a useful starting point. CDC guidance advises avoiding added sugars for children younger than 24 months, so choose unsweetened yogurt and milk rather than sweetened or flavored versions.
Dairy should not replace meals
Yogurt, cheese, and milk can contribute useful nutrients, but toddlers also need chances to eat foods from other groups. Frequent milk drinks or replacing each refused meal with milk can reduce interest in other foods.
Look at the pattern over several days: Is your child offered a range of foods? Do they come to meals with some appetite? How are growth and general health progressing? These questions give more context than one serving on one day.
What can you do today?
Review when dairy is offered. If your child has milk several times a day, consider offering yogurt or cheese at one eating occasion and milk in a cup at another.
When shopping, choose plain, unsweetened, pasteurized yogurt and milk, and compare salt in cheese. If a food is refused, offer it again another day in a different familiar way rather than pressuring your child at that meal.
When should you seek professional advice?
If hives, significant swelling, vomiting, wheezing, or breathing problems occur after dairy, contact a clinician before offering it again. A known milk allergy or another medical condition needs an individual plan.
Ask a pediatric clinician or dietitian for help if your child wants almost only milk, has persistently limited food choices, or you are concerned about feeding or growth. General advice cannot replace care tailored to your child.
When to seek support
Some signs need emergency help; other concerns can be discussed with your child’s healthcare team.
- Seek medical advice before offering dairy again after a suspected allergic reaction.
- Get support if dairy or milk drinks make up nearly all your child’s diet or growth is a concern.
- Call local emergency services for breathing difficulty or a rapidly worsening severe allergic reaction.
Sources used for this guide
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — CDC – Foods and Drinks to Encourage – 1 Nisan 2026
- NHS — What to feed young children
- NHS — Foods to Avoid Giving Babies and Young Children
English editorial review:
The English text and regional guidance have been checked editorially. This is not an individual clinical assessment.
Luluna provides general parenting information. It does not diagnose conditions or replace your child’s healthcare professional.
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