Prep warning
Use pasteurized buttermilk. It is fine in food from 6 months, but offer it as a drink only after 12 months, since it should not replace breast milk or formula before then.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Use pasteurized buttermilk in baked goods, pancakes, or porridge, or in marinades for meat. You can also stir it into mashed vegetables or offer it as a dip with finely chopped herbs.
An ingredient, not a drink yet. Mix into food or use as a dip.
9-12 months
Keep using pasteurized buttermilk as an ingredient in baked goods, pancakes, porridge, marinades, or dips. Still serve it in food rather than as a drink.
Still an ingredient. Hold off on offering it as a drink.
12-18 months
Now it's fine to offer buttermilk both as an ingredient in meals and as a drink. When offering as a drink, serve a small amount in an open cup.
A small amount in an open cup, or mixed into meals.
Key nutrients
Allergen information
Milk is a common allergen. Read Milk guidance
Common questions
When can my baby eat buttermilk?
Most babies can try buttermilk from around 6 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
Track buttermilk and every first food in nappi
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