Prep warning
Sheep's milk is not suitable as a main drink before 12 months: like cow's milk it is not nutritionally complete for a baby and is low in iron. Small amounts cooked into a dish are fine from about 6 months. It is a dairy food and cross-reacts with cow's milk, so treat it as the milk allergen and introduce it carefully. Use only pasteurized sheep's milk.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Sheep's milk should not be your baby's main drink yet, but small amounts cooked into food are fine from around 6 months. Stir a little pasteurized sheep's milk into purées, cereal, or a white sauce, or use full-fat plain sheep's-milk yogurt. It is a dairy food and cross-reacts with cow's milk, so introduce it carefully and watch for a reaction.
A little cooked into purées or offered as full-fat plain yogurt. Not as a main drink.
9-12 months
Keep using pasteurized sheep's milk in cooking, such as porridge, mashed potato, or a soft cheese sauce, and offer plain full-fat sheep's-milk yogurt or soft sheep's-milk cheese. Breast milk or formula stays the main drink until 12 months.
Cooked into dishes, or as plain yogurt and soft cheese. Still not the main drink.
12-18 months
From 12 months whole pasteurized sheep's milk can be offered as a drink alongside meals, in a cup rather than a bottle. It is richer and higher in fat and protein than cow's milk, so offer it as part of a varied diet. Plain yogurt and cheese made from sheep's milk are good options too.
Offered in an open cup as a drink, or as yogurt and cheese; no cutting needed.
Key nutrients
Allergen information
Milk is a common allergen. Read Milk guidance
Common questions
When can my baby eat Sheep's milk?
Most babies can try Sheep's milk from around 6 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
Is Sheep's milk a choking hazard for babies?
Sheep's milk is considered a lower choking-risk food when served in age-appropriate sizes and textures. Follow the cut sizes above and always stay close during meals.
Is Sheep's milk a common allergen?
Sheep's milk contains Milk, one of the major food allergens. Offer a small amount the first few times and watch for a reaction — see the allergen notes above.
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.
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