Best Yogurt for Babies & Toddlers

Yogurt for Babies and Toddlers

Wondering what the best yogurt for your baby is and at what age you can serve it? Confused with all of the options in the grocery store?

I did all the research and made this in-depth guide just for you! 😘

In this post we will cover what to look for in yogurt for baby, a round-up of our favorite brands, the difference between Greek and plain yogurt, a list of dairy-free options, when you can safely introduce yogurt to your baby, how to serve to them as a solid food for baby-led weaning, plus 9 great ways to flavor plain yogurt for your baby and toddler, and so much more!

Phew, that sounds like a ton of info 😰, but I promise I made it as concise and complete as possible… cuz I know you have better things to do than spending hours reading about yogurt.

If you are looking for more easy and healthy recipes for your little one, then be sure to check out my 3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes, Spinach Waffles, Eggs for Baby – 10 Ways, or this delicious Homemade Strawberry Applesauce. You can also find more recipes and information in my best-selling cookbook Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.

What to Look for in a Yogurt for Baby

When shopping for yogurt for your baby, the ingredient list should be pretty short:

• made with whole milk
• plain or no added sugar
• has a variety of live active cultures
• organic, if possible

Whole Milk (Full-Fat)

Whole milk is important for babies because they need healthy fats to develop muscles and bones. Milk is also one of the most important nutrients for brain development. Babies and toddlers need about 31-35 grams of fat a day (30-40% of total calories), depending on activity level, and most of it comes from healthy fats.

Live Active Cultures

Cultures commonly used in yogurts are L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, L. acidophilus, Bifidus, L. casei, and L. rhamnosus. These live active cultures do two things: They make the milk turn into yogurt during the fermentation process, and they also provide the gut with probiotics. Probiotics, or good bacteria, are the good guys helping your baby maintain a healthy gut.

Plain or Unsweetened

Always opt for plain or unsweetened yogurt for your baby and toddlers. Sweetened yogurt can have up to 4 teaspoons of added cane sugar in it, which is way too much for babies and toddlers. You can find 9 fun ways to naturally flavor yogurt below.

Organic (if possible)

Yogurt made from organic milk will be free of synthetic pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs, which may be potentially harmful to your baby. Generally, the price difference between organic yogurt vs. standard yogurt isn’t huge — you’ll get an average of $0.14 for an ounce of standard yogurt vs. $0.17 for an ounce of organic yogurt. With all that said, you need to do what’s right for your family and budget.

Favorite Brands

Here are some of my favorite brands of yogurt that you can easily find at almost any supermarket. All yogurts taste slightly different, so if your baby doesn’t like one yogurt, you can easily switch to another brand.

Organic Varieties

• Nancy’s, Organic Plain Whole Milk Yogurt
• Straus Family Creamery, Plain Yogurt
• Maple Hill Creamery, Organic Cream on Top Yogurt
• Stonyfield Organic, Whole Milk Plain Yogurt
• Wallaby Organic, Whole Milk Greek Yogurt

Other Varieties

• Siggi’s Whole-Milk Icelandic Yogurt, Plain
• Redwood Hill Goat Milk Yogurt, Plain
• Chobani Whole Milk Greek Yogurt

Greek vs. Plain yogurt

Both Greek and standard yogurts are excellent options for your baby and toddlers.

Greek yogurt is strained three times, so it has more protein and a thicker consistency. It also has a more sour taste, which can sometimes be a bit much for some babies or toddlers.

On the other hand, standard yogurt is not typically strained, so it has less protein and a thinner texture. The flavor of standard yogurt is definitely less tart than any Greek variety.

While we generally think that more protein will be better, for young babies and toddlers with still-developing digestive tracts, more protein might be too much for them. Plus, the slightly acidic flavor can be off-putting to some babies and toddlers.

I recommend starting with the standard yogurt and adding Greek yogurt to the menu once your baby is comfortable with yogurt.

Greek yogurt is great:

• for some babies and toddlers
• mixed into purees for babies
• mixed into applesauce for toddlers
• spooned into reusable pouches (makes them thicker, so they don’t drip as much)
• for yogurt parfaits
• for baking

Standard yogurt is great:

• for all babies and toddlers without a dairy allergy
• for smoothies
• mixed into purees for babies
• mixed into applesauce for toddlers
• for baking
• picky eaters

Dairy-Free Options

Plant-based yogurts have grown in popularity in the last couple of years, and I am a huge supporter of serving them to babies, regardless if the baby has a dairy allergy or not. Serving almond, oat, and coconut yogurts to babies will help them gain a wide range of nutrients as well as expand their taste buds. Just like whole milk yogurts, you are looking for dairy-free yogurts that are full of healthy fats (no skim or fat-free) and unsweetened. However, dairy-free yogurts may not provide some of the essential nutrients that dairy varieties provide, like protein and calcium, so make sure your baby is getting those nutrients elsewhere, or the yogurt is fortified. 

Favorite dairy-free brands

• Forager Project, Organic Dairy-Free Unsweetened Plain Cashewmilk Yogurt Alternative
• Kite Hill Yogurt, Unsweetened
• Nancy’s Oatmilk Non-Dairy Yogurt Plain
• So Delicious Coconutmilk Yogurt Alternative, Unsweetened Plain

Yogurt for Baby-Led Weaning

Yogurt is still an excellent first food for baby-led weaning. You can simply load up a spoon (this or this one are two of my favorites) and hand the spoon with the yogurt to your baby for them to feed themselves. As they get older, you can place the yogurt into a bowl or sectioned plate and hand your baby the spoon to load and feed themselves.

9 Great Ways to Flavor Plain Yogurt

Here are 9 delicious and fun ways to flavor plain yogurt for both babies and toddlers:

Peanut, Almond, or Seed Butter

Adding nut or seed butter into the yogurt does not only enrich the yogurt with a fun, nutty taste, but it is also a way to gently expose your baby to nuts (read more here about introducing nuts to your baby). You can add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey for a sweeter meal for toddlers over the age of one.

Veggie or Fruit Puree

You can stir in any homemade or store-bought puree into yogurt, which means you literally have endless options on how to flavor plain yogurt. Don’t be afraid to play around and find out what flavor combo your baby likes best!

Applesauce

You can use unsweetened applesauce or an apple puree to give plain yogurt a sweet, fruity taste without adding sugar or honey. Both of my kids love this option.

Mashed Banana and a Pinch of Cinnamon

This one is SO good; it could pass as a dessert. Simply mash some ripe banana, add a pinch of cinnamon, and mix a little yogurt for a luscious option.

Mashed Berries

I have found that using thawed frozen berries gives the yogurt a sweet taste without the extra sugar. I usually thaw my berries and then smash them on a cutting board with the back of a fork before adding them to yogurt. You can use any frozen fruit you have on hand — strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, cherries, kiwi, pineapple, raspberries, etc.

Cacao Powder

This one is pleasantly and irresistibly delicious. You can even add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey for toddlers over the age of one, and call it a dessert. Note that Cacao powder is different than cocoa powder. Cacao powder isn’t as refined and is considered a superfood. It is high in antioxidants and flavonoids, which makes it an excellent choice for boosting brain functions. Cacao is also higher in protein, fiber, magnesium, and iron than plain unsweetened cocoa powder. However, if cacao isn’t an option, cocoa will also work; just make sure it’s unsweetened.

Avocado

Adding avocado is a fun, appetizing way to amp up the flavor of plain yogurt. You can also serve this combo on a piece of toast sticks.

Oat Baby Cereal

This is an ideal option for babies that love oat cereal. Adding plain whole milk to yogurts makes the cereal even more nutritious with essential fats and nutrients. I also recommend adding a pinch of cinnamon or cloves to make the dish taste more distinct.

Orange Juice and Vanilla

Using freshly squeezed oranges will boost the vitamin C and add a citrus twist to the yogurt. Vanilla extract brings out the flavor of orange juice, but it is optional.

Storage

You can store plain or mixed yogurt (like the recipes above) in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can freeze yogurt in air-tight containers or freezer trays for up to 2 months.

Favorite Recipes

Here are some more favorite recipes on how to serve yogurt to your baby and toddler.