FirstNom
Dairy & eggs
Soy milk for babies
If dairy is out, fortified unsweetened soy milk is the closest plant drink to cow's milk — it is the only one with comparable protein.
When can babies have soy milk?
In cooking from around 6 months. As a main drink from 12 months, fortified and unsweetened. Soy infant formula is a different product and should only be used on a clinician's advice.
How do you serve soy milk to a baby?
The shape is what makes a food safe, and it changes as your baby’s grip and chewing change. Find your baby’s age band.
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6–8 months
As a cooking liquid in porridge, purées or sauces. Fortified and unsweetened.
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9–11 months
In cooking, or a small amount in a cup with a meal.
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12–18 months
As a main drink from 12 months, fortified and unsweetened.
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18–24 months
As the family drinks it.
Prep tip
Look for 'fortified with calcium and vitamin D' and 'unsweetened' on the carton. Organic soy milks in some markets are not fortified, which removes the main advantage.
Storage
Refrigerate after opening and use within five to seven days.
Is soy milk a choking hazard for babies?
No choking risk.
Whatever you serve, stay within arm’s reach, keep your baby upright in a supportive seat, and never let them eat in a moving car, buggy or carrier. Gagging is loud and normal. Choking is silent.
Is soy milk a common allergen?
Soy is one of the nine common allergens. If tofu or edamame has already gone down without a problem, soy is introduced. Note that some children with cow's milk protein allergy also react to soy, so it is not automatically a safe substitute — check with your pediatrician.
Is soy milk healthy for babies?
Soy milk carries around 3 g of protein per 100 ml, close to cow's milk, which is why it is the plant drink dietitians recommend when dairy has to go. Fortified versions also supply calcium, vitamin D and B12. Choose unsweetened, and full-fat where available.
| Protein | High |
|---|---|
| Calcium (if fortified) | High |
| Vitamin D (if fortified) | Good source |
| Vitamin B12 (if fortified) | Good source |
| Iron per serving | ~0.5 mg |
Common questions about soy milk
Is soy milk safe for babies?
As a food and cooking liquid from 6 months, yes. As a main drink from 12 months. As a replacement for infant formula, only soy-based infant formula under a clinician's direction.
What about the hormone concerns?
Food amounts of soy are not associated with hormonal effects in children in the available evidence, and soy is a dietary staple for infants across much of East Asia. Soy formula is a separate question for your pediatrician.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
Foods parents look at next
Beans & legumes
Tofu
A soy allergen introduction and a soft protein in one — firm tofu cuts into perfect baby strips.
Beans & legumes
Edamame
A whole-food soy introduction — squash the beans and never serve the pod.
Dairy & eggs
Oat milk
Fine in cooking, not a substitute for milk — the protein is not there.
Wait a while
Cow's milk as a drink
Not as a main drink before 12 months — but fine in food from 6 months.