How to serve, by age
6–11 mo (in cooking)
A splash of cow's milk to mix rice cereal, simmer congee or make a milky steamed egg is fine. Never serve it to drink at this age.
12 mo+
Whole plain milk can now step up to the main milk drink, within a balanced diet. Ask your pediatrician about daily amounts.
Choking risk: Low
No choking risk here. The watch-item is milk crowding out meals — do not let it fill the belly before food.
If choking ever happens: act immediately — call emergency services (911 in the US) and seek emergency care. Do not wait.
Allergens
Cow's-milk protein is one of the most common food allergens. Start with a small amount and watch; for a known allergy, ask your pediatrician about substitutes.
Common questions
- How long should formula continue?
- After age 1, whole milk can gradually take over formula's role; many families keep formula going instead. Neither is the only right answer — bring your baby's diet and growth to your pediatrician.
- Low-fat or skimmed milk?
- Toddler years call for whole milk: fat is an important energy source at this age.
Practical tips
- Plain milk with a one-word ingredient list — milk — is simplest.
- Flavored milk drinks are not milk — check the product type.
Sources
This page is general guidance assembled from the public sources above. It is not medical advice. For questions about your baby — including allergies, prematurity and any health condition — ask your pediatrician. See our medical disclaimer.