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Can toddlers drink almond milk or other plant-based drinks?

Kelli Catana
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Everyone knows that milk plays an integral role in the diet of toddlers. Almost all cow’s milk has been fortified with calcium and vitamin D, crucial nutrients for your growing child. Milk, along with other fortified dairy products or soy beverages, helps toddlers grow strong bones and teeth. Still, some parents who are vegetarian or who have children who are allergic to cow’s milk have wondered if almond milk or other plant-based drinks are a good substitute for cow’s milk for toddlers. So, can toddlers have almond milk?

With the recent increase in the popularity of plant-based drinks and almond milk, parents have been confused as to whether their toddlers should be drinking these beverages instead of cow’s milk. If you’ve been curious about whether toddlers can drink almond milk or other plant-based drinks, this should help clear up any confusion.

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Getty Images / pilotL39

Why is milk so important?

Cow’s milk shouldn’t be introduced into your child’s diet until he reaches his first birthday. Prior to that, he should be drinking breastmilk or formula exclusively. As the American Academy of Pediatrics notes, cow’s milk can be too harsh on an infant’s digestive system so they recommend waiting until after the first birthday to make the switch from breast or formula feeding to whole milk. There can’t be any denying the importance milk plays in a child’s development: as per the CDC, pasteurized cow’s milk contains both vitamin D and calcium which are important in aiding in the growth of healthy, strong bones and teeth.

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Can toddlers have almond milk?

Almond milk has become increasingly popular as a milk-alternative beverage, but the reviews are mixed on the benefits of giving it to your toddler. Lots of families prefer almond milk over cow’s milk for a variety of reasons, including allergies, sensitivities, diet, and personal preferences. Toddlers can safely drink almond milk but many experts are concerned that it doesn’t provide the required vitamins and calcium that cow’s milk does. Healthline warns that “although almond milk has vitamins A and D, it’s relatively low in protein and calcium, as compared to cow milk or breast milk.”

There’s also the issue of added sugars. There are brands of almond milk that contain added sugar, which parents should note before giving it to their toddler, as she doesn’t need to be consuming extra sugar. The good news is that there are almond milk options available that don’t contain added sugar and are fortified with calcium. That makes it a good alternative to cow’s milk and parents just need to be vigilant and read labels when selecting which brand to purchase.

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Other plant-based drinks

On the other hand, experts do not advise children under the age of five to drink plant-based drinks such as milk made from rice, coconut, oats, hemp, or other blends. In 2019, national guidelines advised against giving plant-based drinks to children under age five because they were said to lack the key nutrients toddlers need to grow and develop. “In the last five to 10 years there has been an explosion of interest in plant-based milk. More and more parents are turning to them for a variety of reasons and there’s a misconception that they are equal somehow to cow or dairy milk, but that’s just not the case,” Megan Lott, deputy director of the Healthy Eating Research explained to CNN. Again, the lack of vitamin D and calcium and the possibility of added sugar are the cause of concern with plant-based drinks.

However, now that it’s almost 2022, there are many who claim that as long as you are buying fortified plant-based milk with no added sugar, it can be just as nutritious for toddlers as cow’s milk. Fortified soy milk can provide the same nutritional benefits as cow’s milk and there are so many other plant-based drink options available. In an article discussing the benefits of plant-based drinks for toddlers, The Globe and Mail notes that pea milk, made from yellow peas, is also a great alternative to cow’s milk as it contains 8 to 10 grams of protein per cup and is also fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D.

The bottom line: almond milk is suitable for toddlers as long as parents are doing their due diligence and ensuring they are fortified and don’t contain any added sugars.

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Kelli Catana
Kelli Catana
Contributor
Kelli is a freelance writer who has covered the world of entertainment, pop culture, parenting, and lifestyle for various…
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