
Can be served at 6–18 months when prepared as described below. Fine to serve from 18 months, prepared as described below. Watch for: milk as a main drink. Low choking risk. Allergen risk is high (4/5): start with a small amount and watch for a reaction.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Prepare with care
Only if used in cooking or mixing with food, not as a drink
According to the NHS, plant-based milk alternatives must not be given as a drink before 12 months, but unsweetened varieties can be used in cooking and food preparation from 6 months.
At this age, cashew milk should not replace breastmilk or formula, but it can be used in small amounts (15-30 ml / 0.5-1 oz) to thin purees, oatmeal, or mashed foods as a flavor and texture enhancer. Always choose unsweetened and unflavored varieties. Pair with iron-rich ingredients like lentils or beef puree, and foods high in vitamin C to support iron absorption. Serve as part of a meal that includes diverse protein and healthy fats for optimal growth.
Prepare with care
Only if used in cooking or mixing with food, not as a drink
The NHS recommends not giving plant-based drinks as a beverage before 12 months; from 12 months, unsweetened calcium-fortified plant drinks can be offered as a drink.
Before 12 months, cashew milk should only be used in cooking or mixed into foods like oatmeal and purees, not served as a drink. From 12 months, unsweetened, calcium-fortified cashew milk can be offered as an occasional drink in small amounts (30-60 ml / 1-2 oz) in an open or straw cup with meals, or used in cereals and smoothies. It should not replace breast milk, whole cow's milk, or a varied diet.
Fine to serve
Suitable at this age with the usual preparation described below.
Your child can enjoy cashew milk as a plant-based drink, ideally as part of snacks or meals versus the primary beverage. Offer 60-120 ml / 2-4 oz as a serving, with unsweetened and fortified varieties preferred. Continue pairing with iron-rich foods, vitamin C, and healthy fats. Avoid excessive reliance on plant milks, and always supervise to ensure balanced nutrition alongside other food groups.
Dalo Solids
Dalo Solids gives you unlimited recipes, a weekly meal planner, allergen tracking, and AI meal ideas from a photo of your fridge.

Purée or baby-led weaning is the question parents agonise over, and the trial evidence says it barely matters. Choking, allergen timing and what stays off the plate are the decisions that do — here is the map of all of them.

Start from a food your child already eats and move one sensory step at a time. How to build a chain — and why the evidence sits in repeated exposure rather than in the method itself.

Guidance reversed: allergens now go in early rather than being delayed. When to start, how to offer each one safely, what a reaction looks like, and why this is not the milk ladder.
Every child develops chewing and swallowing skills at their own pace. The preparation methods shown are general guidelines; you must always evaluate your individual child's ability before serving. By offering this food, you agree to the following:
By using this guide, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Age and preparation guidance informed by the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the World Health Organization's complementary feeding guidelines, ESPGHAN's (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) position paper on complementary feeding, and EFSA's (European Food Safety Authority) scientific opinion on the introduction of complementary feeding. This content is independently created by Dalo Baby for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement by or affiliation with any of these organizations.
Sources for this page
Dalo Solids
Get unlimited baby recipes, snap a photo of your fridge for instant meal ideas, weekly meal plans, and allergen tracking — all in one app.
Or save with the Dalo Family Bundle →