
Can be served at every age when prepared as described below. Watch for: added sugar. Low choking and allergen risk.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Prepare with care
Only if unsweetened and used in cooking or mixed with food, and not as a drink
The NHS advises that plant-based drinks like oat milk should not be given as a drink before 12 months, but small amounts may be used in cooking.
Use unsweetened, fortified oat milk only in cooking or mixed into foods like porridge, and do not serve it as a drink. Breast milk or infant formula should remain your baby's main drink, alongside small sips of water with meals. Pair meals with iron-rich foods and vitamin C sources for balanced nutrition.
Prepare with care
Only if unsweetened and used in cooking or mixed with food, and not as a drink
The NHS advises that plant-based drinks should not be given as a drink before 12 months; from 12 months, unsweetened calcium-fortified oat milk may be offered as a drink.
Before 12 months, continue to use oat milk only in cooking rather than as a drink. From 12 months of age, you can offer unsweetened, calcium-fortified oat milk as a drink in an open cup alongside meals as part of a balanced diet.
Prepare with care
Only if unsweetened and calcium-fortified
The NHS recommends choosing unsweetened, calcium-fortified plant-based milk alternatives as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
At 18+ months, unsweetened, calcium-fortified oat milk can be served in an open cup alongside meals as part of a varied diet. It can partner with whole-grain cereals, pancakes, or fruit.
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.

Two principles cover almost every food: cut round shapes lengthways, and soften firm ones until they squash between your fingers. How the cut changes from 6 months to 18 months and beyond.

Gagging is loud and normal. Choking is silent and an emergency. How to tell them apart, what actually causes choking, and when frequent gagging is worth raising with a professional.
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 →