In the first six months of life, infants can get all the fluid and nutrients they need from breastmilk or from first infant formula. There is no need to introduce other foods before an infant’s gut, development and swallow reflexes are fully ready.
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Update on non dairy drinks for children
Following consideration and agreement by the Scottish Dietary Advice Forum (SDAF), the Scottish Government have adopted recommendations published by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and Committee on Toxicity (COT) following their assessment of soya, oat and almond drinks.
The new advice is as follows:
For children aged 5 years and over and adults:
• Fortified and unsweetened soya, oat and almond drinks can be suitable alternatives to cow’s milk, while unfortified or sweetened products are not recommended.
For children aged 1–5 years:
•Whole or semi skimmed cow’s milk remains the preferred option for those who consume animal products.
•There is no need for drinks marketed for toddlers (1–3 years), including plant-based follow-on formula or “growing up” drinks.
• Children should ideally be breastfed into the second year of life or beyond.
For children aged 1–5 years following a vegan diet:
• Fortified, unsweetened soya drink is the preferred alternative to cow’s milk, owing to its higher protein content compared with almond or oat drinks.
• At meals or snacks where cow’s milk would normally be offered, fortified and unsweetened versions of almond, oat and soya drinks are preferable to water.
• It’s important to include a variety of non-meat and dairy alternatives in the diet, rather than relying on alternatives made from one single source e.g. soya.
