Cow's Milk for Babies: From What Age, and How Much Per Day?

Baby is nearing a first birthday, and the question comes up at every visit to grandma's: “Can they drink farm milk now?” Cow's milk has a place in a baby's diet, but not at just any time, not just any kind and not in just any amount.

In short: in cooking from 6 months, as a drink around 1 year, always pasteurised, and without excess. Here is why, what the different health authorities say when they disagree, and how to handle the lben, raib and jben of our markets.

Why no cow's milk as a drink before 1 year?

Because cow's milk contains little iron, and in large amounts it takes the place of foods that supply it. Health Canada describes excessive cow's milk intake as the main risk factor for severe iron-deficiency anaemia in young children. And between 6 months and 2 years, a baby's iron needs are high.

The NHS therefore asks that cow's, goat's or sheep's milk not be given as the main drink before 1 year. Before that age, baby's milk drink remains breast milk or, if not breastfed, the infant formula recommended by their doctor. Iron deficiency and its signs are detailed in our article on anaemia in children.

In cooking, from 6 months

Cow's milk can, however, go into prepared foods from the start of complementary feeding, around 6 months, according to the NHS: a purée thinned with milk, a porridge, a savoury vegetable flan, a béchamel. Plain whole yoghurts find their place in the first months of complementary feeding; French paediatricians generally introduce cheese around 9 months, excluding raw-milk ones.

Cow's milk can also cause an allergy. If it triggers vomiting, diarrhoea, worsening eczema or hives, see a doctor: our article on CMPA, cow's milk protein allergy explains what to do.

9 months or 1 year: why countries do not say the same thing

Recommendations differ, and it helps to know why.

The WHO position is aimed first at countries where infant formulas are out of reach or too expensive. It has been criticised by European paediatricians: the nutrition group of the Spanish association of primary care paediatrics (AEPap) published an analysis in 2024 disagreeing on this point. In practice, in Morocco, the safest rule remains to wait until 1 year, or to follow your paediatrician's advice if baby is not breastfed.

If you breastfeed, there is no hurry: Health Canada lists continued breastfeeding as one of the options after 1 year, and breast milk then remains baby's milk drink. Our article on weaning covers the transition when you choose it.

How much cow's milk a day after 1 year?

Neither too much nor too little. The ceiling is the most important marker: 750 ml a day at most, according to Health Canada, to protect appetite and iron intake.

A yoghurt, a raib or a piece of cheese count towards these amounts. A child who drinks three or four big bottles of milk a day and eats little at meals is typically the one to watch for anaemia.

Which milk to choose? Pasteurised whole milk: Health Canada speaks of milk at 3.25% fat, the AAP of whole milk between 12 and 24 months. The NHS does not recommend skimmed or 1% milk as the main drink before 5 years. Fortified, unsweetened plant-based drinks do not replace milk before 1 year; rice drink is to be avoided before 5 years, because of arsenic (NHS).

And “growing-up” milks? The NHS says no infant milk is needed after 12 months, and the AAP considers that milks aimed at young children bring no real advantage over a balanced diet, while costing more and often containing added sugar.

Raw milk, farm milk: why the answer is no

Raw, unpasteurised milk is never given to a child: the NHS and Health Canada are firm, because of the risk of food poisoning.

In Morocco, the risk has a name: brucellosis. An analysis of human cases reported between 2002 and 2019, published in 2021 by authors from the Ministry of Health, found unpasteurised milk consumption in 179 of the 181 patients whose exposure was known. During an outbreak in Laayoune in 2017, cases were strongly associated with drinking camel's milk. Raw milk can also transmit tuberculosis of animal origin: in April 2025, ONSSA (the national food safety office) and doctors warned about this risk, pointing to raw milk, fermented milk and raib sold outside controlled channels (Hespress).

Their advice: choose pasteurised, sterilised or UHT milk, check the ONSSA approval number on the packaging, and avoid milk sold by unauthorised units.

Lben, raib, jben: Moroccan dairy products for babies

Traditional dairy products have their place, provided they are made with pasteurised milk.

Sugar is the other trap: many shop-bought raib and yoghurts are sweetened or flavoured. Choose them plain and sweeten with fruit, as our guidelines on sugar for children explain. For organising meals after 1 year, see meals for 1-3 year olds.