Can Toddlers Drink Oat Milk?

As more and more adults are turning to plant-based diets, many are wondering if they can give oat milk to their toddlers. While oat milk is a great alternative to cow’s milk for adults, there are a few things to consider before giving it to your toddler.

Oat milk is a good source of nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A. However, it doesn’t have as much protein as cow’s milk. This is important to consider because toddlers need more protein than adults. Additionally, oat milk contains more carbohydrates than cow’s milk. This means that it may not be the best choice for toddlers who are already eating a lot of starchy foods.

What exactly is oat milk?

Like other non-dairy milk substitutes, oat milk is not a true “milk.” It’s made the same way as almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and other milks: soak oats in water, blend, and then strain out the chunks. But if you want to know more, Oatly’s oat milk has a good explanation of how they make it.

Because of this, the drink has some of the health benefits of oats.

Oatly Oat-Milk, Elmhurst Milked Oats, Silk Oat Some popular brands are Hood’s Planet Oat Oatmilk and Happy Planet Oatmilk. These days, you can find them in a lot of places, from gourmet shops to Target.

Why should you try it?

Many people say that oat milk tastes more like milk and is creamier than other options. I’ve tried a few of Elmhurst’s plant-based milks, and by far my favourite is the Milked Oats (oat milk) bottle.

Most non-dairy milks have less protein, fat, carbs, and calories than oat milk. This means that each serving of oat milk gives you a wider range of nutrients.

Besides tasting good and being good for you, oat milk is better for the environment than nut milks because nuts are known to be thirsty crops that need more water to grow. It’s also cheaper to make. 

But it might not be cheaper at the store; you’ll have to compare prices in the dairy (or non-dairy) aisle.

What’s different about oat milk from other non-dairy milks?

Oat milk keeps more of the nutrients from its main ingredient than almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. This is because oats dissolve in water better than nuts or soybeans. 

So, if you want a milk substitute made from grains, this will do, but it has more of the good things about “oats” than you might think.

Is oat milk safe for kids to drink?

Yes, oat milk is safe for babies older than six months. Until that time, a baby needs to be breastfed for his or her growth and development.

But add it to the baby’s diet slowly at first. Check for allergies and look out for any signs that oat milk might be bad for you.

oat milk has more vitamin B than either coconut milk or soy milk. Beta-glucans, which are found in oats, boost the immune system and help keep blood pressure levels normal.

Oat milk is safe and good for both babies and grown-ups. It is low in fat, has a lot of calcium, and is easy to digest.

Also, there are a lot of polyphenols and antioxidants in oat milk. Oat milk is safe for your toddler to drink because it is good for their health and easy for them to digest.

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What to look for in oat milk for babies and young children

Plant-based milks are often compared to cow’s milk, which is what most kids in the United States drink. I also compare them to breast milk, which has a slightly different nutritional profile and is the best and most appropriate milk for toddlers even as they get older.

Make sure there’s enough fat in the oat milk for kids

In its most simple form, oat milk is just water and oats. That doesn’t have enough fat for your toddler’s brain to grow. At the end of the day, it won’t give them enough calories either. Fat is very important, especially for kids under the age of 2, and milk must have it.

Aim for at least 7-8g of fat per 8oz. In comparison, the average amount of fat in breast milk is 11g, while the average amount of fat in whole cow’s milk is 8g.

Protein is an important part of oat milk for young children

Protein is a bit of a tricky topic when it comes to alternatives to milk. For example, almond milk has only about 1g of protein and very little fat. Because of these two things, it’s not good for toddlers.

But what if there is milk that contains enough fat? Does it still need higher levels of protein?

This is how you can tell the difference between cow’s milk and breastmilk. Each 8oz serving of cow’s milk has 8g of protein. On the other hand, there is about 2.5g per 8oz of breast milk.

So you can see why I’m not sure that 8g of protein in milk is a good idea for kids. When comparing plant-based milks, it’s important to remember that breast milk usually has more fat and less protein.

The protein you want

A good goal is to get more protein than 1g, especially since some plant-based milk alternatives, like oat milk, may affect blood sugar more than cow’s milk or breast milk. This effect will be lessened if you eat more protein.

Higher protein content can also help keep our kids full for longer, and when combined with fat content, they won’t need as many ounces of milk to feel full.

There are amino acids in oat milk

When it comes to protein, you should also think about the amino acid profile. There are nine essential amino acids, and a food is a source of complete protein if it has all of them. Both cow’s milk and soy milk have all nine of the most important amino acids.

Oat milk does not contain all nine essential amino acids. This is more of a worry for toddlers who can’t eat dairy and don’t eat a lot of different foods. When it comes to toddlers who eat a lot of different foods, the amino acid profile isn’t as important to me.

What’s up with oat milk and protein? Having 7-8g of protein per 8 oz is good, but it’s not a deal breaker.

Toddlers need oat milk that is fortified

For oat milk to be good for toddlers, it must be fortified, just like all other plant-based milks and even cow’s milk.

Between the ages of one and two, when our toddlers drink milk, it can help them switch from a liquid-heavy diet to a food-heavy diet. This is one of the most important benefits. To help them do this, we want to make sure they get all the nutrients they need while getting the most for our money.

At the very least, calcium and vitamin D should be added to the oat milk.

Iodine, riboflavin (B2), and B12 are also good fortifiers. Iodine is found in dairy, but not in most plant-based milks. This is something to keep in mind when shopping for milk.

Sugar is added to oat milk for toddlers

Because of the new FDA labelling laws in the United States, all oat milks now say that they have added sugar. But if you look at the list of ingredients, you will see that there is no added sugar. So, what happened?

Every company makes and processes oat milk in a different way, so the amount of sugar added to it can vary. But they all break down the oats on their own to make milk.

During this process, what is called “added sugar” is made (maltose and glucose, to be specific). Sugar is made, so it’s not exactly the same as if sugar were just added as an ingredient.

Despite this, oat milk is a fairly new product. Not much research has been done on how it makes our bodies work.

What happens when oat milks have more fat and protein than oats and water alone

We can assume that the beta-glucans in oats, which are still in oat milks, can help to keep blood sugar from going up when these sugars are eaten. At this point, I can’t say for sure one way or the other.

Oat milks have oils like canola and sunflower in them

When choosing oat milk, you should also think about the type of fat that is added. Many companies use rapeseed oil or sunflower oil. In the United States, rapeseed oil is also called canola oil. Both of these oils have a lot of omega-6 fatty acids.

Some studies have shown that our bodies get more inflamed when we eat too many omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3 fatty acids.

It’s better to find oat milk with a better source of fat and a more balanced mix of fatty acids than one that only has canola or sunflower oil. Again, this isn’t a deal-breaker, but you should think about it.

What’s the best oat milk for babies and young kids?

What brand of oat milk should I buy after all that? Is it safe for a one-year-old to drink oat milk? If you aren’t breastfeeding and can’t or won’t give your toddler cow’s milk or soy milk, you might be able to give them oat milk.

I would put it on par with pea milk in terms of how healthy it is for toddlers. (This post has a list of other plant-based milk alternatives and a table that compares their nutritional value.)

In the United States, there aren’t many products that meet the criteria I’ve listed here. I’ve found two kinds of oat milk: Califia Farms Original Protein Oat Milk and Oatly Full Fat Oat Milk.

Neither of them is perfect when you look at them closely. They don’t have enough protein or vitamins, and the only fat they have is from canola oil. But they are fine and good enough for most toddlers.

Advantages of Oat Milk for Young Children

A Good Source to Get Calcium

Calcium is added to and added to oat milk to help keep your toddler’s bones healthy and strong. Your toddler’s heart, nerves, and muscles will all work better if he or she gets enough calcium.

Oat milk for babies is easy to break down

Oats are easy for toddlers to digest, and they help them feel full longer than other dairy products like cow’s milk. This means they throw fewer tantrums during the day. Oat milk is also better for your toddler than cow’s milk because it has more vitamins and minerals.

Oatmeal is a whole grain that has a lot of vitamins and minerals. It’s just water mixed with ground oatmeal, and it’s healthier than cow’s milk! Among other things, oats have antioxidants, iron, magnesium, and selenium.

Oats are also high in fibre, which helps your toddler’s digestive system and makes them feel fuller for longer.

The immune system gets stronger when toddlers drink oat milk

Since oat milk is made from oats, it is high in fibres and proteins, which are good for your child in many ways, such as helping his or her cells grow and his or her immune system get stronger. In the early stages of development, this kind of healthy base is very important.

Makes bones and teeth stronger

Unlike other alternative milks, like soy milk or almond milk, oat milk is naturally high in calcium. This means that if your child drinks it regularly, it will help their bones, teeth, and nails grow and develop.

Oat milk for kids helps keep their hearts healthy

Cow’s milk has a lot of fat, and since your child already eats a lot of fat from other foods, they may get too much fat from cow’s milk. 

This can cause the heart to get clogged up at a young age, which can lead to a number of health problems as they get older. Oat milk is better for your heart than cow milk because it has beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre. 

Beta-glucan makes a layer in the small intestine that stops bad cholesterol from getting through. This layer also helps make bile, which helps keep the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood in check.

Side effects of oat milk on babies

Take the same care and precautions when giving your babies oat milk as you would with any other food. By slowly adding oat milk to the baby’s diet, you can look for signs of discomfort that could indicate allergies or other problems.

Oat milk is made up of:

• Sugar: When bought from a store, oat milk has natural sugars and often also added sugars. It is often sweetened or has a lot of sugar, so look for oat milk that says it has no added sugar or is sugar-free.
• Gluten: Oats don’t have gluten, but raw oats are different from processed oats. Unless it says “gluten-free” on the label, oats are usually grown with gluten-containing grains like wheat. If your baby has an autoimmune or inflammatory condition, you should not give them oat milk because it can make the condition worse.
• High-fibre: Oats have a lot of fibre, which is hard for some people to break down. This could give you gas and stomach pain.

Conclusion About Toddlers Drink Oat Milk

Yes, oat milk is safe for babies older than 6 months. Until then, breastfeeding is the best way to build a strong immune system and give the body what it needs.

Add small amounts of oat milk to the baby’s diet over time. Your body needs some time to get used to fibre-rich foods before it can handle them smoothly.

Also, oats can cause some side effects that should be watched closely. Because of this, it is common to slowly introduce oat milk to a baby after he or she is 6 months old.

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