Ice cream
Sweet treats can wait. Here's what to offer instead when everyone else has ice cream.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Wait until your child is at least 4 years old before offering ice cream. Until then, offer the safer swaps below.
How to serve ice cream by age
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6 months+
Not yet: plain yogurt instead
Ice cream has added sugar, and US and UK advice is to avoid added sugar up to age 4. For something cool and creamy, offer plain, full-fat yogurt made from pasteurized milk on a pre-loaded spoon, or mashed ripe banana.
- Size
- Instead of ice cream, a teaspoon or so of plain yogurt on a pre-loaded spoon, or as a dip for soft finger foods about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in).
- Check before serving
- Read the yogurt label: plain and full-fat, with no added sugar, honey or sweeteners, made from pasteurized milk.
US and UK advice differ here. The AAP suggests mashed food or soft pieces no larger than ½ inch; the NHS suggests soft finger-sized pieces your baby can hold in their fist. Both agree the food must squash easily.
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9 months+
Not yet: soft frozen yogurt and fruit instead
Our idea: mash ripe banana into plain, full-fat yogurt, freeze it in small pots, then let it soften until you can scoop it easily. Serve it with a spoon. It has no added sugar, and your baby gets the cold, creamy texture.
- Size
- Soft spoonfuls, instead of ice cream. Any extra fruit should be mashed ripe banana or fruit cooked until soft, in pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Scoop a little and squash it between your thumb and finger. It should be soft, with no hard, icy lumps.
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12 months+
Not yet: blended banana 'soft serve' instead
Our idea: freeze slices of ripe banana, then blend them with a splash of whole milk or plain yogurt until completely smooth, like soft serve. Serve it straight away with a spoon. Don't serve the frozen banana slices themselves.
- Size
- Spoonfuls of a smooth blend, instead of ice cream.
- Check before serving
- Check the blend is completely smooth, with no frozen pieces left.
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18 months+
Not yet: frozen yogurt and fruit instead
US and UK advice is still to avoid added sugar until after age 4, so ice cream waits, including at parties. Bring the frozen yogurt and fruit swap, or the blended banana 'soft serve', and serve it in a bowl with a spoon. If older children have desserts nearby, keep choking-hazard toppings out of reach: whole or chopped nuts, hard or gummy candy, marshmallows and uncut cherries.
- Size
- Spoonfuls of a softened frozen yogurt and fruit swap, instead of ice cream.
Always have your child sit upright in a high chair or at the table, and stay with them the whole time they eat. Keep to the size and texture for their stage. Every baby develops on their own timeline.
How to prepare ice cream
- 1
Don't buy ice cream for your baby or toddler, including 'baby' or 'no added sugar' kinds made with sweeteners. Under 4, advice is to avoid both added sugar and sweeteners.
- 2
For a cool, creamy swap, use plain, full-fat yogurt made from pasteurized milk, and sweeten it with mashed ripe fruit, not sugar, honey or syrup.
- 3
Don't give your child homemade ice cream made with raw or undercooked egg (see the US vs. UK note below on eggs).
- 4
Serve frozen swaps softened, in a bowl with a spoon. Rinse fresh fruit under running water first.
How much to offer
None for now. Ice cream waits until after age 4, because of the added sugar. When you offer a frozen yogurt and fruit swap, a few spoonfuls is plenty. Your child decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth.
Common mistakes
Choosing 'no added sugar' ice cream
These are often sweetened with low- or no-calorie sweeteners instead. The CDC and NHS say not to give young children foods with sweeteners either.
Homemade ice cream with raw egg
The FDA says homemade ice cream causes Salmonella outbreaks every year, from raw or undercooked eggs. Young children are more likely to get seriously ill. Use an egg-free recipe or a pasteurized egg product.
Using it to soothe teething
The NHS suggests a teething ring cooled in the fridge (never the freezer) and says to avoid foods with lots of sugar, which can cause tooth decay.
Risky toppings
Whole or chopped nuts, hard and gummy candy, marshmallows and uncut cherries are on the CDC choking hazard list. Keep them off any dessert you share with a young child.
Where US and UK guidance differ on ice cream
United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines call on parents to avoid added sugar for children aged 4 and under. The CDC says foods with added sugars or low- and no-calorie sweeteners aren't recommended for infants and young children. The FDA advises using a pasteurized egg product, or an egg-free recipe, for homemade ice cream.
United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting
The NHS says to avoid food and drink with sugar or sweeteners for children aged 4 and under. It says to avoid raw eggs, including homemade ice cream, unless you can confirm the eggs are British Lion stamped: hens' eggs with the red lion mark are considered very low risk for salmonella.
We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.
Questions parents ask
Can ice cream be a choking hazard for babies?
Plain ice cream is a low choking risk because it melts. The risk comes from what goes with it: whole or chopped nuts, hard or gummy candy, marshmallows and uncut cherries are all CDC choking hazards. Serve frozen swaps softened, in a bowl with a spoon. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to ice cream?
Ice cream is made from milk, one of the most common food allergens in young children. Some ice creams, especially homemade ones, also contain egg (FDA), and some contain peanuts, tree nuts, wheat or soy, so check the label. Introduce each of these on its own first, as plain foods, before your child has them mixed into a dessert. Most reactions start within minutes to 2 hours, but with cow's milk allergy, symptoms can take up to 3 days to appear. If your child has a food allergy, read every label, as recipes can change.
Is ice cream healthy for babies?
A sweet food: 100 g of vanilla ice cream has about 21 g of sugars, including added sugar, and 11 g of fat. It has some calcium (about 128 mg per 100 g) and protein (3.5 g), but plain yogurt gives both without the added sugar. It is not a source of iron.
When can babies have ice cream?
US and UK advice is to avoid added sugar, and sweeteners, up to age 4, so ice cream is best left until then. Plain yogurt with mashed fruit, softened in the freezer, is a good swap.
Can ice cream help a teething baby?
No official source suggests it. The NHS suggests a teething ring cooled in the fridge (never the freezer), and from 6 months, soft fruit to chew on. It says to avoid foods with lots of sugar, as these can cause tooth decay even with only a few teeth.
My toddler had some ice cream at a party. Is that a problem?
One taste isn't a reason to worry. The advice is to keep added sugar out of your child's food up to age 4, so next time bring a no-added-sugar swap, such as frozen yogurt and fruit.
Is homemade ice cream safer for babies?
Not if it's made with raw or undercooked egg: the FDA links homemade ice cream to Salmonella outbreaks. Homemade ice cream with sugar still has added sugar. A frozen plain yogurt and mashed fruit mix is the simplest homemade swap.
If your baby refuses ice cream
- Frozen swaps are new and cold. Let them soften a little more, or offer the same yogurt and fruit unfrozen.
- Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
- Eat some of the swap yourself at the same meal. Babies copy what they see.
- Funny faces don't mean they dislike it. They're getting used to a new taste and texture.
Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.
Buying and storing ice cream
- Keep frozen foods at 0°F (-18°C) or below.
- Frozen yogurt and fruit pots keep best for 1 to 2 months in the freezer. Let them soften in the fridge, not on the counter.
- Spoon your child's portion into a bowl and put the rest straight back in the freezer. Throw away what they leave.
- Throw away any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).
When to talk to your doctor
Contact your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if:
- Your child has had any reaction to dairy, even a mild one. Stop offering it until you've talked to your pediatrician.
- Your child has a food allergy. Ask which desserts are safe, since ice cream often contains milk, egg or nuts.
- You notice mild signs of an allergic reaction after eating, such as a few hives or a little vomiting. See signs of a reaction.
- You're worried about how much your baby eats, their growth, or they refuse most solid food for weeks.
Call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) now if your baby has trouble breathing, wheezing, can't cough or cry, has lips, mouth, tongue or throat that suddenly swell, or becomes pale, bluish, floppy or unresponsive. Also call if hives come with repeated vomiting.
Offered ice cream?
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Last offered today. Once ice cream is in your baby's diet, keep offering it regularly.
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Helpful guides
Sources
- HHS: Fact sheet: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
- CDC: Choking hazards
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Tips for helping your teething baby
- FDA: The dangers of raw milk
- CDC: Safer food choices for children under 5
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- USDA FoodData Central: Ice creams, vanilla
- USDA FSIS: How long can you keep dairy products like yogurt, milk, and cheese in the refrigerator?
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
More first foods
Free printable: The First 100 Foods checklist
Tick off foods as your baby tries them. Print it or save it as a PDF, no sign-up needed.