When can babies eat rice milk?

Not before about 5 years old. Until then, offer safer swaps.

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Rice milk

Not for children under 5 (NHS). Here's why, and what to offer instead.

Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review

Quick answer

Wait until your child is at least 5 years old before offering rice milk. Until then, offer the safer swaps below.

From 5 yearsLow choking risk as servedNot a common allergen

How to serve rice milk by age

Cutting photo goes here

6 months+

Not yet: breast milk or formula instead

Rice drink isn't suitable for babies. Breast milk or infant formula is the main drink in the first year, and plant drinks should never replace them. The NHS says children under 5 shouldn't have rice drinks, because of the levels of arsenic in them. To thin oatmeal, purées or mashed food, use breast milk, formula or water.

Size: No rice drink. To soften or thin food, use breast milk, formula or water.
Check before serving: Check the ingredients of any plant drink or blend you use. If rice is listed, choose another option.

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.

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 rice milk

1
Don't give rice drink to your baby or toddler, as a drink or as their milk. The NHS says children under 5 shouldn't have it.
2
Before 12 months, use breast milk, formula or water to thin your baby's food.
3
From 12 months, offer plain cow's milk, or ask your pediatrician which milk alternative to use if your child can't have it.
4
If rice drink is in the house for older children or adults, keep it apart from your toddler's drinks.

How much to offer

None as a drink before age 5 (NHS). If your child has already had rice drink, the NHS says there's no immediate risk, but it's best to switch to a different kind of milk. Your child decides how much of their other food and drinks to have.

Common mistakes

Using it instead of breast milk or formula

Plant drinks should never replace breast milk or infant formula in the first year. Using them as a major part of a baby's diet has been linked to malnutrition (Healthy Eating Research). Talk to your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if this has happened.

Choosing it for a child with a milk or soy allergy

The Food Standards Agency says children under 5 shouldn't have rice drink in place of breast milk, formula or cow's milk, and that there are other options for young children with a cows' milk or soya allergy. Ask a doctor or dietitian which one to use.

Counting on it for protein

Rice drink has almost no protein: about 0.3 g per 100 g, compared with about 3 g in whole cow's milk. Healthy Eating Research ranks it last among plant milks for young children.

Worrying after a few sips

The NHS says there's no immediate risk if your child has already had rice drinks. Switch to a different milk and carry on.

Where US and UK guidance differ on rice milk

United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting

Since April 2026, the CDC lists rice among unflavored, unsweetened, fortified plant drinks that can help meet a child's dairy needs from 12 months. The AAP says that, other than soy milk, plant-based milks are not recommended in place of dairy milk. The FDA says rice absorbs arsenic more readily than other crops. US agencies don't give an age for rice drinks; this site follows the NHS.

United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting

The NHS says children under 5 should not have rice drinks, because of arsenic. The Food Standards Agency says children over 5 and adults can drink rice milk as part of a balanced diet. If your child has already had rice drinks, there's no immediate risk, but it's best to switch to a different kind of milk.

We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.

Questions parents ask

Can rice milk be a choking hazard for babies?

Rice drink is a low choking risk, but it isn't recommended for children under 5 because of arsenic, not choking. Offer water and plain milk in an open cup or a straw cup instead.

Can babies be allergic to rice milk?

Rice is not a common allergen. It is one of the most common grain triggers of FPIES, a delayed reaction that causes repeated vomiting a few hours after eating. Rice drink is sometimes chosen for children with milk or soy allergies, but it isn't suitable under 5: ask your doctor or dietitian for a safer alternative.

Is rice milk healthy for babies?

Unsweetened rice drink has about 0.3 g of protein and 47 calories per 100 g, compared with about 3.2 g and 61 calories in whole cow's milk. Even unsweetened, it has about 5 g of sugars per 100 g.

Why can't toddlers have rice milk?

Rice takes up more arsenic than other crops, and some ends up in rice drinks. The Food Standards Agency says children under 5 shouldn't have rice drink in place of breast milk, formula or cow's milk, because compared with older children and adults, they tend to drink more milk and have a lower body weight.

Is rice milk OK for toddlers in the US?

US advice is less direct. The CDC lists rice among fortified plant drinks that can help meet a child's dairy needs from 12 months, while the AAP doesn't recommend plant milks other than soy in place of dairy milk. Healthy Eating Research ranks rice drink last for young children. This site follows the NHS: no rice drinks under 5.

Can my baby still eat rice?

Yes. The NHS says the advice on rice drinks doesn't mean your baby can't eat rice. Serve rice as part of a varied diet and rotate it with other grains. See the rice page.

Can I use rice milk in cooking for my baby?

We suggest not. The NHS says babies and young children under 5 shouldn't be given rice drinks. Use breast milk, formula or water before 12 months, and cow's milk or another suitable milk after that.

If your baby refuses rice milk

Rice drink isn't a drink to offer yet, so there's nothing to keep trying.
If your child only likes a sweet, mild milk, give them time to get used to plain milk or unsweetened soy drink in a cup with meals.
Drink plain milk or water yourself at the same meal. Toddlers copy what they see.
If your child won't drink any milk or milk alternative, ask your pediatrician about other ways to get enough calcium and vitamin D.

Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.

Buying and storing rice milk

If older family members drink rice drink, store it as the label says and keep it apart from your toddler's drinks.
Cooked rice has its own storage rules: cool it quickly, eat it within 1 day and reheat it only once. See the rice page.
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 baby under 12 months has been given rice drink, or any plant drink, instead of breast milk or formula. Talk to your pediatrician, GP or health visitor about getting back to breast milk or formula.
Your child has a milk or soy allergy and you're looking for a milk alternative. Ask which one to use.
Your baby vomits a few hours after eating rice. This can be FPIES, a delayed type of food allergy, and rice is one of the most common grain triggers. If they vomited once or twice and seem alert and like themselves, call your pediatrician or GP. If they vomit again and again, or are pale, floppy, very sleepy or hard to wake, call your emergency number.
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 rice milk?

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