Can Babies Drink Rice Milk? Not Under 5, Here's Why
Rice milk is a thin plant drink, low in protein and fat, and health authorities advise against giving it as a drink to children under about 5 because of arsenic. It is not a replacement for breast milk or formula.
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- When to introduce
- Not as a drink under about 5 years; tiny amounts in cooking from 12 months
- Common allergen?
- None of the common top allergens
- Texture
- Thin liquid; low in protein and fat
- Key nutrients
- Low protein, often added sugar; can contain arsenic
You are standing in the plant-milk aisle, someone in the family cannot do dairy, and the carton of rice milk looks like the gentle, unoffensive option. It is sweet, it is cheap, it does not taste like much, and it feels like a safe pick for a small kid. Totally reasonable place to land. Here is the real picture though, and it is one of the few plant drinks where the answer is genuinely "hold off." Rice milk is very low in protein and fat, so it does not do the job that breast milk or formula does for a baby, and it does not do the job that whole cow's milk (or a fortified soy drink) does for a toddler. On top of that, rice naturally picks up arsenic from soil and water, and it concentrates in rice drinks enough that health authorities specifically warn against giving rice milk as a drink to young children. So this is not a "make it work with a few tweaks" food. It is a "skip it as a drink, use a splash in cooking if you like the flavor" food. Not poison in a spoonful of rice pudding, not a milk, and not the swap you want for a growing kid's actual cup.
Why it matters: Parents search "can babies have rice milk" constantly because it looks like the gentle, allergen-free plant milk, but it is one of the few where the honest answer is skip it as a drink: low protein means it is no milk replacement, and arsenic guidance rules it out as a cup for kids under about 5.
Prep School: how to prepare rice milk for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
Is rice milk safe? Choking & prep
The big one first: rice drinks can contain arsenic, and health authorities advise NOT giving rice milk as a drink to children under about 5 years, because young kids drink a lot relative to their size and arsenic builds up1. That alone is enough to skip it as a cup. Second, rice milk is low in protein and is not a milk replacement, so even setting arsenic aside it will not give a baby or toddler what breast milk, formula, or whole cow's milk provides. Many rice drinks are also sweetened, adding sugar you do not need. It carries none of the common top allergens, which is often why families reach for it, but "no allergens" does not make it a nutritionally adequate drink for a young child. If you want a non-dairy cup after 12 months, a fortified unsweetened soy drink is the usual go-to.
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Nutrition
Rice milk is mostly water and starch. It is low in protein and fat, which are exactly the things a growing baby or toddler needs from a milk-type drink, and many versions have added sugar. Commercial rice milks are sometimes fortified with calcium and vitamins, but fortification does not fix the low protein or the arsenic concern. Nutritionally it sits well below breast milk, formula, whole cow's milk, and fortified soy drink for a young child.
Goes well with
A splash stirred into oatmeal (as flavor, not the main milk) · Blended into a fruit smoothie for an older child · In place of some water in a pancake batter · Cooked into a savory sauce where the flavor is mild
Storage & freezing
Refrigerate after opening and use within the timeframe on the carton, usually about 7 to 10 days. Shelf-stable cartons keep in the pantry until opened. Shake well, since rice milk separates. If it smells sour or looks curdled, toss it.
More foods to explore
Related reading
- What to feed your baby first →
- How to cut food to prevent choking →
- Signs your baby is ready for solids →
- Baby-led weaning vs. purées →
Common questions
Can babies drink rice milk?
No, not as a drink. It is low in protein and not a replacement for breast milk or formula, and health authorities advise against rice drinks for children under about 5 because of arsenic. A tiny amount used in cooking after 12 months is a different thing from giving it as a cup.
At what age can a child have rice milk?
Not as a regular drink under about 5 years, per arsenic guidance. After 12 months a splash in cooking is fine occasionally, but for a daily non-dairy cup, a fortified unsweetened soy drink is the usual recommendation instead.
Why can't young kids have rice milk?
Two reasons. Rice naturally absorbs arsenic, and it concentrates in rice drinks enough that authorities warn against them for kids under about 5. And rice milk is low in protein, so it does not replace breast milk, formula, or cow's milk nutritionally.
Is rice milk a choking hazard?
No, it is a thin liquid, so choking is not the concern here. The concerns are arsenic and its low nutritional value as a drink, not choking.
Does rice milk have too much sugar for a baby?
Many rice milks are sweetened and can taste noticeably sweet. Added sugar is not something a baby needs, so if you ever use rice milk in cooking for an older child, choose an unsweetened version and keep it occasional.
Is rice milk safe for a baby with a milk allergy?
It is free of the common top allergens, which is why families reach for it, but that does not make it an adequate drink for a young child. For a milk-allergic baby, talk to your pediatrician about the right formula or, after 12 months, a fortified soy drink rather than rice milk.
What can I use instead of rice milk for my toddler?
For a non-dairy cup after 12 months, a fortified, unsweetened soy drink is the standard pick because it is closer to cow's milk in protein. Whole cow's milk works if dairy is fine. Check any plant milk is unsweetened and calcium-fortified.
Is a little rice milk in food okay?
An occasional splash in oatmeal or a sauce for an older child is far less exposure than drinking it by the cup. The warning is specifically about giving rice milk as a drink to young children, where the volume adds up.
Sources
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage and Limit
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Start tracking for freeLast updated July 2026. Next review January 2027. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.
This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.
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