Children should not drink plant “milk”
In a nutshell
Official UK guidelines are clear - for children aged 1 to 5, plant-based “milks” are not recommended
Plant “milks” are high in free sugars – child consumption establishes an unhealthy reliance
High free sugar content is linked to obesity and chronic disease later in life
A recent newspaper headline asked How healthy is your plant milk — is it time to go back to dairy? I decided to do a deeper dive and the result for me is clear - for young children, plant-based “milks” are not a suitable replacement for breast or dairy milk.
I’ll cover the following:
Unambiguous Government advice
The main reason plant-based drinks are discouraged
Key guidelines
Unambiguous Government advice
In the UK, current public health guidance for children aged 1 to 5 years is straightforward:
Main drinks should be breastmilk, water, cow’s milk, or another animal milk
Whole or semi-skimmed cow’s milk is preferable to plant-based drinks
This position is designed to protect children from excess free sugars, and associated longer-term health risks.
The main reason plant-based drinks are discouraged
The primary concern is their high free-sugar content [1,2]. Note the important distinction between “added” sugars and “free” sugars:
Free sugars include those naturally released during processing. For example, when oats are processed, their starch breaks down into free sugars
Thus, many oat drinks can truthfully claim “no added sugar” while still containing high levels of free sugars [2]
Excess free sugar intake in early childhood establishes an unhealthy diet linked to a higher risk of obesity and chronic diseases later in life.
Key guidelines
This study focused on almond, oat and soya drinks, but conclude that many recommendations, would apply to plant-based drinks more generally:
“For children aged 1 to 5 years who consume animal products, whole or semi-skimmed cows’ milk are preferable to plant-based drinks.”
Study findings are from a large nationally representative study of approximately 8,500 children - and families - born in England at the start of the 2020s.
“When asked what children have as their main milk drink, caregivers reported that around half (55%) had whole milk (cows’ or goats’) and a sixth (16%) had breast milk. Eight per cent of children had plant-based alternatives to milk as their main milk drink (including 2% who drank plant-based alternatives to toddler or growing-up milks).”
“…milk or water, in addition to breast milk, should constitute the majority of drinks given to children aged 1 to 5 years…
…pasteurised whole and semi-skimmed cows’ milk can be given as a main drink from age 1 year…, as can goats’ and sheep’s milks…
…pasteurised skimmed and 1% cows’ milk should not be given as a main drink until 5 years of age. These lower-fat milks can be used in cooking…
…children aged 1 to 5 years should not be given rice drinks as they may contain too much arsenic…
…children aged 1 to 5 years should not be given sugar-sweetened beverages…”
The stated purpose of this guidance is promote a healthy diet including breastfeeding. This is aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases. It is intended to provide clear and accurate information for parents and other caregivers on the best way to feed their infants and young children.
“Evidence…suggests that various aspects of early feeding patterns have the potential to impact on the development of obesity and other noncommunicable diseases.
Promotion of foods for infants and young children is considered inappropriate if it interferes with breastfeeding, contributes to obesity and non-communicable diseases, creates a dependency on commercial products, or otherwise is misleading”
“It is recommended that the average population intake of free sugars should not exceed 5% of total dietary energy for age groups from 2 years upwards.
It is recommended that the consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages should be minimised in children and adults”
Summary
Plant-based “milks” are ultra-processed products that typically deliver more free sugars than dairy milk — unless specifically unsweetened. Even then, they are not natural for young children.
Clear, evidence-based advice is available for anyone to follow. When appropriate, stay with breast milk or animal milk (whole or semi-skimmed) as the primary drink for young children. Water is the best everyday alternative when milk isn’t needed.
If your child has a medical (e.g. allergy) reason to avoid dairy, consult a trusted source for nutritionally adequate alternatives rather than relying on supermarket plant milks.
References
Phelan, A., Gore, C. and Boyle, R.J. (2026), Plant-Based Drinks for Children Aged 1 Year and Over. Clin Exp Allergy. https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.70333
Childs, R.M., Boyle, R. and Sibson, V. (2024), Plant-Based and Dairy-Free Drinks: An Emerging Health Hazard for Young Children. Clin Exp Allergy, 54: 852-854. https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.14589
Additional popular press articles
2026 - Sunday Telegraph, A misleading article on dietary fibre
2025 - Wall Street Journal, Positive results of eliminating ultra-processed-food for one month
2025 - Sunday Telegraph, The six signs that you may have a food addiction
2025 - Daily Mail, Nutrient-Dense Low Carbohydrate Diets Outperform GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss
2025 – Daily Mail, Carnivore diet replaced drugs for ADHD and Depression
2025 - Guardian, A lack of vitamins and minerals from food increases NHS hospital admissions
2024 - Sunday Telegraph, “…a healthy brain requires a meaty diet”