5 Ways to Serve Sour Cream to Your Baby

Sour cream has a creamy, tangy flavor that makes an excellent addition to almost any dish for babies! Full-fat sour cream is perfect for babies since they need the extra fat and energy for brain development and rapid growth.

Here we’ll cover how sour cream is made, the nutritional benefits of sour cream, if sour cream is a choking hazard or top allergen, and 5 ways you can serve babies sour cream!

How is sour cream made?

Sour cream is literally “sour cream” and is made by one of two ways. 

1. The most common way is using cultured sour cream. Lactic acid bacteria is added to sour and thicken the pasteurized cream with at least 18% milkfat. 
2. Another way to make sour cream is by using acidified sour cream. It is is soured and thickened by the direct addition of an acid like vinegar or lemon juice.  

Back in the day, sour cream was made by allowing fresh milk to sit at room temperature. The cream would rise to the surface and naturally occurring bacteria soured the cream. Personally, I have never made homemade sour cream. I would be concerned about leaving the cream and whole milk at room temperature, allowing harmful bacteria to grow. 

Benefits of sour cream for babies

Yes, there are nutritional benefits of serving your baby sour cream! Whole milk (full-fat) sour cream has a high fat content which is perfect for babies! This fat provides energy to fuel babies’ rapid growth and brain development and helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K). 

Along with fat, sour cream contains other essential nutrients like calcium, zinc, and choline to support bone health, the immune system, brain, and more. Some sour creams have probiotics that help baby’s digestive system and gut microbiome. 

When can you introduce sour cream to your baby?

The good news is you can introduce sour cream as soon as your baby starts solid foods. This will be when your baby is around 6 months of age, or when all signs of readiness are showing. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend not serving babies cow’s milk until 12 months of age as a drink. This is because cow’s milk can displace other infant milk (breast milk or formula) which should be the main source of nutrition in baby’s diet through the first 12 months of age. 

However, dairy products can be introduced prior to 12 months of age. Dairy products like sour cream are nutritious and allow exposure to the dairy allergen. Exposure to top allergens early and often has been shown to reduce the chances of developing a food allergy. 

Is sour cream a choking hazard for babies?

No, sour cream does not have a high choking risk for babies. However, it’s possible to choke on any food. Always remember to create a safe eating environment and be near your baby when they are eating.

Is sour cream a common allergen?

Yes, sour cream is a top allergen because it is made from cow’s milk. Any food made from dairy products will be considered a top allergen. 

To safely introduce a top allergen, first serve small amounts (about 1/8th a teaspoon). If no reaction is observed, you can continue to increase the volume served of the allergen. Read this post on how to reduce food allergies in babies for more information on serving top allergens.

If your baby is allergic to cow’s milk, know that it is common for children to outgrow this by 6 years. As always, seek professional medical advice from your baby’s pediatrician and/or allergist. 

Can I have sour cream if I’m lactose intolerant?

For people who are not highly sensitive to lactose, a small amount of sour cream may be better tolerated than cow’s milk. This is because the lactose content is lower in sour cream than milk.

If your child is lactose-intolerant be sure to find other calcium-rich foods to consume regularly. Foods low in lactose and high in calcium are low-lactose cheeses or lactose-free dairy milk or fortified dairy-free milk.

5 ways to feed sour cream to babies

Sour cream is a great vehicle to introduce new foods to your baby and young children. Try these ideas for serving this nutritious food to your baby.

1. Spread a thin layer of sour cream on your baby’s food

Spread sour cream on toast, pancakes, tortillas, vegetables, and more. 

2. Cook sour cream into foods

You can add sour cream to eggs or frittatas, chili, beans, and taco dishes. 

3. Stir sour cream into other foods

Stir sour cream into soups, beans, vegetables, and grains.

4. Serve sour cream as a dip for babies

Place a dollop of sour cream on your baby’s plate and role model dipping foods into the sour cream. You can do this with strips of egg or cheese quesadillas. 

5. Mix sour cream into baked foods

Sour cream can be baked into foods like muffins, pancakes, and quick breads. 

Best tips for serving sour cream to babies

In this post we looked at facts about sour cream and how to serve it to your baby-led weaning baby. Here are the main points:

• Sour cream is nutritious for babies and has nutrients that help develop bones, the immune system, digestive system, and brain
• You can introduce sour cream when your baby is ready for solid foods (around 6 months)
• Sour cream is not a common choking hazard for babies
• Sour cream is a common allergen and should be introduced by following guidelines for introducing all top 9 allergens
• Small amounts of sour cream may be better tolerated than cow’s milk for lactose intolerant people
• Sour cream can be served to babies by spreading it on top of other foods, using it as a dip, and mixing sour cream into food and baked goods

Looking for more recommended baby-led weaning supplies? I have it all laid out for you in this baby-led weaning supply guide. Follow our baby-led weaning journey on instagram @mydietitian.friend!