Dairy and Soy Free Alternatives for Toddlers
Navigating food allergies in toddlers can be overwhelming—especially when you’re avoiding both dairy and soy, two of the most common ingredients in baby and toddler foods.
Whether your child has cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), soy intolerance, or you’re simply looking for cleaner, plant-based options, this guide will walk you through safe, healthy, and toddler-friendly alternatives—no dairy, no soy, no stress.
Note I have included a section at the end of products that are technically dairy and soy free but aren’t my top picks due to concerns of facility cross contamination of allergens, lower nutritional value, or they contain ingredients that are gut irritants and hard on a toddlers digestive system.
Disclaimer: For the specific products mentioned always check packaging before consuming—ingredients and facilities can change.
The Winners
Milk Alternatives
Toddlers need milk alternatives that support growth, offer calcium and vitamin D, and ideally some protein. Here are the best plant-based, soy-free, and dairy-free options:
- Ripple Kids Plant-Based Milk (pea protein, fortified)
- Kiki Milk for Toddlers (whole food-based, organic)
- Oatly Full-Fat Oat Milk (nut-free option)
- MALK Unsweetened Almond or Oat Milk
- Three Trees Organic Nut Milks (clean label)
- Elmhurst Cashew Milk (no gums or fillers)
- Homemade hemp, flax, or coconut milk (good for cooking, not fortified)
Look for: 20–25% calcium, vitamin D, B12, no added sugar.
Cheese Alternatives
Most vegan cheeses contain soy or additives—but not these! These toddler-friendly cheeses are made from cashews, coconut oil, or starches:
- Miyoko’s Creamery Cheese (cultured, cashew-based)
- Violife Just Like Cheddar or Mozzarella
- Treeline Soft Cashew Cheese
- Homemade cashew cheese sauce (cashews + lemon + garlic + nutritional yeast)
- Nutritional yeast (adds cheesy flavor + B12)
Yogurt Alternatives
Creamy, probiotic-rich yogurts without dairy or soy? Yes, please. These picks are great for toddlers 12+ months:
- So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt
- Forager Project Cashewmilk Yogurt
- Cocojune Organic Coconut Yogurt
- Harmless Harvest Dairy-Free Yogurt (coconut-based)
- Homemade chia pudding with coconut milk
Tip: Choose unsweetened and check for live cultures and added calcium.
Frozen Treats & Ice Cream
For hot days or fun treats, these picks skip the allergens and bring the fun:
- So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream (select flavors)
- Nada Moo! (coconut milk-based)
- O’My Dairy-Free Gelato (top-8 allergen-free)
- Banana “nice cream” (frozen banana + sunbutter)
- Coconut milk or oat milk popsicles
Butter & Spreads
These spreads are safe for toast, baking, and even finger foods:
- Earth Balance Soy-Free Buttery Spread
- Miyoko’s Cultured Vegan Butter
- Avocado (mashed or sliced)
- Nut butters (almond, cashew, or peanut if tolerated)
- Sunbutter (great nut-free option)
- Tahini (sesame seed paste)
Creams & Cooking Bases
Use these ingredients to create creamy sauces, soups, and baking recipes:
- Canned coconut milk or cream
- Cashew cream (blended soaked cashews)
- Oatly Oat Cream (or similar brands)
- Hemp or almond milk
- Mashed cauliflower or avocado
Protein Sources
Toddlers need protein for growth and development. These are safe, soy-free alternatives:
- Ripple Kids Milk (8g pea protein per cup)
- Lentils and beans (black, white, navy)
- Quinoa (complete protein)
- Chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds
- Almond or peanut butter (age-appropriate portions)
- Meat, poultry, and eggs (if included in diet)
- Else Nutrition Toddler Formula (soy- and dairy-free, with clean pea + almond protein)
Snacks
Grab-and-go or lunchbox snacks that are allergy-safe:
- Annie’s Vegan Graham Crackers
- MadeGood Granola Minis (select flavors)
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers
- Hippeas Chickpea Puffs
- Fruit or veggie pouches
- Rice cakes with sunbutter
- Coconut flour muffins (homemade)
- Lovebird or Three Wishes Cereals (check labels)
Baking Substitutes
Swapping dairy and soy in baking? Here’s how:
- Coconut oil or avocado oil instead of butter
- Almond, oat, or hemp milk instead of dairy milk
- Applesauce or mashed banana for moisture
- Flax egg (1 Tbsp flax + 3 Tbsp water)
- Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (top-9 allergen-free)
- Nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor
Naturally Calcium-Rich Foods
Calcium is crucial, especially when avoiding dairy. These foods help:
- Chia seeds
- Tahini
- White beans
- Almonds and almond butter
- Leafy greens (kale, collards—cook or blend)
- Broccoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Dried figs
- Fortified plant milks and cereals
Ingredients to Watch For
Even “dairy-free” labels can hide allergens. Be sure to avoid:
- Lecithin (unless labeled sunflower)
- Casein, whey, lactose, milk solids
- Soybean oil, soy flour, soy protein isolate
- Butter flavoring or milk derivatives
- Natural flavors (unless source is clear)
Popular Products but Not Ideal
The following products are labeled dairy-free and soy-free, and many families use them without issue. However, they may come with downsides such as cross-contamination risk, lower nutritional value, added sugars, gums, or gut-irritating ingredients.
These may be fine for occasional use or older toddlers, but if your child has CMPA, gut sensitivity, or multiple food allergies, use extra care and consult your pediatrician or allergist.
Cheese Alternatives
These are popular in stores and technically free of dairy and soy in many varieties, but they’re highly processed, low in nutrients, and often contain gums, starches, and flavor enhancers.
Most of these have long ingredient lists, little to no protein, and can be hard to digest for young toddlers.
- Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds or Slices
- Go Veggie Vegan Cheese Slices (Lactose-Free version)
- Chao Creamy Original (Field Roast) – Made with coconut, but check for cross-contamination
- Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheese Slices
- Violife Cream Cheese and Shreds (some flavors only) – Generally better tolerated, but still processed
Yogurt Alternatives
While convenient and toddler-approved in taste, these yogurts are often very low in protein, heavily sweetened, and may contain gums (like gellan or guar), starches, and natural flavors. Always choose unsweetened, plain versions when possible, and add fruit or chia seeds for nutrition.
- So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt
- Silk Almond Milk Yogurt (select flavors)
- Kite Hill Almond Milk Yogurt
- Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Coconut Yogurt Alternative
- Nancy’s Oatmilk Yogurt
Milk Alternatives
These are commonly found in grocery stores and often fortified with calcium and vitamin D. However, many have low protein, added gums, and may be processed in facilities that handle dairy and soy.
- Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Silk Almond or Coconut Milk (unsweetened)
- So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage (carton)
- Good & Gather Oat Milk (Target brand)
- Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Oat Beverage
Snacks & Frozen Treats
These options are shelf-stable and kid-friendly, but often include added sugars, artificial flavorings, seed oils, or are processed on shared equipment.
Crunchy Snacks:
- Calbee Harvest Snaps (Lightly Salted)
- Lesser Evil Power Curls or Paleo Puffs
- Off the Eaten Path Veggie Crisps
- That’s It Fruit Bars
Frozen Treats:
- So Delicious Dairy-Free Ice Cream (coconut-based)
- Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy Ice Cream (almond/oat base)
- O’My Gelato (coconut base, but still processed)
- Planet Oat Frozen Desserts
- Haagen-Dazs Non-Dairy Sorbet or Oatmilk Line
Baking & Spreads
These items are dairy- and soy-free but contain seed oils, gums, and emulsifiers, and are usually heavily processed.
These can work well in recipes, but shouldn’t replace whole-food fats like avocado, coconut oil, or homemade muffins for everyday use.
- Earth Balance Soy-Free Buttery Spread
- Country Crock Plant Butter (Olive Oil version)
- Smart Balance Light Buttery Spread
- Immaculate Baking Company Cookie Dough (some flavors)
- Enjoy Life Baking Mixes or Soft Baked Cookies
Final Thoughts
Finding soy- and dairy-free foods for your toddler doesn’t have to mean sacrificing nutrition—or fun. With this guide, you can confidently shop and cook knowing your little one is safe, full, and thriving.
