Can I Give My Baby Hemp Milk?

Can I give my baby hemp milk?Hemp milk is a milky substance derived from hemp seeds, the same seeds that will grow into marijuana if allowed to. As an alternative to milk, some moms are wondering if they can give their baby this, or if there are any reasons not to do so.

Getting over the fact that this is derived from hemp seeds is the first order of business. Next you’ll want to peruse the list of benefits that can be had by drinking hemp milk over other forms of milk, including cow’s milk. First, it’s dairy free, which is good for babies that show a sensitivity to dairy. Second, it has protein, which is nice for a growing baby, and it’s good to find sources of protein aside from animal protein.

It doesn’t have any cholesterol, and it is packed with vitamins and minerals, including all of the amino acids that the human body needs to function optimally. For more benefits, and how to make your own, check out this page from Global Healing Center.

Can I Give My Baby Hemp Milk? Answer: From 7-8 Months

Regarding the legality of hemp milk, it’s completely legal as it doesn’t contain the substances that marijuana does, and you can’t get high from drinking it the same way you can get high from eating pot brownies. This means that you don’t have to worry about buying it or giving it to your baby, and you can consider it and compare it to other milks that are derived from nuts, seeds, and plants, like almond milk, or soy milk.

It Won’t Make Your Baby High
The first thing that probably raises an eyebrow is the thought that perhaps your baby might feel some of the effects from the hemp seeds. But hemp seeds do not contain the part of marijuana that produces the psychoactive effects, so you won’t have to worry about your baby becoming addicted to the substance, or it being a gateway to other drugs.

Omegas for Baby
Hemp milk contains important omega-3s and omega-6s, which play a role in your child’s development, and do not pose a threat to babies with nut allergies. Overall, it’s a very well-tolerated beverage with a rich taste that many babies will appreciate. You might not be too familiar with hemp milk as a drink, because only recently has it started to gain in popularity, and mostly in health food circles, found in health food shops almost exclusively. Perhaps it will make it more into the mainstream as the benefits become more apparent to the general population.

Continue to Breastfeed
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t cease your breastfeeding efforts in lieu of milk or milk alternatives. You’ll want to continue to supplement your baby’s diet with breast milk even when they’re eating solid foods and it doesn’t seem like they need it anymore. This is because breast milk gives them all that they need in a one-stop shop sort of format. You can try to give your baby the best baby food in the world but you could still be leaving nutritional gaps that breast milk covers nicely. Let nature be your guide and as long as your still producing and your baby is accepting there’s no reason to stop.

Further Considerations
Getting good quality hemp milk is important if you decide to give it to your baby. Just like with any other product the quality will vary from brand to brand. That’s why you want to make sure to read the label on the packaging to see what it all includes. Going organic would be your best bet, but barring that make sure that it does not include fillers or additives that are unnatural. You still want to give your baby the highest quality foods no matter what you end up giving them.

Hemp milk can be added to your baby’s diet along with other wholesome foods when they are ready for it. There is not set time period that makes it OK, you have to keep in tune with your baby to know when they’re ready for certain foods, tastes, and textures. Keeping a food journal helps to keep a record of things they like and don’t like, and you can always try re-introducing foods at a later time if they didn’t like them before.

Add Your Own Answer to Can I Give My Baby Hemp Milk? Below

{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

Clee June 23, 2013 at 8:10 am

Can I give my baby flax milk? and when? Any harmful side effects i.e. loose stool or diarrhea.

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canigivemybaby June 24, 2013 at 1:53 am

Hi Clee,
We don’t recommend Flax Milk for children under two years. It doesn’t have the nutrition growing infants need. If you need advice on milk substitutes please talk to your child’s pediatrician.

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Richie July 12, 2013 at 12:25 am

My breastfeeding baby is 4 months old and I am considering hemp milk as a supplement for when I can’t produce enough of my own milk. If I did feed it to my baby, I would cut it with my breastmilk. How do you feel about that? I ask because she’s 4 months and your site recommends 7+ months. And why is that, anyway?

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canigivemybaby July 12, 2013 at 3:16 am

Hi Richie,
Babies younger than 12 months need the specific nutritional benefits from either breast milk or formula. Their vitamin, mineral and fat needs are unique, and breast milk or formula are able to meet those specific needs to ensure healthy body and brain development. Their digestive tract is also still developing and babies will digest other milks better once they are older. Many alternative milks are not nutritious; some contain preservatives, thickeners and flavors so we advise that people are careful when checking the ingredient list and nutritional value. Hope this helps.

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megan July 27, 2013 at 11:46 pm

I do have my 8 month old on hemp milk right now and was wondering if this is enough? she is eating solids and drinking hemp milk and thats all.

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canigivemybaby July 28, 2013 at 10:28 pm

Hi Megan,
Thanks for your comments. I am not a nutritionist, but I would talk to a nutritionist or pediatrician about your baby’s diet. You can also do some research about the quantity of good fats and calcium your baby is consuming and talk to a health professional about the quantities your baby needs to have good growth and development.
Good luck! Amber

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sheena August 28, 2013 at 7:17 pm

I have a month old and someone told me I should switch her supplement formula to hemp milk. Is she too young? Not sure if ill even switch just wondering if its even safe.

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hannah January 27, 2014 at 11:12 pm

Can I give my 3 month old hemp milk? She eats cereal already. I switched her to soy it did good for a while and now we’re back to spitting up a lot.

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canigivemybaby January 28, 2014 at 3:58 am

Hi Hannah,
Three months is very early for hemp milk, I would talk to a nutritionist or your doctor. According to the World Health Organization we should be solely breast or formula feeding for the first six months. It’s hard to know what to do with a little one who is spitting up all of the time. Have you investigated the possibility of infant reflux? I am sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance, but regularly spitting up sounds a little more serious than normal. Could you switch back to only formula or breast milk until you got help? Does she spit up on those?
I hope it all works out for you and your little girl, Amber

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hannah January 27, 2014 at 11:12 pm

Can I give my 3 month old hemp milk? She eats cereal already. I switched her to soy it did good for a while and now we’re back to spitting up a lot.

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Susan March 14, 2014 at 5:44 pm

I’d probably not give her cereal right away. Babies that early lack the enzyme to break down cereal. Wait till they’re at least 6 months old. Good first foods are avocado’s. Last two babies, I didn’t start with cereal until they were 7 months old. Their first foods were avocado’s and bananas. Baby is now quinoa that I powder up using a coffee grinder. Starting too early with solids can cause problems and may develop allergies. Soy, wouldn’t recommend. I used soy for my first one and it was the worst thing I could’ve done…he was allergic to soy and thus had skin and allergy problems, but I didn’t know that it was soy. Soy, the way we eat it is bad for our gut and immune system. Soy the way the Japanese eat it is ok. Go for goat milk!

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Susan March 14, 2014 at 5:47 pm

In addition, if it happens to be reflux, you can crush up a little bit of plant enzymes to mix with milk or food to help with digestion. Reflux is not a result of too much acid contrary to what mainstream believes. My daughter who is now 2 has slight reflux issues and at supper time I give her a quarter of a plant enzymes, half a pill of B12 and a small bit of black licorice (contains licorice root).

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Susan March 14, 2014 at 5:47 pm

In addition, if it happens to be reflux, you can crush up a little bit of plant enzymes to mix with milk or food to help with digestion. Reflux is not a result of too much acid contrary to what mainstream believes. My daughter who is now 2 has slight reflux issues and at supper time I give her a quarter of a plant enzymes, half a pill of B12 and a small bit of black licorice (contains licorice root).

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canigivemybaby March 18, 2014 at 10:04 pm

Hi Susan,
Thank you for your comments - you’ve given me and our readers some great ideas!!
Amber

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carla fox January 30, 2014 at 7:43 pm

I would make fresh hemp milk with seeds with coconut sugar for sweetner, I would not recommend this stuff for babies xx

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canigivemybaby January 30, 2014 at 9:41 pm

Thanks Carla, that’s a great tip for adults

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Susan March 14, 2014 at 5:30 pm

For those thinking about an alternative milk, I would highly suggest goat milk. It’s the 2nd closest milk to breastmilk. You can get it raw (go to the Westin Price site for places that will sell it to you raw). It does lack two vitamins, but what I did was add liquid vitamins to the milk. It’s definitely an acquired taste so you will need to let’s say if baby is on breastmilk or formula, add a teeny bit of goat milk so the baby can be used to the taste. Then increase the portion of goat milk to breastmilk/formula till baby is comfortable. In addition to liquid vitamins, I also added black-strap molasses, like 1/2 a tsp and you can slightly sweeten the milk (breastmilk is sweet to a baby) using dextrose sugar - just a pinch or two (no honey - can’t be given to babies under 1yr old, no agave). Also added fish oil or krill oil and coconut oil (lauric acid) as well. If you get lots of raw goat milk, freeze them in quarter freezer bags and pull out to thaw when you need them. The milk can stay in glass jars or you can buy the milk jars w/the small mouths for easy pouring. Another alternative, powdered goat milk by Meyenberg. I’ve used goat milk with all my babies when I had to supplement in addition to breastmilk. Currently supplement w/powdered goat for my 7 month old. I did use hemp milk when my daughter turned 1. I really don’t recommend using hemp milk for babies, especially as young as 3 months.

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Anneli June 28, 2014 at 11:53 am

Hi, my baby is turning one and I want to switch her to hemp milk. i made my oen but she doesnt seem to like the earthy taste, whats the best way to do this? Maybe mixing it with breastmilk and reducing the amount as you go along?

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