Is It Okay To Give Protein Powder To Babies or Toddlers?

The short answer is that despite their marketing claims and health halo advertising, for most children, they simply aren’t needed and could potentially interfere with intake of other whole foods.

But don’t kids need protein to grow?

Absolutely — protein is essential for growth and development.

However, protein deficiency is uncommon in Australian children. Most children, at every age, meet — and often exceed — their protein needs through everyday foods (even those safe beige foods are quite good sources of protein".

That’s why we generally recommend avoiding products with added or concentrated protein for babies and toddlers. Products like protein-enriched yoghurts (for example, high-protein adult yoghurts) may be appropriate for adults, but a single tub can exceed a young child’s total daily protein requirements.

Higher protein intake in infancy has also been linked with an increased risk of overweight later in childhood¹.

When might protein be a concern?

If a child eats very few protein-containing foods — particularly if they avoid both animal and plant protein sources — then protein intake may need to be assessed.

Even in these cases, off-the-shelf protein powders or shakes are not our first choice. Individual assessment matters, and this is where a one-on-one consultation with a paediatric dietitian can help identify what’s really needed.

“But my child only eats beige foods…”

This is more common than you might think — and often less nutritionally worrying than it feels.

Many beige foods still contribute meaningful nutrition, including protein:

• Milk → protein, calcium, vitamin B12

• Cheese → protein, energy, fats, calcium, vitamin A, zinc

• Cereals → energy, fibre, B vitamins (often iron-fortified)

• Yoghurt → protein, calcium, B vitamins

• Fish fingers and chicken nuggets → protein, iron, energy, fats

We’re not suggesting a beige diet is ideal — variety matters. But we also can’t force children to eat. Our role is to offer, model and support variety over time, not panic about individual food phases.

What about kids who won’t eat vegetables?

Many products market themselves as “complete nutrition” to fill this gap.

While fruit and vegetables aren’t nutritionally identical, fruit does provide many of the same vitamins found in vegetables. If a child is eating fruit, it’s unlikely they are missing major vitamins solely due to vegetable refusal.

If there is a true nutrient deficiency, these products are unlikely to be the right fix anyway. Identifying and correcting deficiencies requires individual assessment — and sometimes blood tests — not a blanket supplement.

Let’s talk safety

Protein powders are often discouraged during pregnancy, not because protein itself is harmful, but because of the potential for contaminants and variable ingredient quality.

The same caution applies to children. If a product contains added protein powders, it’s important to understand exactly what’s in it. Artificial sweeteners, commonly added to make products “low sugar”, can also cause tummy upsets in young children.

And cost matters too

Many of these products work out to well over $200 per kilogram.

By comparison:

• Greek yoghurt or flavoured milk costs just a few dollars per kilogram

• And provides comparable protein, energy and nutrients

The bottom line

What you choose to feed your child is always your decision — but it should be an informed one.

A lot of marketing money is spent convincing parents they need expensive products when, in most cases, they really don’t.

If you’re worried about your child’s nutrition, individual support can make all the difference. A personalised plan addresses the real issue — rather than relying on an expensive “band-aid” in the form of a protein shake.

References

1. https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/news-and-media-releases/articles/high-protein-intake-in-babies-linked-to-obesity-in-childhood 
2. https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/protein