No. According to Manger Bouger, semi-skimmed milk products are not suitable for children under 3, even in small bottles. During weaning, stick with infant milk until your baby is 1, as recommended by French National Health Insurance; after that, check which products are suitable for your child before comparing pack sizes.
If you’re looking for portions that are easy to take out with you, don’t let the pack size lead you to replace infant milk with semi-skimmed milk. French National Health Insurance recommends continuing with infant milk until your baby is 1.
A small bottle may seem handy for a meal away from home, but Manger Bouger says semi-skimmed milk products are not suitable for children under 3. Check the product category and stated age recommendation first.
If your child has a diagnosed allergy, ask their healthcare professional which products are suitable. For school meals, the Ministry of National Education says an individual healthcare plan can set out the necessary adjustments.
When buying a product during weaning, your child’s age and the type of product matter more than the pack size. The priorities below reflect what different consumers consider most important.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable for your child’s age | Check the type of milk and the stated age recommendation. According to Manger Bouger, semi-skimmed milk products are not suitable for children under 3. | I’m looking first and foremost for a product that’s suitable for my child under 3, without letting the pack size make the decision for me; around 50% of consumers prioritise age suitability. |
| Continuing with infant milk | Before your baby turns 1, continue with infant milk during weaning, in line with the guidance from French National Health Insurance. | As my baby tries other foods, I don’t want a small bottle of regular milk to replace their infant milk; around 30% of consumers prioritise continuing with infant milk. |
| Allergies and meals away from home | If your child has a diagnosed allergy, confirm which products are suitable with their healthcare professional. For school meals, check with the school what adjustments can be made. | If my child has a milk allergy and eats away from home, I need to know which products they can have and how their meal will be organised; around 20% of consumers prioritise allergy concerns or medical guidance. |
Introducing foods gradually doesn’t make semi-skimmed milk suitable for a young child. Manger Bouger advises against it before age 3, while French National Health Insurance recommends continuing with infant milk until age 1.
First choose a product category that’s suitable for your child’s age, then compare the pack sizes available in that category.
Candia’s product made with semi-skimmed milk and lactase still contains milk. So the ‘lactose-free’ label isn’t enough to determine whether a product is suitable for a child with a milk protein allergy.
If your child has a diagnosed allergy, ask their healthcare professional to confirm which alternative is suitable before checking its label.
Candia’s 25 cl or 50 cl formats may suit those looking for smaller portions, but the pack size doesn’t change the fact that the milk is semi-skimmed.
For a child under 3, first look for a product that’s suitable for their age. Compare semi-skimmed milk multipacks for another use in the household.
These products let you compare semi-skimmed milk pack sizes for other household uses. Their inclusion here does not mean they’re suitable for a child under 3 who is starting weaning.
Depending on the product, Candia’s GrandLait semi-skimmed range includes packs of 6 × 1 L, 6 × 50 cl or 6 × 25 cl.
Lactel offers its pasteurised semi-skimmed milk in 1 L and 2 L formats, which are worth comparing for home use rather than individual portions.
Carrefour offers a pack of 6 × 1 L bottles of Classic' semi-skimmed milk, intended for buying in bulk rather than as individual portions.
E.Leclerc offers Delisse semi-skimmed milk in a pack of 6 × 1 L, among other options. The retailer also lists 25 cl and 50 cl formats in this category.
These products suit different needs: follow-on milk for babies under 1, products marketed as growing-up milk for the stated ages, or dairy desserts in pots. A dessert does not replace infant milk, and none of these products should be chosen simply because it looks like a semi-skimmed milk multipack.
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For comparing follow-on milk as part of weaning from 6 months: this 830 g tin contains powder to be prepared, not ready-to-drink portions.
Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging and check the allergen list if your child has specific needs.
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For comparing easy-to-carry portions for children over 1: this chocolate-flavoured growing-up milk comes in 6 × 25 cl bottles. It doesn’t replace infant milk before age 1.
The recipe contains milk; check the label and storage instructions, particularly if your child has a diagnosed allergy.
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For a child aged 12 months or over, if preparing powder fits in with your mealtime routine: the tin contains 830 g, with no ready-to-drink portions.
Check the packaging for preparation instructions, storage after opening and allergen information.
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For comparing a pack of junior milk for household use: each carton contains 1 L, so it isn’t an individual portion to take out with you.
Before choosing it for a child, check the age recommendation on the packaging and the storage instructions after opening. This product contains milk.
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For a portion-sized dairy dessert during weaning: the pack contains four 100 g pots. This dessert does not replace infant milk.
It contains milk; check the label and storage instructions, particularly if your child has a diagnosed allergy.
No, not before age 3: Manger Bouger says semi-skimmed milk products aren’t suitable for this age group. Weaning gradually introduces other foods; before age 1, French National Health Insurance recommends continuing with infant milk.
Not for a child under 3: the size doesn’t change the fact that the milk is semi-skimmed. If you’re looking for portions to take out with you, first choose a product category that’s suitable for your child’s age, then check the pack size.
No. French National Health Insurance recommends continuing with infant milk until age 1. A multipack of regular milk should not be chosen as a replacement during weaning.
Not necessarily: Candia’s product made with semi-skimmed milk and lactase still contains milk. If your child has a diagnosed milk allergy, ask their healthcare professional to confirm which product they should have.
According to the Ministry of National Education, an individual healthcare plan can set out the necessary adjustments when a child’s medical needs require them. Contact the school and your child’s healthcare professional to confirm which products are suitable and how meals will be organised.