YES — Butter is OK for babies! One of the best first fats!
Quick Answer:
Age to start: 6 months — as soon as you start solids
Best type: Unsalted, pasteurized butter (white or yellow, cow or buffalo — both OK, but unsalted only)
How much: Very small — just a little to add healthy fat
Butter by Age Chart (Safe for your site):
Age
Can Baby Eat Butter?
How Much
How to Give
6-9 months
YES
1/4 tsp (pea size) per meal
Melted in dal, khichdi, mashed potato, porridge
10-12 months
YES
1/2 tsp per meal
On soft roti, paratha (thin), scrambled egg, vegetables
12-18 months
YES
1-2 tsp per day total
On toast, in pasta, rice, baking
18+ months
YES
1-2 tsp per day
Normal use, still unsalted preferred
Which Butter to Use?
BEST ✅
Unsalted butter (Amul White Unsalted, Lurpak Unsalted, any homemade makhan without salt)
Pasteurized
Made from cow milk
AVOID ❌
Salted butter before 12 months (too much salt for kidneys)
Margarine / Dalda (has trans fat)
Garlic butter / flavored butter / peanut butter mixed butter (added salt, spices)
Unpasteurized / bazaar loose butter (infection risk)
Benefits for Babies:
Brain development: Healthy fats for brain
Weight gain: Good for lean babies
Vitamins: Vitamin A, D, E
Makes food tasty: Baby eats more dal/khichdi with a little butter
Important Warnings:
Small amount only: Too much butter = diarrhea, too much fat
Allergy: If baby has cow milk allergy, eczema, or family dairy allergy — ask doctor first. Use ghee instead if allergic? No, ghee is also dairy — ask doctor.
Don’t fry in butter: Butter burns fast — use it melted after cooking, not for deep frying
Ghee vs Butter? Both OK after 6 months. Ghee has more fat, butter has a little more vitamins. You can alternate.