This review summarizes the latest knowledge related to the safety and suitability of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS, DP 3-5) in infant and young children formulae. PubMed/Medline and CAB abstract databases were searched from 1997 onwards, evaluating scFOS effects in children below 3 years old and in newborn animals. On 252 studies identified, only 6 RCTs and 6 studies on neonate animals were included, based on their quality. The supplementation of scFOS is well tolerated, leading to normal growth during early life. At 4 or 5 g/L, they increased Bifidobacteria count after one month of supplementation. Kestose (DP3), at 1-2 g/day, alleviated the clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis in infants and toddlers. ScFOS are safe up to 4 g/L in infant formulae, and 5 g/L in formulae for young children. Evidences exist to consider that scFOS supplementation of infant and follow-on formulae bring infants health benefits that represents a good nutritional strategy when breastfeeding is impossible by mothers.