When Can You Introduce Cheese to Your Baby

Cheese is rich in calcium and protein, both of which are good for a baby’s development.

However, it’s crucial to understand whether and how to prepare cheese for your babies. Additionally, not all cheeses are good for babies.

I’ll share with you everything I’ve learned about cheese and babies in this post. Here’s how to choose the ideal cheese for your adorable babies.

When Can Babies Have Cheese?

Most babies are ready to start solids sometime around 6 months. Dairy is a common allergen, so it shouldn’t be the very first item on your new eater’s menu. But you don’t have to wait too long to serve cheese either. It is safe, according to experts, to introduce more widespread allergens like dairy, including cheese, after your baby has tried and tolerated a number of less-allergenic foods (like fruits, vegetables, or baby cereal).

Aim to introduce cheese between 6 and 8 months, when your child is more adept at self-feeding, as it is best consumed as a finger food. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has changed its position from the previous belief that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods would reduce the likelihood of reactions. In actuality, a child’s allergy risk may increase if dairy-based foods like cheese are served too late.

Start with options that are soft and or easily shreddable, which are easier to gum and pose less of a choking hazard.

If cheese is the first dairy-based food you give your baby, arrange for this introduction to take place at home rather than a daycare facility or a restaurant. It will be simpler to keep an eye on him for the first hour or so after eating if you do that so you can look out for any possible allergic reactions. Additionally, you’ll be able to identify cheese as the problem quickly if there is an issue because you’ll be certain of all the ingredients he consumed during meals.

How to Prepare Cheese for Your Baby

Start with soft cheeses like ricotta, fresh mozzarella, Swiss, young cheddar, or goat cheese, which are typically lower in sodium. These kinds won’t cause a salt overload and are better for gumming. You can move on to firmer or more flavorful options (think thin shards of Parmesan) as your gourmand gains more experience — and more teeth. Hard cheese chunks shouldn’t be given to infants or toddlers because they can choke them.

Regardless of the type of cheese and your tot’s age, a fromage that’s fit for the menu should be:

• Real cheese, not processed cheese products. Avoid processed cheese slices, packaged cheese spreads, and cheese sauces because they frequently contain sodium and artificial ingredients.
• Made from pasteurized milk. Your baby or toddler could become ill from eating dairy products made from raw milk, especially soft cheeses. If a label doesn’t specify that a cheese is pasteurized, don’t serve it.
• Full-fat. Avoid low-fat cheeses because the fat and cholesterol are good for the developing body of your infant or toddler.
• Monitor your sodium intake. Less than 400 milligrams of sodium per day should be consumed by infants younger than 12 months, but foods like cheese can quickly add up to this amount. The secret is serving cheese as part of a well-balanced meal and choosing plain cheese made from natural ingredients over highly processed varieties.

With the caveat that every baby develops at their own rate, the advice provided below can help parents decide how much cheese to serve at various stages. Speak with your pediatrician before beginning baby-led weaning, and talk to him or her if you have any concerns about your child’s oral-motor skills, chewing skills, swallowing skills, or if you’re unsure whether or not your baby is ready for certain food preparations.

How to Prepare Cheese for a 6-month-old

Keep to very soft cheeses that can be picked up or palmed by your new eater. Think thin strips of mozzarella or little mounds of ricotta or cottage cheese. You can also try spreading a soft cheese like ricotta onto strips of whole grain toast once your pediatrician gives the all-clear to serve multi-ingredient foods.

How to Prepare Cheese for a 9-month-old

Offer milder cheddar or Swiss cheeses that are a little firmer in the form of diced cubes, thin strips, or grated cheese. These provide a tasty opportunity for your little nibbler to put his newly acquired pincer grasp into practice.

How to Prepare Cheese for 12-month-olds and Up

The best options still include small cheese cubes, thin cheese strips, and piles of grated cheese. Now that your new toddler’s chewing skills are getting better, you can try thin pieces of harder cheeses like Parmesan. But you should still avoid chunks of hard cheese.

What Are the Benefits of Cheese for Babies and Toddlers?

Every type of cheese is a fantastic source of calcium, regardless of how you slice it. Your child’s body is currently working very hard to develop strong, healthy bones, muscles, and teeth, so it is essential that they get enough of the mineral. Just 1 1/2 ounces of cheddar or Swiss cheese provides about 250 milligrams of calcium, so it doesn’t take much.

If your baby or toddler tends to reject meat, cheese is a great way to easily increase the protein in their meal. Additionally, it will help him feel satisfied until his next meal or snack by making him feel fuller for longer than a plate of carbs would.

Is Cheese a Choking Hazard for Babies?

For kids 4 and younger, cheese chunks are the top choking hazard. Make sure you always prepare cheese safely for your child’s age, such as by offering soft or shredded varieties for the earliest eaters, then cutting cheese into small, bite-sized cubes or strips for older babies and toddlers.

Additionally, remember to watch over your young child while he eats, sit him up straight during meals, and never give him food while he is lying down, walking, riding in a car, or playing.

Can Babies Be Allergic to Cheese?

Along with eggs and peanuts, cow’s milk is one of the most frequently encountered allergens in baby food. (Fortunately, most children outgrow their milk allergies by the age of three.) In any case, if cheese is the first dairy food you’re serving, it’s especially crucial to keep an eye out for any warning signs of a potential reaction.

Your baby or toddler might have a food allergy if, immediately or within an hour or two after eating, he experiences:

• Hives
• Itching
• Skin, lip or tongue swelling
• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Throat tightness or trouble swallowing
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea
• Trouble breathing

If your infant or toddler has lactose intolerance—a condition in which the person is unable to digest or break down lactose, a sugar found in milk—cheese may also cause discomfort. Baby and infant lactose intolerance is extremely uncommon, but when it does happen, it’s characterized by issues like gas, diarrhea, bloating, spotting, agitation, and even failure to thrive or gain weight.

Conversely, lactose intolerance need not result in a complete ban on all cheese varieties. Many children who cannot tolerate milk can still eat dairy products with lower lactose content, such as cheese and yogurt.

Take cheese and other dairy products off the menu and talk to the pediatrician about your child’s symptoms if you think he may have a milk allergy or intolerance. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor for your child may advise blood or skin testing.

If several body parts are affected, an allergic reaction could become more severe or even potentially fatal (known as anaphylaxis). In the unlikely event that your child exhibits symptoms of a potentially fatal allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, dial 911 immediately.

Cheese Recipes for Babies and Toddlers

It’s pretty darn tasty to eat cheese by itself. But as your baby’s palate expands and his plate (slowly) starts to look more like yours, that cheddar or mozz will likely get served as part of more multi-ingredient meals. Just keep in mind to introduce foods one at a time, especially common allergens like eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, dairy, and seafood.

Some yummy starting points:

• Scrambled eggs with cheese. It really is as easy as it seems. Grated cheese or mozzarella is a crowd-pleaser that is never a letdown.
• English muffin pizza. Shredded mozzarella and tomato sauce are spread on one half of a whole wheat English muffin. For ease of handling, cut the muffin into strips or quarters.
• Cheesy veggie melt. Top broccoli or cauliflower florets that have been steamed until soft and chopped into small pieces with Swiss or cheddar and broil until melted.
• fruit and cheese platter. Serve thinly sliced strawberries, halved or smushed blueberries, grated apple, and a small mound of cheese that has been shredded.
• Cheesy pasta with peas. Toss warm whole wheat pasta with butter, grated ricotta cheese, and frozen thawed peas.
• Mozzarella meatballs. Before cooking, tuck tiny balls of mozzarella into the centers of the miniature meatballs.
• Toasted cheese bites. Toast a slice of whole grain bread with cheese on top in the toaster until it is bubbly. Half a sandwich can be made by slicing toast in half and folding. Into strips or squares, cut the sandwich.

Final Thoughts

You can let your baby have cheese at around 6 months. But before you do that, please make sure your baby is not allergic to dairy products. And also be aware of choking when you are feeding.

Related Reading

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5 Best Low-Sodium Cheeses You Can’t Miss

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