Bushra Griffith
Cheese can be introduced to a baby's diet around six months after they start solids, but it's important to be cautious as cheese is a common choking hazard. Soft cheeses such as ricotta, cottage cheese, and goat cheese are recommended for babies who are just starting to eat solids, as they are similar in texture to thick baby food. Harder cheeses like cheddar can be introduced once your baby is a more experienced chewer, but it's best to avoid cheeses with high sodium content (more than 100 mg per serving) until after 12 months of age.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to introduce cheese | Soon after a baby starts solids, or around 6 months |
| Type of cheese | Fresh mozzarella, ricotta, mild goat cheese, and other soft cheeses |
| Choking hazard | Avoid giving large chunks of hard cheese |
| Sodium content | Avoid cheeses with more than 100 mg of sodium per serving until after 12 months of age |
| Fat content | Opt for whole milk cheeses as babies need healthy fats for development |
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What You'll Learn
- Soft cheeses are best for babies, such as ricotta, cottage cheese, and goat cheese
- Avoid harder cheeses like cheddar until your baby is a more experienced chewer
- Processed cheeses like American cheese are high in sodium and should be avoided
- Babies need healthy fats for development, so opt for whole milk cheeses
- Cheese is a common choking hazard, so don't give babies large chunks of hard cheese
Soft cheeses are best for babies, such as ricotta, cottage cheese, and goat cheese
Babies can choke on large chunks of hard cheese, so it's best to avoid these until they are more experienced chewers. Harder cheeses like cheddar can be introduced once your baby is a more experienced chewer.
Some processed cheeses (like American cheese) are high in sodium and offer less nutrition, so try to stick with less-processed cheese that's lower in sodium. Also, avoid low-fat cheeses and opt for cheeses that are made from whole milk, since babies need healthy fats to support their development.
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Avoid harder cheeses like cheddar until your baby is a more experienced chewer
Cheese is a common choking hazard for babies, so it's important to be careful about the type of cheese you introduce to your baby and how you prepare it.
Babies can start eating cheese soon after they start solids, or around six months, as long as it's soft and easy for them to ingest. Soft cheeses, such as ricotta, cottage cheese, farmer's cheese, goat cheese, and mozzarella, are great choices for babies starting solids. These cheeses can be spread on toast sticks or served from a baby spoon. As babies get older, you can introduce goat cheese crumbles and shredded cheeses.
Harder cheeses like cheddar should be avoided until your baby is a more experienced chewer. Before introducing harder cheeses, it's important to ensure your baby can handle them safely to prevent choking. Some processed cheeses, like American cheese, are high in sodium and offer less nutrition, so it's best to stick with less-processed cheeses that are lower in sodium. Additionally, low-fat cheeses should be avoided in favour of whole-milk cheeses, as babies need healthy fats for their development.
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Processed cheeses like American cheese are high in sodium and should be avoided
Babies can start eating cheese soon after they start solids, or around six months, as long as it's prepared in a way that's easy for them to ingest. It's best to start with very soft cheese that is similar in texture to thick baby foods, such as ricotta, blended cottage cheese, or farmer's cheese. Soft cheeses are less of a choking hazard than hard cheeses, so it's important to avoid giving babies large chunks of hard cheese.
As your baby gets older, you can serve grated, slightly firmer cheeses such as mild cheddar or Swiss. However, it's recommended to avoid introducing your baby to cheeses with higher sodium content (more than 100 mg per serving) until after 12 months of age. Even after 12 months, it's still a good idea to limit these higher-sodium cheeses.
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Babies need healthy fats for development, so opt for whole milk cheeses
Some processed cheeses, like American cheese, are high in sodium and offer less nutrition, so try to stick with less-processed cheese that's lower in sodium. Avoid low-fat cheeses and opt for whole milk cheeses. You can start offering cheese soon after a baby starts solids, or around six months, as long as it's prepared in a way that's easy for them to ingest. Keep in mind that cheese is a common choking hazard for babies, so don't give them large chunks of hard cheese to eat.
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Cheese is a common choking hazard, so don't give babies large chunks of hard cheese
Cheese is a common choking hazard for babies, so it's important not to give them large chunks of hard cheese. Babies can start eating cheese soon after they start solids, or around six months, as long as it's prepared in a way that's easy for them to ingest. Start with very soft cheeses that are similar in texture to thick baby foods, such as ricotta, blended cottage cheese, farmer's cheese, goat cheese, or mozzarella. You can offer these on toast sticks or from a baby spoon. As they get older, you can offer goat cheese crumbles and shredded cheeses. Harder cheeses like cheddar can be introduced once your baby is a more experienced chewer. Some processed cheeses (like American cheese) are high in sodium and offer less nutrition, so try to stick with less-processed cheese that's lower in sodium. Also, avoid low-fat cheeses and opt for cheeses that are made from whole milk, since babies need healthy fats to support their development.
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Frequently asked questions
Fresh mozzarella, ricotta, mild goat cheese, and other soft cheeses are the best types of cheese for early eaters. Harder cheeses like cheddar can be introduced once your baby is a more experienced chewer.
You can start offering cheese soon after a baby starts solids, or around 6 months, as long as it’s prepared in a way that’s easy for them to ingest.
Cheese is a common choking hazard for babies, so don't give them large chunks of hard cheese to eat. You can offer your baby very soft cheeses spread on toast sticks about the same size as your finger, or from a baby spoon.
Some processed cheeses (like American cheese) are high in sodium and offer less nutrition, so try to stick with less-processed cheese that's lower in sodium. Also, avoid low-fat cheeses and opt for cheeses that are made from whole milk, since babies need healthy fats to support their development.
