When Is It Safe To Feed Your Baby Cheese?

As a new parent, you are probably looking forward to the time when you can start introducing your baby to solid foods. The good news is that cheese is actually one of the earlier foods that you can give your baby, despite the concerns of most people. Keep in mind, however, that every baby is different, so you need to know how to properly start giving your baby cheese.

Age

You can actually start giving your baby a bit of cheese as soon as she is about six months, provided that she can already gum or chew well. You will, of course, want to make sure the cheese is in small pieces to minimize a choking risk. Many parents wonder why you can introduce cheese before milk and the answer comes down to the fact that when cheese is cultured, the quantity of lactose is reduced, making it easier to digest the milk protein.

Safety Concerns

Anytime you introduce a new food, like cheese, to your baby, you need to carefully watch her for signs of an allergic reaction such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, skin rash, wheezing, or swelling on the face, lips, or tongue. If your baby has shown signs of a milk allergy or there is a family history of one, talk to your pediatrician before giving your child any cheese.

Best Types Of Cheese

Although you can start giving your baby cheese early on, you shouldn’t just give her any cheese you have lying around. Experts suggest you start with those with mild flavors such as American, Jack, Colby, cheddar, or cottage cheese. You should not, however, give your baby soft cheeses until she is older as these are frequently unpasteurized and may contain listeria. Although the risk is low, you should always consult your pediatrician before giving your baby any soft cheese, although cottage cheese and cream cheese are usually safe for baby.

Serving Ideas

When you give your baby cheese, be sure that it is actually cheese and not a “cheese product.” The easiest way to do this is to purchase it from a cheese retailer. You can easily offer the solid cheeses (like cheddar) as finger foods, but shred it first. You can also melt it and add it to some small pieces of bread or veggies. You can even stir it into rice, noodles, scrambled eggs. If you want to give your baby cottage cheese, you should try mixing it with fruit, spices, or a mashed avocado or banana while your baby gets used to the texture.