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When can children eat cheese?

Cheese is a full-fat dairy product, infants under 2 years old need fat for body and brain development.

Babies from 6 months old can start eating cheese, but it is safest when they are 8-10 months old. Parents let children eat cheese to add fat, but be sure to choose pasteurized ones to ensure safety.

To avoid poisoning children when eating cheese, parents should not give children soft or moldy cheese (goat cheese, brie, camembert). Blue-veined cheeses like roquefort are also not suitable for children because they contain listeria, a harmful bacteria that causes food poisoning.





8-10 months is a safe time for babies to get used to solid foods like cheese.  Photo: Freepik

8-10 months is a safe time for babies to get used to solid foods like cheese. Image: Freepik

Benefits of cheese for babies

Adults help children get used to cheese by feeding them from 28.3-46.7 g per day for children aged 6-8 months, children aged 8-10 months can eat twice this amount. This amount of cheese provides 87 milligrams (mg) of calcium, 167 mg of phosphorus and 10.2 micrograms of selenium, and boosts your baby with vitamin A, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and healthy fats.

Whole cheese is a good source of calcium, protein and other important nutrients, and half a cup of cheese has 12 grams of protein. However, babies are more likely to be allergic to this food if they are allergic to cow’s milk. If a child is allergic to cheese, they will have diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, bloating, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. In infants and young children, constipation manifests as infrequent, difficult, and painful bowel movements. If parents notice their child has symptoms of constipation, remove cheese from the menu for a while to monitor.

Signs of an allergic reaction can range from mild to severe, the most severe reaction being anaphylaxis. Take the child to the health station and treat with an epinephrine injection as soon as possible.

During the first year of life, even when a baby is on solid foods, breast milk or formula should still be the primary source of nutrition for the infant. During this time, solid foods are considered complementary foods. Cheese is delicious and easy to use, convenient to introduce milk into the diet of young children (calcium in milk is important for the development of strong bones).

How to make cheese for babies

As a solid food, cheese can present a choking hazard. Parents need to keep a close eye on their children when they are learning to eat cheese, avoiding cheese blocks or pieces and opting for shredded, melted or raw cheese instead. Parents avoid giving children molten mozzarella cheese, which is very chewy and can easily choke children if not cut into small pieces.

To be safe, parents should cut cheese into small pieces, convenient for children to pick up and easy to chew. Besides chopping, parents can also sprinkle or grate on pasta dishes, spread cream cheese thin on toast. Cottage cheese is another good, soft but safe option. You can also mix cottage cheese with grated fruits and vegetables if your baby likes it that way.

For babies, spoonable cheese is a good place to start. Cottage cheese and ricotta are all kid-friendly options. As children get older and have developed their grip, parents can mix more foods. After children are familiar with cheese, if they show interest, parents can let children try parmesan, romano cheese.

Quynh Anh (Follow Healthline, Verwellfamily)

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