Cheese in an infant’s diet – which ones are safe, and which should wait?

Cheese in an infant’s diet – which ones are safe, and which should wait?
Yes, babies can eat cheese! But… not all types are suitable at the beginning. Cheese is a great source of protein, calcium, and fats – all crucial for a growing body. Still, some cheeses are better introduced later.

From around 6 months you can offer:

• Cottage cheese – plain, without salt or additives
• Natural ricotta – mild, low-sodium
• Mozzarella – only if made from pasteurized milk
• Quark / farmer’s cheese – natural, unsalted

Remember: dairy is just one part of your child’s diet. Variety is the key to healthy development.

Research shows that early exposure to cow’s milk proteins (like in yogurt or cheese ) may actually lower the risk of developing milk protein allergy in the future.

What about aged or mold cheeses?

• Hard, aged cheeses (e.g., parmesan, grana padano) – can be offered after around 10–12 months, in small amounts, because of high salt.
• Mold cheeses (brie, camembert, gorgonzola) – NOT safe for infants! They carry the risk of bacterial contamination (Listeria) and too much salt. These should wait until after 2–3 years of age.

Do your little ones enjoy cheese yet?

Yours, Dr Aleksandra 🦋

Dr Aleksandra Gajecka
Pediatrician in Malta

• Treatment of sick children
• Protective baby and childhood vaccinations
• Health check-ups
• Care for the development of healthy children
• Counseling in children’s physical and mental development
• Online consultations regarding the possibilities of effective diagnostics
• Preliminary diagnostics and referring patients to specialists for in-depth diagnostics
• Issuing documents and certificates needed for nurseries, schools and educational institutions