Cheese for Babies: Which Cheese, When, and How to Serve It

• From around 6 months
• Common allergen (milk)
• Pasteurised, small amounts

Pasteurised full-fat cheese, like mild cheddar, is fine from around 6 months. Cow’s milk is a common allergen, so start with a small amount and watch for a reaction. Many cheeses are salty, so keep portions small. Avoid soft mould-ripened cheeses (brie, camembert), soft blue cheeses and cheese made from unpasteurised milk, unless they’re cooked in a hot dish until steaming.

📲 95 Bibful recipes with cheese

How to serve it by age

1. 6–8 months

   ✋ Finger food (BLW)

   Thin strips of mild hard cheese, or grated cheese melted onto toast fingers.

   🥣 Purée or spoon

   Stir a little grated cheese into vegetable purée, mash or pasta.

3. 9–12 months

   ✋ Finger food (BLW)

   Grated cheese or small thin pieces, or a soft cheese omelette.

   🥣 Purée or spoon

   A mild cheese sauce without added salt, with pasta or vegetables.

5. 12+ months

   ✋ Finger food (BLW)

   Thin slices or small pieces of cheese, and grated cheese in toasties or muffins.

   🥣 Purée or spoon

   Cheesy pasta, risotto and vegetable bakes.

Have cheese at home? See what you can cook

Add a second ingredient to see matching Bibful recipes.

✓ 🧀 Cheese+ 🥚 Egg+ 🍝 Pasta+ 🍅 Tomato+ 🥬 Spinach+ 🥕 Carrot

95 Bibful recipes with cheese

• 
  Spinach & Cheese Scrambled Eggs8 min · from 6 months
• 
  Spinach & Cheese Eggy Bread10 min · from 6 months
• 
  Potato Cheese Toastie13 min · from 6 months

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Preparation tips

• Pasteurised only. Choose cheese made from pasteurised milk; skip soft mould-ripened and soft blue cheese unless cooked until steaming.
• Mind the salt. Halloumi, feta and processed cheese are very salty; a little mild cheddar or ricotta goes a long way.
• Thin, not chunky. Thick cubes of firm cheese can be hard to manage; offer thin strips, slices or grated cheese.

• Foods to avoid before 12 months
• How to introduce allergens safely

Frequently asked questions

Which cheese is best for babies?

Mild, pasteurised full-fat cheeses such as mild cheddar, or soft fresh cheeses such as ricotta and cream cheese, in small amounts.

Can babies have cheese every day?

A little is fine, but cheese is salty, so keep portions small and mix it into meals rather than serving a lot on its own.

What are the signs of an allergic reaction?

Signs can include hives or a rash, swelling of the lips or face, vomiting, or coughing and wheezing, usually soon after eating. If your baby has trouble breathing or swallowing, call emergency services straight away. For milder signs, stop giving cheese and speak to your GP.

More first foods

• 🍎 Apple
• 🥑 Avocado
• 🍌 Banana
• 🥩 Beef
• 🫐 Blueberries
• 🍞 Bread
• 🥦 Broccoli
• 🎃 Butternut squash
• 🥕 Carrot
• 🥦 Cauliflower
• 🌿 Celery
• 🍗 Chicken
• 🫘 Chickpeas
• 🥥 Coconut
• 🥒 Courgette
• 🥚 Egg
• 🫛 Green beans
• 🍖 Lamb
• 🫘 Lentils
• 🥭 Mango
• 🥛 Cow’s milk
• 🥣 Oats
• 🍝 Pasta
• 🥜 Peanut
• 🍐 Pear
• 🫛 Peas
• 🥔 Potato
• 🦐 Prawns
• 🫑 Red pepper
• 🍚 Rice
• 🐟 Salmon
• 🥬 Spinach
• 🍓 Strawberries
• 🍠 Sweet potato
• 🥄 Tahini
• Tofu
• 🍅 Tomato
• 🌰 Walnut
• 🥛 Yogurt

This page is general information, not medical advice. It follows NHS Start for Life and World Health Organization guidance on introducing solid foods. Always stay with your baby while they eat, and speak to your health visitor or GP if you have concerns about feeding, allergies or choking.