Many parents are confused about how to introduce cheese to children, this is because cow’s milk is not recommended for babies who are less than a year old. Cheese comes under the dairy product list and that makes people to think twice before introducing cheese to children. There are two reasons why diary products are not advised to children below one year, cow milk protein is hard to digest and cow milk does not provide the required amount of iron to the baby. However cheese is the best low lactose food that can be fed to children.

Introduce cheese to children

Cheese is considered best food for children as it loaded with calcium, proteins and Vitamin A, D and B12. Moreover Vitamin B12 in cheese makes cheese as a special food vegetarian baby, which is usually absorbed by consuming meat. Calcium is very important for growing children as it is contributes to the development of bones.

When can I introduce cheese to children?

This usually varies from one country to another. For example, in UK you can find parents introducing cheese to children at 6 months of age. But in US, they are conservative and start giving cheese only around 8 or 9 months. To introduce cheese to children you should consider various factors.

Check family history for food allergy

If there is any family history of food allergies or in case the baby has eczema or asthma, then you should delay introducing cheese to children.  As intake of cheese would affect the baby or worsen the condition. In those cases, it is advised to wait till one year. The same is advised by American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. When you do not have any family history of food allergy, then you can start giving cheese to your children around 9 months. This time is considered as the most suitable time to try cheese in children.

Baby should learn to chew

Before introducing cheese to children, ensure that your child knows to chew. There is no need for teeth, as cheese are soft, they only need to chew the small pieces fed to them. Once you introduce cheese, start noticing the changes if any like swelling in the mouth, lips and face, diarrhea, wheezing, rash, and vomiting. These may be allergic reaction and you should immediately consult the doctor. Also stop giving cheese to your baby when any of the symptoms starts even mildly.

Prefer soft cheeses

Stick to soft cheeses, as they are considered safe. Unpasteurised varieties like feta, brie, and blue veined are not recommended for children. They may carry listeria, a dangerous blood borne virus that can become fatal to children.

Conclusion

When you introduce cheese to children, start with milder ones like mozzarella cheddar, Edam and Colby jack. Avoid Ricotta, cream cheese, mascarpone and cottage cheese, though some mentioned here come in the soft category, do not use them as they are unsafe.

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