Prep warning
Use pasteurized cheese for babies and keep added salt low. Cheese is a source of milk, one of the common food allergens.
Choking notes
A chunk or firm cube of cheese can block a small airway. Serve cheese finely grated, as a thin smear, or in thin soft strips, and avoid large firm pieces.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Use pasteurized, full-fat cheese and offer it finely grated or as a thin smear rather than in pieces. Sprinkle a little grated cheese over soft vegetables or stir it into mash or a soft pasta so it melts in. Choose a mild, lower-salt cheese where you can.
Finely grated or a thin smear stirred through food; never cubes.
9-12 months
Keep cheese pasteurized and full-fat. Grated cheese or thin, soft strips melted into warm food are easier to manage than chunks. As your baby practises picking things up, a thin soft strip that bends easily is fine, but avoid firm cubes. Keep an eye on the salt.
Grated, or thin soft strips that bend; not firm cubes.
12-18 months
Pasteurized full-fat cheese can be served grated or in small, soft strips. Coarsely grated cheese or thin strips are easier than large, firm cubes or rounds, which are harder to chew. Soft cheeses melt nicely into family meals. Lower-salt cheeses are a good everyday choice.
Grated or small soft strips; avoid large firm cubes or rounds.
Key nutrients
Allergen information
Milk is a common allergen. Read Milk guidance
Common questions
When can my baby eat Cheese?
Most babies can try Cheese from around 6 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
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