Colby cheese

Colby cheese can start when your baby is ready for solids, around 6 months. Sodium may run high. Within a varied diet, a taste now and then is fine. Choose a pasteurized product when you shop, to lower the risk of foodborne illness.

Colby is a mild, lightly sweet, buttery orange cheese. It is named after the Wisconsin town where it was first made. It resembles cheddar but is milder and springier. Colby gets its mild sweetness from rinsing the curds in cold water before they are drained and pressed. It is often made in a cylinder known as a longhorn.

Nutrition

Colby is a source of protein and fat. It also brings calcium, zinc, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin B12. Together these help the body grow and the brain work, and they back up bones, eyesight, energy and defenses.

Choose pasteurized

Buy colby that says pasteurized on the label. Cheese made from raw milk carries a risk of foodborne illness.

Salt

Colby is salty. Babies usually eat only a little. Some sodium is needed for fluid balance and movement. Sharing family meals introduces your baby to many tastes and textures. Serve the cheese now and then, in small amounts.

Melted cheese

Melted cheese that clumps into big globs is a hard bite for a baby. Melt it in a thin layer and do not serve it too hot.

Colby is a choking risk. It is a firm cheese that clumps in the mouth and is hard to manage. Prepare it for your child's age. Sit with your baby at meals and stay within arm's reach.

Colby is mostly made from cow's milk. Cow's milk is a global priority allergen, according to the World Health Organization. In young children it accounts for about one in five childhood food allergies. Dairy from sheep, goats and buffalo can trigger similar reactions. The good news is that milk allergy often fades. Most children with cow's milk allergy outgrow it by age 6. Many babies with mild milk protein allergy can restart milk around the first birthday with a doctor's guidance.

Aged cheeses contain histamine. Children who are sensitive to it can develop a rash.

Annatto

Colby is usually colored with annatto (achiote) seed. Annatto rarely causes allergy. Still, reports of severe allergic reactions exist.

FPIES

Milk often sets off food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), a delayed form of allergy. This is a delayed type of allergy. A few hours after eating, it causes sudden, repeated vomiting and diarrhea. Untreated, it can lead to serious fluid loss. When milk is eaten regularly, a chronic form can show up as reflux, weight loss and poor growth. Symptoms usually improve once milk is stopped. FPIES that starts early is often outgrown by age 3 to 5.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is rare in babies. It causes bloating, gas, diarrhea and nausea, and can be mistaken for allergy. Aged cheeses hold less lactose and are often better tolerated. Ask your pediatrician if you have questions.

If you suspect milk allergy, talk to an allergist before offering cheese. The allergist may suggest testing, or may ask you to give dairy in the clinic under supervision. When the risk looks low, home introduction may be advised. Begin with a small amount and watch. If you already give milk safely, there is no need to start small with pasteurized cheese.