Edam cheese

Edam cheese can be offered from about 6 months, once baby shows signs of readiness for solids. Edam can be salty. A taste now and then is fine within a varied diet. Choose a pasteurized product to lower the risk of foodborne illness.

Edam is a cheese named after a town in the Netherlands. Around the world it goes by names such as eidam, keju edam, and queso de bola. Its wax coat helps it keep for a long time. Young edam is lightly sweet and creamy. Longer aging makes it sharper and saltier.

Nutrition

Edam gives calcium, protein, and fat. Its sodium content can be high.

Long, flat slices are safe and let baby feed alone. For melted cheese, use a small amount of grated edam.

About salt: while babies learn to feed themselves they eat little, so their sodium intake is usually low. Sodium also helps fluid balance. Many health bodies advise cutting salt in baby food. Recent reviews suggest that may not be needed. Sharing family meals also has value, since baby meets more flavors and textures.

Edam cheese carries a choking risk. It is firm, and in the mouth it forms a sticky mass. Do not serve cubes or large chunks. Offer long flat slices or grated cheese.

Small round wax-covered edam-style cheeses are riskier because of their size and firmness. Wait until about 18 months. Stay near baby during meals.

Edam is made from cow's milk (sometimes goat's milk), a common allergen. Cow's milk is a very frequent allergen in young children. In the United States about one in five childhood food allergies is to milk. Sheep, goat, and buffalo milk can trigger similar reactions.

The good news: milk allergy often fades. Most children with cow's milk allergy outgrow it by age 6. Some babies with mild signs can try cow's milk again around the first birthday, guided by a doctor. Aged cheeses contain histamine, and sensitive children may get a rash from it.

Milk is also a common cause of FPIES, a delayed reaction with repeated vomiting and diarrhea a few hours after eating. Untreated, it can lead to serious fluid loss. It usually passes by age 3 to 5.

Lactose intolerance can be mistaken for allergy. It causes bloating, gas, and diarrhea. It is uncommon in babies and toddlers. Aged cheeses contain less lactose.

If you suspect milk allergy, see an allergist before giving cheese. For the first few meals, give a small amount on its own. If there is no reaction, raise the amount slowly.