Parmesan cheese
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- yes
- Iron
- low
Milk allergen · choose pasteurized · salty, use little
Contains allergens
Each new allergen is offered on its own and watched for two hours. Our allergen introduction guide is available in Turkish for now.
When can babies eat Parmesan cheese?
You can offer dishes with parmesan once your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. The cheese is salty, so use it now and then and in small amounts. Choose a pasteurized product.
Parmesan belongs to the grana family from Italy. These are hard grating cheeses. Parmesan is made in many places, but Parmigiano Reggiano is a different product. In Italy, Parmigiano Reggiano is protected by its name of origin. Its milk must come from cows that graze around Bologna, Mantua, Modena or Parma. Big wheels are brined and aged. The rind is used to flavor soups and stews.
Parmesan supplies protein, fat and minerals such as calcium, selenium and zinc, plus vitamins A and B12. They support growth, brain development, bones, eyesight and immunity.
How do you prepare Parmesan cheese for babies?
Choose pasteurized
Parmesan is often made from unpasteurized milk. To lower the risk of foodborne illness, check that the label says pasteurized.
About salt
Parmesan is salty. Babies eat little at first, so this is not a problem. Some sodium is needed for fluid balance. Sharing the family table also teaches your baby many flavors and textures.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · How to prepare gratedcube
Cut: Grated
Grate pasteurized parmesan and sprinkle it into or over the dish. When you share a bite, make sure there are no big melted clumps, because a young baby has trouble chewing and managing them. Do not give cubes or large chunks. Include parmesan from time to time in a varied diet.
9 months
9 months · How to prepare as thin long slicesstrip
Slice pasteurized parmesan into long, thin, flat pieces, or break bite-size bits off a flat slice. You can also serve it grated, alone or folded into meals. Keep avoiding cubes and big melted clumps.
12 months
12 months · How to prepare as small pieces and shavingscube
Serve pasteurized parmesan in moderation. Flat bite-size pieces, long thin slices or grated cheese all work. Mix grated cheese into shared dishes or sprinkle it over your child's plate. Cubes and large crumbles raise the choking risk, so skip them.
Is Parmesan cheese a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Hard cheese clumps in the mouth and is hard to manage. Offer grated cheese or thin flat pieces. Avoid cubes and large melted globs.
Hard cheeses such as parmesan can clump in the mouth and be hard to manage. That raises the choking risk.
Prepare the cheese to suit your baby's age: grated at 6 months, thin long slices at 9, small flat pieces at 12. Avoid cubes and large melted clumps. Stay close while your baby eats and keep them upright.
Is Parmesan cheese a common allergen?
Parmesan is a common allergen. It is made from cow's milk. Cow's milk causes about one in five childhood food allergies. Cheeses from sheep, goat and buffalo milk may cause a similar reaction.
The good news is that milk allergy often goes away. Most children with cow's milk allergy outgrow it by age 6. Babies with mild milk protein allergy symptoms may restart milk around the first birthday under a doctor's guidance. Aged cheeses contain histamine, which can cause a rash in sensitive children.
Milk also triggers a delayed allergy called FPIES. It shows up as repeated vomiting and diarrhea a few hours after eating. Untreated, it can lead to dehydration. Most children outgrow it between ages 3 and 5.
Lactose intolerance is not an allergy and is uncommon in babies. Aged cheeses are low in lactose, so most people tolerate them better.
If you suspect a milk allergy
Talk to an allergist before offering cheese. They may order tests or have the first try done in the office. If milk was already introduced without trouble, you can serve pasteurized cheese directly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about Parmesan cheese
Can babies eat parmesan?
Yes, from 6 months, in small amounts inside a dish. Choose a pasteurized product and serve it grated. Because it is salty, offer it only now and then.
Are parmesan and Parmigiano Reggiano the same?
No. Parmesan is made in many places. Parmigiano Reggiano is protected by origin rules in Italy and must be made in set regions.
Is parmesan suitable for lactose intolerance?
Aged cheeses are low in lactose and most people tolerate them better. Lactose intolerance is uncommon in babies. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.
Sources for this page
- Warren CM, Jhaveri S, Warrier MR, Smith B, Gupta RS. (2013). The epidemiology of milk allergy in US children. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2013.02.016
- Wood RA, Sicherer SH, Vickery BP, Jones SM, Liu AH, Fleischer DM, et al. (2013). The natural history of milk allergy in an observational cohort. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2012.10.060
- Comas-Basté O, Sánchez-Pérez S, Veciana-Nogués MT, Latorre-Moratalla M, Vidal-Carou MDC. (2020). Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art. Biomolecules. doi:10.3390/biom10081181
- El-Agamy EI. (2007). El-Agamy EI. Small Ruminant Research 68:64-72. Small Ruminant Research. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.09.016
- Nowak-Węgrzyn A. (2015). Nowak-Węgrzyn A. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings 36(3):172-184. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. doi:10.2500/aap.2015.36.3811
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com