White cheese
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- yes
- Iron
- low
Cow's milk allergen · salty, choose pasteurized
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 white cheese?
When can babies have white cheese?
White cheese can be offered once your baby is ready for solids, from about 6 months. The NHS says pasteurized hard cheeses can be given from 6 months.
The Turkish Food Codex Cheese Communique describes white cheese as a cheese kept in brine. Because of the brine, the salt level can be high.
Salt and babies
The NHS says babies should not eat much salt because it is not good for their kidneys. In one Turkish study, white cheese was ripened in brines with 12 to 18 g of salt per 100 g of water. That shows how salty the brine can be. So keep portions small and reduce the salt.
How do you prepare white cheese for babies?
Preparation basics
Choose pasteurized white cheese. Taking the cheese out of its brine and soaking it in clean water helps reduce the salt. Crumble it into meals or whip it with yogurt.
The NHS suggests grating cheese or cutting it into short, narrow strips. Cut back on other salty foods at the table. Cheese should not be the main source of salt in a meal.
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 as a puréemash
Cut: Shredded
Crumble pasteurized white cheese into small pieces and stir it into foods you serve on a spoon. A second way is to whip the cheese with plain yogurt until creamy and use it as a dip for age-appropriate foods. To reduce the salt, take the cheese out of its brine and soak it in clean water.
9 months
9 months · How to cut and serveslice
Serve the cheese as a long, flat slice or crumble it into small pieces. Very thin slices can fall apart in your baby's hand. Let your baby gather the pieces that crumble. You can also offer the cheese whipped with yogurt as a dip.
12 months
12 months · How to cut and servecube
Serve white cheese in bite-size cubes or crumbled. Offer it on its own or inside a meal. Its texture can feel chalky, so offer water alongside. Prefer a pasteurized product.
Is white cheese a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Serve crumbled or as a thin, flat slice. Large, firm pieces can get stuck in the throat.
Choking risk
White cheese carries a medium choking risk. The CDC lists large chunks of cheese as a choking hazard. Crumble it, cut it into thin flat slices or small cubes. Stay with your baby during meals.
Is white cheese a common allergen?
Allergen status
White cheese contains cow's milk protein and is a cow's milk allergen. Offer new allergens one at a time and in very small amounts. Trying it in the morning makes it easier to watch for a reaction.
A rash, vomiting, diarrhea, cough or swollen lips can be signs of a reaction. For severe symptoms, call emergency services. If cow's milk allergy has been diagnosed, do not serve it without your doctor's advice.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about white cheese
How can I reduce the salt in white cheese?
Take the cheese out of its brine and soak it in clean water. This helps reduce the salt. Keep the portion small as well.
Which white cheese should I choose?
Choose one made from pasteurized milk. The NHS notes a listeria risk with unpasteurized cheeses. Read the label.
Can white cheese get stuck in the throat?
Large, firm pieces can. Crumble it, or serve a thin flat slice or small cubes.
How do I make whipped cheese with yogurt?
Whip crumbled cheese with plain yogurt until creamy. You can use it as a dip for age-appropriate foods.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- NHS. (n.d.). Foods to avoid giving babies and young children.
- Lait (Güven, Yerlikaya, Hayaloğlu). (2006). Influence of salt concentration on the characteristics of Beyaz cheese, a Turkish white-brined cheese.
- T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı, Resmî Gazete 29261. (2015). Türk Gıda Kodeksi Peynir Tebliği (Tebliğ No: 2015/6).
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