Cheese for babies, by age.

6–8 months

Pasteurized only. Thin slices or shredded — not cubes (firm cubes are a choking shape). Lower-salt varieties (mozzarella, Swiss, ricotta) over very salty ones.

Texture thin slices / shredded

9–11 months

Pasteurized only — shredded or thin strips.

Texture shredded / strips

12 months+

Pasteurized only — thin slices and shreds; cubes still get halved for a while.

Texture slices / shreds

Sources

Every recommendation shows its source. We cite our sources so you can check them.

• — CDC — Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit
• — CDC — Choking Hazards
• — A Consensus Approach to the Primary Prevention of Food Allergy Through Nutrition (2021)

Keep reading

• — The Starting Solids program (Beta) — the whole first-year arc, one calm step at a time.
• — What order to introduce allergens
• — The 3-day wait rule for new foods