What time can a child have cheese? Cheese for baby feeding. From how many months do babies get cheese?

Transparent slices and cubes that crumble under light pressure, blue mold and a spicy, smoked taste - all this is about cheese. One of the most interesting and delicious products in the human diet, depending on the variety, it acts both as a daily dish and as a rare delicacy. Cheese is used for snacks and breakfasts, added to baked goods, and baked with vegetables and meat. It is difficult to imagine a person who has never tried any of the varieties of this product.

Many young mothers are faced with a choice: to give or not to give cheese to their baby. On the one hand, fermented milk products are recommended in children's menu, on the other hand, cheese is a rather difficult product to digest.

The benefits and harms of cheese

Whatever the type of cheese, they are all made from natural milk. Special enzymes are added to it, which allow the liquid to coagulate and form a denser substance. Soft varieties are prepared in just a few hours, while hard ones can be kept in a special brine for several years.

The calorie content of a fermented milk product can range from 110 to 420 kcal per 100 grams, depending on the variety. The protein content ranges from 7 to 30 g, fat from 4 to 33 g, and carbohydrate content from 0 to 20 g. The salty delicacy contains many useful substances. For example, a large number of B vitamins, vitamins A, C, D, E and PP. Many micro- and macroelements such as iron, potassium, calcium, selenium, zinc and iodine. In addition, it contains the following fatty acid, like pantothenic. And, of course, the milk protein casein.

There are many reasons why this product can be introduced into children's diets as early as possible. But not earlier than 12 months of age.

• 100 g of cheese contains more protein than animal meat. In addition, casein is absorbed by the body one year old child better than animal protein.
• Many babies under 24 months of age often experience indigestion and even allergic reactions to natural milk. To ensure that your baby receives all the necessary vitamins and microelements, you can introduce hard cheeses into his diet. Most often this is sour milk product the child's stomach and intestines do not react so sharply.

• Any dairy products are a rich source of calcium, which is so necessary for the normal formation of the bone skeleton and for the growth of infants. There is at least 10 times more calcium in cheese than in cottage cheese. And in terms of taste and structure, its use is much more pleasant.
• Development internal organs and the muscle tissue of the little man is promoted by the high content of vitamins and amino acids, which are found in large quantities in various cheeses. Phosphorus and zinc are beneficial for the nervous system and the formation of brain cells.
• High calorie content and the nutritional value cheese allow you to quickly restore strength after prolonged activity for your baby. This is especially true during the period when he learns to walk, and parents begin to engage in his first exercises or outdoor games.

Only hard varieties can be introduced into the diet of a one-year-old child, and it is better to postpone soft and processed cheeses until they are 2-3 years old, since they contain an order of magnitude less nutrients, and their digestion is still too difficult for such a small organism. Unfortunately, not every child will benefit from such an innovation. There is a list of certain diseases for which experts recommend refraining from consuming this fermented milk product:

• with individual lactose intolerance;
• for pyelonephritis and other diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system;
• both with high and low acidity;
• for hypertension and problems of the cardiovascular system.

First try

You should not try to feed your child cheese before he reaches 12 months - this is unanimously not recommended by all pediatricians. The fact is that in infancy the digestive system is still unable to cope with such a complex fermented product, no matter what beneficial properties it may have. However, you don’t need to wait strictly until your birthday either. The first complementary feeding can be done at approximately 11-13 months in stages.

At the first stage, you can offer your child a very tiny piece weighing 2-3 g. You should not try to force your baby to swallow cheese if he does not like the taste or consistency. Also, do not give in to whims and give too large a portion for the first time, no matter how much your baby asks for more. The next day or after two days, the portion can be doubled. It is necessary to more closely monitor the child’s stool and well-being during periods of such tastings. to instantly track deterioration in health or an allergic reaction.

The last stage of introducing cheese into a child’s diet is to gradually increase the amount of the product to the daily requirement. Up to three years, this norm is about 10 g of product, and preschoolers can already eat about 50 g of hard cheese.

Don't overuse salty treat, this is fraught with stagnation of fluid in the body and swelling.

What types of cheese are best for a child?

During the first feeding and until the age of 2–2.5 years, it is best to give the baby low-fat cheese with low salt content and without spices. The product should not be smoked or semi-smoked, its fat content should not be more than 50%. In the first year, it is best to feed the baby with Maasdam, Gouda or Russian varieties. You can choose softer varieties, for example “Creamy” or “Smetankovy”, the main thing is that it is not melted.

After reaching 2 years of age, you can introduce saltier, brine cheeses into the menu, for example, Mozzarella or Suluguni. If there is a deficiency of potassium, you can add Emmental or Cheddar to them.

Preschoolers can add Parmesan or Mascarpone to their diet, but blue cheeses are still best left for adults. The child’s body can respond to them with acute allergies, pain in the intestines and problems with stool.

Recipes

Many children love to eat different cheeses in their natural form or as part of small sandwiches. But sometimes you want to pamper your baby with something useful, but unusual.

Souffle

Soft cheeses are perfect for making a delicate creamy soufflé. Ingredients you will need:

• 4 chicken eggs;
• 30 g butter;
• 70 g grated soft cheese;
• 1 teaspoon honey;
• 0.5 tbsp. spoons of sifted wheat flour.

First of all, you need to prepare a sauce from honey, butter and flour. 10–15 g of butter is heated in a small ladle, honey and flour are added to it. The mixture is cooked until thickened with constant stirring. Yolks mixed with 50 g of grated cheese are added to the finished sauce. To make soft cheese easier to cut with a grater, you can first put it in the freezer. The whites are whipped in a separate bowl and added to the egg-cheese mixture with a spatula or spoon. The mold is greased with the remaining butter and filled with a mixture of all products, sprinkled with the remaining grated cheese on top. Bake the soufflé at 180 degrees for 15–20 minutes, serve slightly cooled, but not cold.

Quail egg omelette

One of the most healthy eggs for the baby are considered quail eggs. The omelette made from them is very tender and airy, and the cheese will give it a special aroma and taste. To prepare you will need:

• 4 quail eggs;
• 50 ml medium fat milk;
• 1 teaspoon wheat flour;
• 15 g of hard cheese (for children over 3 years old you can use Parmesan, for younger children it is better to limit yourself to Dutch);
• vegetable oil;
• salt to taste.

Wash the eggs thoroughly, break them into a deep plate and add salt. Pour milk into them and beat with a mixer or whisk by hand. Gently fold the flour into the whipped mixture, leaving no lumps. Grease the omelette pan with sunflower oil or olive oil, pour in the egg mixture and place in an oven preheated to 160 degrees for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the half-ready omelet with grated cheese on top and leave to bake for another 5-7 minutes until the cheese shavings melt on its surface.

In addition, do not forget about contraindications and the fact that it is not a mandatory element of baby food. At what age to give cheese to a baby and whether to give it at all, only the child’s parents decide at their own discretion.

In the next video, Dr. Komarovsky will tell you when, what and how much fermented milk products can be given to a child without harm to health.

If you introduce cheese into your child’s diet, it is better to use hard varieties that are low-fat and mild, and do not contain additives, dyes or preservatives. For example, a baby can be given “Maasdam”, 17-20% “Oltermani”, “Russian”, “Poshekhonsky”.

But smoked and processed cheeses are not suitable for children, since they contain a large amount of salts and fats. Varieties with mold should also not be given to your baby, since if such products are consumed, there is a high probability of allergic reactions.

Different varieties old cheeses, with mold - all this the child will be able to try when his digestive and enzymatic system is fully formed. He can eat such foods after about 12 years.

Homemade cheese for children

You can try making cheese for your baby yourself. By doing this, you will be sure that this product does not contain any dyes or preservatives.

Here is one of the most simple recipes. Take 1 kilogram of fresh homemade cottage cheese, break it into pieces and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Wrap the resulting mass in gauze and place it in a small container with a wide neck, since you will need to place a press on top of it.

If your choice is a small saucepan, find a lid with a smaller diameter, and place a large saucepan on top, filling it with water. After about 5 hours, drain the separated liquid and change the gauze in which the cottage cheese was placed. Then place it under a heavier press for one day.

When excess liquid comes out of the cheese, place the resulting mass in the refrigerator or cool place for about 2 weeks to ripen. That's all, delicious and healthy cheese is ready!

How much cheese per day can you give your child?

At 1-2 years old, a child can eat no more than 3-5 grams of cheese per day. By 3 years, this amount can be increased to 10 grams. It is best to give cheese to your baby in the first half of the day, since digestive enzymes are most active during this period.

If such a product is unusual or the baby does not like it, first the cheese can be added in grated form to purees, soups, and omelettes. A regular sandwich or toast with cheese can be given to a child after 3 years.

Is it possible to give cheese to a child with an allergy to cow's milk protein?

If you have lactase deficiency or an allergy to cow's milk protein, you should choose the least fatty varieties of cheese. The administration of this product to such children should only be done under the supervision of a physician.

Since casein (milk protein) is broken down during the cheese making process and becomes less allergenic, this product can also be administered to a child with food allergies. Lactose in hard varieties is also contained in minimal quantities, and therefore this product is not contraindicated in case of lactase deficiency.

It happens that young children do not like cottage cheese too much, but for the most part they are partial to cheeses. If you know when and in what form it is best to start giving your child this product, you can provide the child’s body with calcium contained in both types of fermented milk products.

Considering the specifics of the component and the development of the digestive tract in infants, violating the recommended time limits is prohibited. You need to be careful about the dosage of products and pay attention to their quality. Ideally, it is best to offer homemade cheese made from low-fat cottage cheese to very young children.

The benefits of cheese for children's bodies

A natural and environmentally friendly fermented milk product is indicated for consumption by every child, without exception. This is due to the following beneficial properties of the component:

• It contains a lot of calcium. Without this substance, normal development of the baby’s bones, teeth, nails and hair is impossible. It is in the first years of life that this microelement is most necessary for children, because their bodies grow and develop very quickly. It is worth considering that calcium is absorbed only if there is vitamin D in the body. You can give it to your child additionally or regularly take him for walks in sunny weather.

Advice: When cheese is given to a baby specifically for the purpose of preventing rickets, it is better to choose hard varieties. For comparison, the amount of calcium in Parmesan is 10 times higher than that in such healthy cottage cheese.

• Cheeses are rich in protein. Construction material, necessary for the production of amino acids (designed to support vital processes), is more easily absorbed by the child’s body when it is included in cheeses. The main thing to remember is that too much protein is not the goal either. Excessive consumption of cheeses can cause severe stress on the baby’s kidneys.
• Regardless of the variety, cheese contains an impressive amount of vitamins. An additional advantage is that these components in the fermented milk product are also well absorbed by the imperfect child’s body. This guarantees the child’s immune system strengthening, metabolic processes, stimulation of physical activity, improvement of general well-being.

You can expect to receive the listed positive effects by consuming even a small amount of the product. Of course, provided that only natural ingredients were used in its production, and not so popular today milk powder, thickeners, dyes and stabilizers.

Optimal age for introducing an ingredient into a baby’s menu

Answering the question at what age is it best to give children cheese, pediatricians agree on one thing - not earlier than one year (some even think that it is better to wait until 1.5-2 years). This is explained by the high content of protein and animal fats in the product, which put a strong strain on the kidneys. In addition, in the production of most varieties, rennet is used, which forces the baby’s pancreas to work more actively. For children who have reached one year of age, these effects are no longer scary, because... The digestive and excretory systems are sufficiently formed and are not afraid of additional stress.

At the same time, the daily amount of cheese for a child 1-1.5 years old should not exceed 5 g. Gradually increasing this figure, by 2 years daily norm can be increased to 20 g. It is not recommended to give cheese to children every day; 2-3 times a week will be quite enough to obtain therapeutic benefits from the fermented milk product. When introducing cheese into the diet, special attention should be paid to children prone to dyspeptic disorders. Despite the obvious benefits, the product is quite heavy and at the addiction stage can cause constipation in the little one. Most often this becomes a consequence of eating hard cheeses.

The place of cheese in a small child's diet

Cheeses may only be offered to children under 3 years of age as a food additives. To do this, the component is grated and used for sprinkling on familiar dishes. It is strictly forbidden to combine it with meat. You will also have to give up traditional sandwiches made of white bread, butter and cheese. All of the ingredients listed above contain too much protein and the stress on the kidneys will be excessive.

• Take some 5% fat cottage cheese and put it under pressure to get rid of all the excess liquid.
• Lightly add salt to the resulting crumbly mixture, place it in a saucepan and place in a water bath.
• Constantly stirring the mass, wait until it begins to melt. When the child turns three years old, you can add a little baking soda to the composition to speed up the melting process.
• When the workpiece turns into a molten mass, it must be poured into a clean container lined with gauze or a clean thin towel. We place a weight on top and leave the structure for several hours until all the liquid is absorbed into the fabric.

Even if the cottage cheese refuses to melt (this happens if it is not dry enough to begin with), then there is no need to be upset. The curd mass, heated and pressed in the same way, also turns out very tasty and tender. It can be given to your baby with pieces of vegetables or salad leaves.

It will be useful to read the article about

Recently I witnessed a conversation between two mothers. One of them shared information that cheese is a fatty product and should not be offered to a child before two years of age. The second interlocutor, on the contrary, told me that she has been giving it to her baby since he was one year old, and there are no problems.

I understood: the question of at what age can a child have cheese is relevant and needs to be dealt with. If you want to know what I learned about this, then read on.

The benefits and harms of cheese

Cheese is a product that will benefit your baby’s developing body:

• Contains protein. It is needed for tissue formation;
• Rich in calcium, which is involved in the formation of teeth, hair, skin and nails;
• Vitamins A, B, D, PP, as well as potassium, phosphorus and other useful minerals contained in the product are no less important for the body of your growing child;
• Fatty acids are involved in brain function;
• It is a good source of energy and is involved in weight gain. This is another necessary useful property, since small children use up energy very quickly;
• By giving this product to your child from an early age, you are instilling in him the right eating habits, which is important for his future adult life.

Harm of cheese

You also need to know about possible harm, which can bring this dairy product. In this matter, the quality of the product purchased is important. If it is at a low level, this can lead to:

• obesity;
• dermatitis;
• allergies, which is very rare;
• nausea.

When to give cheese to a child

Now let's talk about when a child can have cheese. In fact, it all depends on the type of complementary foods introduced.

Therefore, whether a one-year-old child can have cheese or not depends only on one factor: whether the child is allergic to milk or not.

It is necessary to introduce complementary foods correctly, not to load the child’s body with allergenic foods, and be sure to give any food to drink with it. breast milk and then a negative reaction from gastrointestinal tract will not be.

What types of cheese can a child eat?

When covering the question of what kind of cheese can be given to a child, first of all, I would like to say that you should not save money when buying cheese.

1. Pay attention to the composition: dyes, flavors and other dubious additives have little relation to the real product and should not be there.
2. Fat content should not exceed 30 - 35%.
3. Maazdam, Cheddar, Oltermani, Mozzarella, Ricotta are the most suitable varieties for your baby. You can also give goat cheese to your child. This species is classified as a dietary variety, as it is low in calories.

It will also be useful for you to know which types are not suitable for feeding a small child:

• smoked sausages and processed cheese products. Neither Druzhba cheese nor processed cheeses that have a softer consistency are suitable for children. This type contains a lot of salt. In addition, they have a high percentage of fat content. Neither one nor the other will do any good;
• Curd cheeses can also be questioned. They contain various additives, and flavorings, As a result - allergies and other unpleasant reactions of your child’s body;
• Products with mold are another type that is banned at such an early age. An allergy to cheese in a child is a small thing that you can get rid of after you treat him to such cheese. In the worst case scenario, you cannot avoid an infectious diseases hospital. 7, or even 12 years - the age at which you can remember this type of product for your child;
• brine - Brynza, Adygei, Feta, Suluguni. These types are oversaturated with salt, and this is harmful to your baby’s body;
• cheese product. The name speaks for itself here. There is little that can be found of real cheese in this form. Usually such products are much cheaper, moreover, manufacturers generally indicate on the label that this is a cheese product. But is it worth believing the inscriptions in all cases? Obviously, not everyone will tell the truth. First of all, focus on the price: it should not be lower than the market average.

How often and in what quantity

When starting to give your baby cheese for the first time, do not be lazy complex rules to avoid trouble.

1. On the day you plan to give it for the first time, do not overload your child’s diet with other new foods. This should be regular, familiar food for the baby.
2. The ideal time to introduce yourself to a new dairy product is the first half of the day. During the rest of the time, monitor your baby's behavior.
3. You need to start with a small microdose, the size of a grain of rice.
4. This dairy product should be present in your baby’s diet several times a week (2 – 3).

Attention. At 1.5 years, the portion can be increased to 15 g, and at 2 years, you can give 20 g of cheese per day.

How to choose a good cheese?

We discussed some important points of choice above. Let's summarize briefly.

1. Buy products from a trusted manufacturer in a large retail chain.
2. Pay attention to the packaging and date of manufacture. It is better to give preference to polypropylene packaging (PP). Polystyrene is best avoided.
3. Choose a product without additives.
4. Consider fat content.
5. Look at the price and don't buy cheap products

Cheese is necessary and the right product in your child's diet. The main thing is to observe the quantity and take into account the rules described above when purchasing this product.

A tasty and nutritious product made from milk with the addition of spices and seasonings has won love and a place of honor on the dinner table. The benefits and taste of the treat for an adult cannot be overestimated: the content of protein, vitamins and minerals complements and enriches the diet. Is it possible to give cheese to a child?

The benefits of cheese

Prepared from goat, cow, sheep or mare's milk, the product contains a large amount of vitamins, micro and macroelements:

1. Vitamins A, C, PP, E, group B necessary for humans.
2. Calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, potassium.
3. Essential amino acids needed by the body (lysine, tryptophan and methionine).

The calorie content of cheese, depending on its fat content, ranges from: 290-450 kcal per 100 g.

Thanks to the composition:

1. Cheese strengthens nervous system and immunity.
2. Helps the digestive system function
3. Preserves the bone structures of the human body.
4. Unlike meat, dairy delicacy is well absorbed by the body.
5. It has high nutritional value and eliminates the feeling of hunger for a long time.

It can be combined with many tastes: those who don’t like the product can find a worthy gastronomic pairing and make a delicious dish.

At what age can a child be given cheese?

The baby should consume this product:

• It is perfectly absorbed by the body and can serve as an alternative to cottage cheese.
• The protein contained in cheese is higher in quality than that contained in meat, and in quantity - 20% more!
• It will quickly replenish the lack of energy and allow the baby to be cheerful and active.
• Positively affects visual function due to the vitamins it contains.
• The calcium in the milk delicacy will be the daily requirement if you treat your child to a small piece.

At what age should a child be given cheese?

This product should be introduced into complementary foods no earlier than one year.

Explanation of time limits:

• Enzymes for the breakdown of micro- and macroelements of dairy treats are produced by the digestive system by 11-12 months.
• By the age of one year, an allergy to cheese (cow's milk protein) may appear.

Cheese for a one year old or 2 year old?

You should not restrict your baby to 24 months from this tasty product.

You should know that in certain cases its introduction into the diet should be postponed:

1. The child's digestive system cannot cope with fats in food (this may manifest itself as loose stools, sticky feces, or periodic abdominal pain).
2. The baby is overweight.
3. There is a history of gastrointestinal diseases.

What kind of cheese should I give my child?

• Durum varieties: parmesan, maasdam, cheddar, baltios, athlete and others;
• Semi-solid: Russian, Dutch, Lambert, Gouda, Edam and others;
• Soft curd cheese;
• Mozzarella;
• Ricotta;
• Adyghe.

What kind of cheese should a child not eat?

• Processed cheese;
• Omichka;
• Sausage;
• Smoked;
• "Pigtail";
• Brynza, Suluguni;
• With the addition of herbs, mushrooms or peppers;
• Cheese product.

Do not give blue cheese to a child under 12 years of age: the child will be poisoned by the “adult delicacy” after receiving infectious diseases Gastrointestinal tract.

Ideally, buy cheese for children that is marked accordingly: it contains less salt and harmful additives. But the price of such a delicacy is higher, and not every parent can afford such expenses.

Offer your baby a treat in the first half of the day, as this is a heavy food that takes a long time to digest. It’s definitely not a good idea to feed your baby cheese at night.

Watch the reaction carefully. Avoid the product for a while if your child:

• spits or throws out pieces;
• after eating a dairy delicacy he developed a rash;
• vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain occurred.

How much cheese can you give your child?

• 5 g are allowed per year (if milk and fermented milk products are also present in the diet) or 10 g if the baby eats only cheese.
• At 1.5 - 3 years old, you can offer your daughter or son 10 g or 15 g, depending on their consumption of other dairy products.
• After three years, you can increase this amount to 20 g per day.

You can feed your child cheese 3-4 times a week.

Do not combine treats with other high-calorie foods (with butter or cream) - delicacies are fraught with stress on the liver and pancreas, and stool upset.

Monitor your child's health and feed your baby correctly!