Contents
Is it possible for a child to have cheese: when, which one to give to children under one year old
Cheese is a tasty and healthy product, high in protein, vitamins and other nutrients. It is essential for growth and full development. Whether a child can have cheese depends on the selected variety and the age of the baby. Let’s explore this topic in more detail.
When and how much cheese can be given to children
Pediatricians recommend introducing cheese into a children’s diet no earlier than 10 months. This is due to the fact that this product contains a lot of protein and salt, which overload the kidneys of the baby. The child’s body is not able to cope with such a load.
Parents should know for sure whether a child can have cheese at his age, so as not to harm the health of the baby.
Cheese should be introduced into the diet gradually:
- At 10-11 months, give your baby a pea-sized or thin slice of cheese to taste. You can offer him a spoonful of grated product.
- After 12 months, the daily intake is 5 g, provided that the child eats other dairy products – milk, kefir or cottage cheese. If there are no fermented milk products in the child’s diet, then the daily dose can be increased to 50 g, but introduced into the menu gradually.
- After 1,5 years, 15 g per day is enough for the baby, and after six months, you can increase the portion to 20 g.
- At the age of 3, after the child learns to chew food well, you can make him sandwiches with butter and cheese.
At any age, you do not need to give cheese daily, it is enough to allocate 2-3 times a week for this. It is better to do this in the morning or while walking, so the product will be better absorbed.
Alternate it with meat, give it as an addition to vegetables or fruits. For toddlers, you can rub it into a vegetable puree or an omelet. If the baby does not want to eat the product, then do not insist.
Which variety to choose for a child up to a year and older
For children, choose hard and semi-hard varieties. Fat content should be no more than 35%. Do not offer children smoked, spicy and too salty varieties. The product should not contain any additives. Preschoolers should not be offered varieties with mold.
For small children, it is better to buy special children’s varieties in specialized stores.
They are low in fat and contain a reduced amount of salt and minerals. A good option for getting to know this product is Maasdam cheese. Its fat content is 20%, and it tastes sweet and delicate. You can also offer your baby “Russian” and “Poshekhonsky” varieties.
After 12 months, you can try the Gouda and Edam varieties. The minimum amount of salt is found in the “Ricotta” and “Mozzarella” varieties. But brine types “Brynza” or “Suluguni” are not suitable for baby food.
Treat your child with this healthy product, but do it in a timely manner.