Can babies have cottage cheese? Once your baby is eating a few purees, cottage cheese looks like an easy next step: soft, mild and already in the fridge. Then you read “no cow’s milk before 12 months” and the salt line on the tub, and you are not so sure. Here is how it fits into introducing solid foods month by month.
This guide covers what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the CDC and the NHS say, a label checklist for the dairy aisle, and how to serve it. For more on breast milk, formula and solids, browse our feeding guides.
Quick answer: can babies have cottage cheese?
Yes. The AAP says most babies can start dairy foods around 6 months, after a few first foods. The NHS names cottage cheese among the pasteurized, full-fat cheeses babies can eat from 6 months. Pick a plain, pasteurized, whole-milk tub with the least sodium you can find, and serve it soft.
Why cottage cheese is OK when a cup of milk is not
The AAP recommends that whole cow’s milk is not used as a drink in the first year, because a baby’s digestive system may not tolerate cow’s milk protein in large quantities. A few spoonfuls of a dairy food are different from milk replacing breast milk or formula. The AAP says most babies can begin dairy foods around 6 months, and the CDC lists “dairy without added sugars,” including pasteurized cheeses, among the foods to encourage from 6 to 12 months.
Breast milk or formula stays your baby’s main food in the first year. Cottage cheese is one of many foods to offer alongside it, next to the iron-rich foods, vegetables and fruit on our list of best first foods for babies at 6 months.
How to choose cottage cheese for your baby
You do not need a special baby product. Use this label checklist, based on AAP, CDC and NHS guidance:
| On the label | Look for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pasteurized | Yes | The CDC warns unpasteurized cheese may carry harmful bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea. The NHS mentions the risk of listeria. |
| Fat | Whole milk or full-fat | The NHS advice for babies is pasteurized full-fat cheese. |
| Flavor | Plain | The CDC says children under 2 should not have added sugars, so skip fruit-on-the-bottom cups. |
| Sodium | The lowest you can find | The CDC advises avoiding foods high in salt for young children and checking the Nutrition Facts label for less sodium. Brands differ, so compare tubs, and choose a “no salt added” or “low sodium” version if your store has one. |
How to serve it
- Start after a few first foods. The AAP suggests dairy foods once your baby has tried some first solids.
- Keep it soft. The AAP says foods should be soft or mashed to help prevent choking. Mash larger curds with a fork for a younger baby.
- Mix with a food your baby already eats. Stir in a fruit or vegetable puree, or spread it thinly on a soft food your baby can hold.
- Add nothing. The AAP advises preparing baby food with no added salt or seasoning, and the CDC says no honey before 12 months.
- Watch after the first tastes. Cow’s milk is a common food allergen, so treat cottage cheese like any new food and watch your baby afterward.
When to talk to your doctor
Cow’s milk is one of the most common food allergens, according to the AAP. The AAP advises watching for reactions such as diarrhea, rash or vomiting after a new food. If you see them, stop that food and call your pediatrician. In babies, the AAP also lists eye rubbing, repeatedly sticking the tongue out, excessive crying, back arching and decreased muscle tone as possible signs. Our guide to allergies in babies covers the other common triggers.
Call 911 right away if your baby shows signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), such as wheezing, trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling, unusually pale skin or loss of consciousness. If your child has been prescribed epinephrine, the AAP says to give it right away and then call 911.
Talk to your pediatrician before offering dairy foods if your baby has eczema or a family history of allergies, as the AAP recommends checking first in those cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is cottage cheese too salty for babies?
It can be, depending on the brand. The CDC advises avoiding foods high in salt for young children and using the Nutrition Facts label to find foods with less sodium. Compare the sodium line between tubs, choose the lowest, and keep portions small next to other foods that have no added salt.
Can babies have cottage cheese every day?
There is no official daily amount for cottage cheese. In the first year, breast milk or formula is still the main food, and the CDC encourages a variety of foods from 6 months. Offering cottage cheese a few times a week, next to other foods, keeps variety high and the sodium in check.
Which other cheeses can babies have?
The NHS says babies can eat pasteurized full-fat cheese from 6 months, such as mild cheddar, cottage cheese and cream cheese. It advises against mold-ripened soft cheeses like brie or camembert, ripened goat’s cheese and soft blue cheeses like roquefort. The AAP adds that pieces of cheese can come once your baby can eat finger foods.
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Sources
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Cow’s Milk Alternatives: Parent FAQs
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Starting Solid Foods
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): When to Introduce Egg, Peanut Butter & Other Common Food Allergens to a Baby
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Food Allergies in Children
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, talk to your pediatrician.