Cheese is a favorite product for many adults, therefore, with the introduction of complementary foods to a child under one year old, most mothers are interested in whether it can be given to a son or daughter at an early age and which product from a huge range to choose for baby food.
What is useful
Cheese is classified as a tasty product, the correct use of which will only benefit:
- It acts as a source of proteins, from which children receive the whole range of amino acids important for their body.
- It is rich in calcium and contains several times more than cottage cheese and other dairy products.
- Among the vitamin composition, there are especially many vitamins E, D, group B, A and PP.
- In addition to calcium, the product contains phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, iron, sulfur and many other mineral salts.
- Fatty acids have a positive effect on the condition of the skin, the function of the brain and internal organs.
- Nutrients are well absorbed in the body, helping the child to grow and develop normally.
- The inclusion in the children's menu helps to expand the flavor palette and diversify the dishes for babies.
- Since cheese is a hard product, chewing it will stimulate the development of the baby's jaw apparatus.
- It helps to quickly cope with hunger and gives a boost of energy. It is recommended for children with underweight.
Hard cheese can be given to children with lactose intolerance, because during its production the lactose goes into the whey, and its remains are destroyed by bacteria while the product matures.
Disadvantages
- Since cheese is classified as a high-protein product, its use is not recommended for kidney disease.
- They should not be included in the diet of children with diseases of the digestive tract. They can cause constipation.
- It is a source of cholesterol and saturated fatty acids, therefore its significant presence in the human diet contributes to metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases.
- Too much salt in cheese can cause fluid retention after eating it and can also negatively affect kidney function.
- Some children develop allergies, which can manifest as upset stomach, skin rashes, asthma attacks, itchy skin, nausea, fever, and other symptoms. A high risk of an allergic reaction is noted in children under one year old, so it is best to offer cheese to a one-year-old child, and if the crumbs have a tendency to allergies, then acquaintance with such a product should be postponed even later. With age, the intestinal walls become more resistant to the penetration of allergens, and the child's immunity is strengthened, which leads to a decrease in the risk of allergies.
- If the recommended daily portion is exceeded, obesity may develop. Due to the high calorie content, such dairy products are given in small quantities.
- High fat content in many children provokes nausea, loose stools, or intestinal colic. Such symptoms may appear after eating even a small amount of fatty cheese.
See below for more details.
From how many months can you give?
Despite many useful qualities, most pediatricians do not recommend the inclusion of cheese in the diet of children under 10-12 months. This is due to the high content of protein and minerals, with which the kidneys of infants of the first year cope with difficulty. For this reason, the product should not be given to a 6-9 month old baby. The first piece should be offered to a baby no earlier than 10 months, and better - from 1 year old.
Kinds
The assortment of cheeses in our stores is quite extensive, but many of them should not be given to children of the first years of life.
First of all, cheese is not suitable for baby food:
- With mold. Its use threatens the child with allergies or poisoning, as well as such a dangerous infectious disease as listeriosis. And therefore, these varieties are not advised to be given to children at least 7 years of age, and some doctors recommend postponing acquaintance with such soft cheeses until 12 years.
- Smoked. Its manufacturing method makes it harmful for children and deprives of many useful substances. It can be included in the diet of children no earlier than 6-7 years old.
- Too spicy. He is able to negatively affect the digestive tract of the child.
- Fused. Neither curds in foil, nor creamy processed cheeses are suitable for feeding children, because they are very salty and overly fatty. In addition, they are produced from waste, so they are not recommended for either children or adults.
- Pickled, for example, feta cheese, Adyghe, feta or suluguni. During the production process, these types of cheese are kept in brine, as a result of which the product acquires a salty taste. However, excess salt is harmful to a small child, so they are not suitable for a children's menu.
- With various additivesfor example with nuts or peppers.
- Cheese product. To reduce the cost, components harmful to children are added to them, so they cannot be labeled as "cheese" on the label. It is undesirable to give such products to children.
You should also not feed children with fatty cheeses familiar to adults, for example, Edam, Gouda or Russian varieties. Their fat content exceeds 45-50%, which makes them unsuitable for the diet of children who are not yet 1 year old.
The most preferred fat content of cheese for a child is considered to be up to 30-35%. Give your little ones semi-hard and hard cheese. Among the foods with a minimum of salt, children are recommended to use Cheddar, Oltermani, Maasdam, Mozzarella or Ricotta.
The best option for a child's nutrition is called special foods intended for children (with a corresponding note). This cheese has a low fat content and reduced salt content.
How to choose
When buying cheese to feed your child, pay attention to its composition and freshness. The product must be free of flavors, colorants, emulsifiers, flavor enhancers and other additives. Always check the expiration dates, sniff the product and be sure to taste it.
Do not skimp on the product that the child will eat, because cheap cheese is often of poor quality, it may be unripe or spoiled. Also inspect the packaging - products that are placed in polystyrene (PS) are undesirable for children, so it is better to buy a product in polypropylene (PP) packaging.
How to introduce into complementary foods
If your child is already 10-11 months old, you can introduce him to cheese by offering a tiny piece of such a product. Give hard cheese in your morning feed and monitor your baby's reaction to a new meal throughout the day. If such a test did not cause any health problems, you can include it in the diet of the crumbs on an ongoing basis.
If the piece of cheese you are going to give to the child is rather salty, it should be placed in clean water for 2-3 hours. During this time, change the water several times, filling the cheese with clean cold water. After that, the product can be offered to the crumbs. Although its taste will change and the product will be more bland, it will not harm the child's body.
How much to give?
- A small amount of cheese 2-3 times a week is enough for a child under one year old. Let each portion be no larger than a pea. The daily amount is 5 grams per year, but it is still not worth giving such a product daily. Just two or three "cheese" days a week are enough.
- When the child turns 1.5 years old, the daily portion can be increased to 10-15 g, and from the age of two you can give about 20 g per day such a product. Hard cheese for a child in the first years of life is recommended to be given grated. It can be grated into vegetable dishes or omelets, or added to casseroles.
Cheese and fruits combine well without interfering with the digestion of each other. But the combination of cheese with meat or butter in one dish for children under three years old is undesirable, because all these products contain a lot of fats and proteins, which increases the load on the child's body. From 3 years old, cheeses can be given to a child separately - in slices and on sandwiches.
Many children over 3 years old like the combination of cheese and bread, but if the child refuses sandwiches, there is no need to insist. Tastes gradually change, and at school age he will surely love this type of snack. It is convenient to take it for a walk or give it to your child to go to school.
DIY cheese
If you wish, you can make cheese at home. It will remotely resemble traditional hard cheese, but mom can be confident in the quality of the product.
The homemade cheese recipe is as follows:
- Put 700 g of cottage cheese in a saucepan and mash, then pour in a liter of milk.
- Put the container on fire and stir constantly until the whey separates and thickens.
- Throw the curd mass onto cheesecloth and let the liquid drain.
- In a saucepan, combine 2 tbsp. tablespoons of butter, 2 chicken eggs, a teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of salt.
- Mix everything and add the squeezed cottage cheese.
- Stir the ingredients vigorously until a homogeneous mass is formed, in which there are no white grains.
- Place the cheese in a mold and place in the refrigerator to freeze.
For a homemade recipe, see the following videos.
Find out if your child's weight is normal using the following calculator.
