Parmesan cheese is best served in small amounts after baby’s first birthday due to its higher sodium levels. However, a sprinkle here and there for younger babies is fine.

In general, the best cheeses for babies younger than 12 months old are pasteurized and low in sodium, including emmentaler cheese, fresh goat cheese, labneh, mascarpone cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese, paneer, fresh ricotta cheese, and swiss cheese.

Parmesan is part of the grana family of cheeses, which are hard, grating cheeses with origins in Italy. While parmesan is made worldwide, it is not the same as Parmigiano Reggiano, which is fiercely protected by an Italian regulation called Protected Designation of Origin. The law requires any cheese stamped with the Parmigiano Reggiano label to have been made from the milk of cows grazing in the fields of the Bologna, Mantua, Modena, or Parma regions, where the cheese is traditionally shaped into large wheels that are brined and aged. During the aging process, both parmesan and Parmigiano Reggiano develop a thick rind, which can be used to imbue stocks, soups, and stews with umami flavor.

No. Parmesan (including the powdered kind often sold in plastic shakers) is high in sodium, which should be limited in infant diets. That said, a small sprinkle of pasteurized parmesan cheese is fine. Parmesan cheese is often made from unpasteurized (raw) milk. In general, unpasteurized cheeses carry a higher risk of foodborne illness, but those aged for more than 60 days – like parmesan – pose a lower risk. Read our cheese page for more information and consider the risk in the context of your individual child.

Nutritionally, parmesan cheese contains healthy fats and protein and is also rich in calcium, vitamin B12, plus selenium and zinc.

Yes, it can be if served in chunks or melted globs. Cheese is a common choking hazard for babies and children. To minimize the risk, grate parmesan or slice parmesan blocks thinly and avoid serving in cubes or large crumbles. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

Yes. Parmesan cheese is made from cow’s milk, and cow’s milk is a common food allergen in young children, accounting for about one-fifth of all childhood food allergies in the United States. Keep in mind that cheeses made from other ruminants such as sheep, goat, and buffalo may provoke similar allergic reactions to cow’s milk dairy products. That said, there’s good news: milk allergy often disappears with time. Research shows that the majority of children with cow's milk allergy will outgrow it by age 6 and many babies with milder symptoms of milk protein allergy (which can show up as painless blood in stool) are able to successfully reintroduce cow's milk as early as their first birthday, with the guidance of their doctors. Note: Aged cheeses generally contain histamines, which may cause rashes in children who are sensitive to them.

Milk is a known trigger of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, also known as FPIES. FPIES is a delayed allergy to food protein which causes the sudden onset of repetitive vomiting and diarrhea to begin a few hours after ingestion. Left untreated, the reaction can result in significant dehydration. Thankfully, like other forms of milk allergy, FPIES which presents early in life is generally outgrown by the time the child has reached 3-5 years of age. While the exact rates of FPIES are unknown, it is believed to be an uncommon condition (although better recognition of the disease has led to increased reporting in recent years).

Although it is not an allergy, lactose intolerance can result in gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea, after ingestion of dairy items containing lactose. For those with older children who are lactose intolerant (keep in mind this is uncommon for infants and toddlers), some good news: compared with milk and certain other dairy products, many cheeses may be better tolerated by those with lactose intolerance, particularly aged cheeses, which have lower lactose content. Note that if your child is lactose-intolerant, it’s important to find calcium-rich foods to consume regularly to ensure a balanced diet and support bone health. Search for naturally low-lactose cheeses and dairy products labeled “lactose-free.”

If you suspect baby may be allergic to milk, consult an allergist before introducing dairy products like cheese. Based on baby’s risk factors and history, your allergist may recommend allergy testing, or may instead advise dairy introduction under medical supervision in the office. If the risk is low, you may be advised to go ahead and introduce dairy in the home setting. As with all common allergens, start by serving a small quantity on its own for the first few servings, and if there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.

Recommended Guide: Introducing Allergens