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Provolone

Dairy

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Common Allergen

Yes

Piece of provolone cheese on a white background

When can babies have provolone?

Provolone cheese may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. When shopping, choose pasteurized provolone to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.

Provolone is a semi-hard cheese with origins in Italy made in the pasta filata style. Pasta filata refers to the practice of stretching or pulling the heated curds before the final cheese is formed. In its country of origin, there are two styles of provolone that have been granted protected designation of origin (PDO) status, Provolone de Monaco and Provolone Valpadana, both of which are traditionally made with unpasteurized cow’s milk. Outside of those regions, there are many cheeses that go by the name of provolone, ranging in flavor from mild and sweet to sharp or smoky.

How do you serve provolone to babies?

Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.

6 months old +:

Offer pasteurized provolone cheese into long, flat slices about the width of two adult fingers pressed together. If you want to use provolone in melted form, opt for shredded provolone cheese and sprinkle sparingly, as large globs of melted cheese can be difficult for young babies to chew and manage in the mouth. Do not serve cubes of cheese and large chunks, as these shapes pose a higher risk of choking.

9 months old +:

Offer a flat slice of pasteurized provolone torn into bite-sized pieces for the child to practice picking up with the developing pincer grasp, where the thumb and pointer finger meet. Alternatively, continue offering a long, flat slice for baby to take bites from. If you would like to share a meal with melted shredded provolone, sprinkle sparingly, as large globs of melted cheese can be difficult for young babies to chew and manage in the mouth. Continue to avoid cubes or large chunks of provolone, as these shapes pose a higher risk of choking.

12 months old +:

Serve thin, flat slices of pasteurized provolone for biting practice or tear the slice into bite-sized pieces for the child to practice picking up. At this age, you can also melt a thin layer of cheese over foods like bread, tortillas, pasta, beans, or vegetables.

24 months old +:

Serve pasteurized provolone cheese in thin slices, flat bite-sized pieces, or grated–either on its own or melted over foods like bread, tortillas, pasta, beans, or vegetables. At this age, many toddlers may be ready to eat cubes of provolone cheese. Before serving cubes of provolone cheese, look for signs of mature eating skills, such as consistently taking small bites with their teeth, moving food to the side of the mouth when chewing, chewing thoroughly before swallowing, and not stuffing food in their mouths.

Even when the child is exhibiting these skills, we recommend coaching the child to take bites, not put the entire piece in their mouth. Start by making sure the child is in a safe eating environment, seated in an upright seat, actively engaged, and not distracted. Demonstrate chewing a piece of cheese yourself by placing it in between your front teeth, biting down, moving the food to the side, and then chewing with your mouth open. Once you have chewed the cheese well, open your mouth to show the child how it’s broken down. Say, “I moved it to my big strong teeth to chew it. It needs a lot of chewing.” Then, offer one cube of cheese for the child to eat. If they do not attempt to chew, hold off on attempting again for a few weeks. Remember, these skills take time, and it’s best to meet the individual child where they are at.

a photograph of a hand holding a long flat slice of provolone in the palm — A long, flat slice of provolone cheese for babies 6 months +

a photograph of a hand holding four flat bite sized pieces of provolone cheese — Flat, bite-sized pieces of provolone cheese for babies 9 months +

a photograph of a hand holding a small flat piece of cheese between thumb and pointer finger — A flat, bite-sized piece of provolone cheese for babies 9 months +

Videos

Río, 8 months, eats thin slices of provolone cheese.

Wei Wei, 9 months, eats thin strands of provolone cheese.

Is provolone a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Cheeses like provolone are firm and can get globby and hard to manage in the mouth, qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve provolone in an age-appropriate way as described in the How to Serve section. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals.

Learn the signs of choking and gagging and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

Is provolone a common allergen?

Yes. Provolone cheese is typically made from cow’s milk, which is classified as a common allergen by the World Health Organization. It is an especially common food allergen in young children, accounting for about one-fifth of all childhood food allergies. Keep in mind that dairy products 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 appropriate pediatric health professionals. Note: Aged cheeses generally contain histamines, which may cause rashes in children who are sensitive to them.

Milk is a common cause 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. This is termed acute FPIES. Left untreated, the reaction can result in significant dehydration. When milk is in the diet regularly, FPIES can present as reflux, weight loss, and failure to thrive - this is termed chronic FPIES. Symptoms generally improve with elimination of milk from the baby’s diet. Thankfully, like other forms of milk allergy, FPIES which presents early in life is generally outgrown by the time a child has reached 3-5 years of age.

Lactose intolerance, which is when the body has a hard time processing lactose, the sugar that is naturally present in milk, can sometimes be mistaken for an allergy, as it can result in bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, and other discomfort. 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. Be sure to connect with an appropriate pediatric health care professional for any questions about lactose intolerance, and know there are many lactose-free dairy foods available.

If you suspect baby may be allergic to milk, consult an allergist before introducing dairy products like cheese. Based on a 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 cheese 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.

Is provolone healthy for babies?

Yes. Provolone cheese is rich in protein, fat, calcium, selenium, zinc, and vitamins A and B12. Together, these nutrients work together to provide the building blocks for growth, development, and brain function. They also help support bone density, taste perception, vision, energy, and immunity. Choose pasteurized provolone cheese to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.

While some forms of provolone cheese can be moderately high in sodium, the amount of sodium that babies eat tends to be low as they learn the skills to feed themselves, and some sodium is important for supporting baby’s electrolyte balance, hydration, and movement. While many health organizations recommend holding or reducing salt in food shared with baby, recent reviews of literature suggest that this may not be necessary. Furthermore, sharing family meals, even if they contain salt, has its benefits: baby has opportunities to explore a wider variety of food, share their family food culture, and practice eating a variety of textures.

When can children have unpasteurized (raw) cheese?

There is no age at which eating raw cheese is without risk, so whether or when to serve it is a personal decision for which you must make an informed decision in the context of your child. Unpasteurized or raw cheese poses a high risk of foodborne illness, especially salmonellosis and listeriosis, which are harmful bacterial infections for babies, children, and adults alike, with more risk of severe symptoms in babies.