Dairy Food Library
When can babies have blue cheese?
Can babies have blue cheese?
Babies can have pasteurized blue cheese from about 12 months, in small amounts. Blue cheese is very salty and some kinds are made with raw milk, so wait until the first birthday and always check that it is pasteurized. Blue cheese is made from milk and counts as a dairy allergen.
How to serve blue cheese by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Blue cheese is best skipped at this age because it is very salty and some types carry a higher Listeria risk. To introduce dairy, stir pasteurized ricotta or plain whole milk yogurt into a smooth fruit or vegetable puree and offer it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Keep waiting on blue cheese. Offer milder, lower-sodium pasteurized cheeses instead, such as ricotta stirred into lumpy mashed vegetables or fresh mozzarella grated and melted into pasta or eggs.
9–12 months
Keep waiting on blue cheese until 12 months. For pincer practice, offer small soft pieces of a lower-salt pasteurized cheese like Swiss or mild cheddar, shredded or cut very thin.
12 months +
Offer a small amount of pasteurized blue cheese crumbled thinly and melted into pasta, mashed potato, a cheese sauce or an omelet. Avoid sticky, globby lumps, and keep it to a teaspoon or so now and then.
Why it’s good
Blue cheese gives toddlers protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12 and fat for energy, which support bones, muscles and growth. It is high in sodium and saturated fat, so the benefits come from small portions. Its strong flavor can help toddlers learn to enjoy new tastes.
Safety notes
- Only serve blue cheese made from pasteurized milk. Some traditional blue cheeses, like certain Roquefort styles, are made with raw milk and can carry Listeria and other harmful bacteria. If the label does not say pasteurized, skip it.
- Even pasteurized soft, mold-ripened cheeses have been linked to Listeria outbreaks, so cook or melt blue cheese until hot when you can, and keep it refrigerated.
- Blue cheese is one of the saltiest cheeses. Keep portions very small and do not add salt to the rest of the meal.
- Soft, creamy blue cheese can form a sticky glob in the mouth. Spread it thinly, crumble it finely or melt it into food rather than serving chunks.
- Blue cheese dressings and dips often contain added salt, sugar and sometimes raw egg in homemade versions, so they are not a good fit for young toddlers.
Introduce blue cheese on its own, then keep it in
Blue cheese is made from milk, and cow's milk is one of the Top 9 allergens, so it counts as a dairy allergen. Introduce dairy earlier through milder cheeses or yogurt, and when you offer blue cheese, watch for hives, vomiting, swelling or wheezing.
Blue cheese for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about blue cheese for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have blue cheese?
Babies can have pasteurized blue cheese from about 12 months, in small amounts. Blue cheese is very high in salt and some kinds carry a higher food poisoning risk, so it is best to wait until after the first birthday.
Can babies have blue cheese?
Babies under 12 months are better off skipping blue cheese and having milder, lower-salt cheeses instead. After 12 months, toddlers can eat a small amount of pasteurized blue cheese, ideally melted or cooked into food.
Is blue cheese a choking hazard for babies?
Blue cheese can be a choking hazard because soft, creamy cheese can stick together in a glob in the mouth and firmer chunks are hard to manage. Crumble blue cheese finely, spread it thinly or melt it into a dish, and always stay with your child while they eat.
Is blue cheese a common allergen?
Yes, blue cheese is a common allergen because it is made from milk, and dairy is one of the Top 9 food allergens. Blue cheese made from sheep or goat milk is still a dairy allergen.
How do I serve blue cheese to a 6 month old?
Blue cheese is not recommended for a 6 month old because it is very salty and some types carry a Listeria risk. Offer pasteurized ricotta, fresh mozzarella or plain yogurt to introduce dairy instead, and wait until 12 months for blue cheese.
Is the mold in blue cheese safe for toddlers?
The blue mold in blue cheese is a food-safe mold added on purpose, and it is safe for toddlers to eat. The bigger concern with blue cheese is raw milk and salt, so choose pasteurized cheese and serve small amounts.
Is all blue cheese pasteurized?
Not all blue cheese is pasteurized. Many supermarket blue cheeses are made with pasteurized milk, but some imported and artisan blues are made with raw milk, so always read the label before serving blue cheese to a child.
Can toddlers have blue cheese dressing?
Toddlers can have a small amount of store-bought blue cheese dressing made with pasteurized ingredients as an occasional dip. Blue cheese dressing is often high in salt, so a thin smear on vegetables is plenty.
Which cheeses are better than blue cheese for babies?
Lower-sodium, pasteurized cheeses like ricotta, fresh mozzarella, Swiss and mild cheddar are better everyday choices for babies than blue cheese. Save blue cheese for occasional tastes after 12 months.
The takeaway
- Babies can have pasteurized blue cheese from about 12 months, in small amounts.
- Offer a small amount of pasteurized blue cheese crumbled thinly and melted into pasta, mashed potato, a cheese sauce or an omelet.
- Choking risk is medium. Dairy is one of the Top 9 allergens: offer a small amount first, watch for a reaction, then keep it in the diet regularly.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Preventing Listeria Infection Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- The Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW; American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2019;143(4):e20190281
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.