Dairy Food Library
When can babies have brie cheese?
Can babies have brie cheese?
Babies can have brie cheese from about 12 months, and only brie made with pasteurized milk. Soft-ripened cheeses like brie carry a higher risk of Listeria than firm cheeses, so it is wise to wait and choose other cheeses for younger babies. Brie is a dairy food and counts as a common allergen.
How to serve brie cheese by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Skip brie for now and choose lower-risk dairy instead, such as plain whole milk yogurt or smooth pasteurized ricotta, offered on a spoon or stirred into fruit or vegetable puree.
7–8 months
Keep waiting on brie and offer pasteurized ricotta, cottage cheese or plain whole milk yogurt instead, mashed into vegetables or on a preloaded spoon. Thin, soft shreds of mild cheddar or Swiss melted into food also work at this age.
9–12 months
Keep waiting on brie and keep dairy in the diet with plain whole milk yogurt, pasteurized ricotta or small shreds of firm cheese. If you want to practice soft, melty textures, try a little melted mozzarella on toast strips.
12 months +
Spread a thin layer of pasteurized brie on a toast strip or cracker, or melt a small amount into a grilled cheese or onto roasted vegetables. Remove the rind for younger toddlers and avoid large, gooey chunks that can stick to the roof of the mouth.
Why it’s good
Brie cheese gives toddlers fat for energy, protein, calcium, vitamin B12 and riboflavin for bones, muscles and nerves. Brie is lower in sodium than many hard aged cheeses, but it is rich, so a little goes a long way. Brie is not a meaningful source of iron, so pair it with iron-rich foods.
Safety notes
- Only serve brie made with pasteurized milk, and check the label every time. Unpasteurized (raw milk) brie can carry Listeria, E. coli and other bacteria and is not safe for babies or toddlers.
- Even pasteurized soft-ripened cheese can occasionally be contaminated after production. Buy from reliable stores, keep brie cold, eat it within a few days of opening and skip it if it smells off or looks slimy.
- Do not leave brie out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, even if it seems nicer soft. Cooking brie until it is steaming hot lowers the bacteria risk.
- Soft, sticky brie can coat the mouth and be hard to swallow. Spread it thinly instead of serving thick wedges or blobs, and remove the rind for young toddlers who struggle to chew it.
- Brie on a cheese board often sits next to whole nuts, whole grapes and hard crackers, which are choking hazards. Prepare a separate plate for your toddler.
Introduce brie cheese on its own, then keep it in
Brie cheese is made from cow's milk, and dairy is one of the Top 9 allergens. By 12 months most babies have already tried other dairy, but if brie is a first dairy food, offer a small amount and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, coughing or wheezing.
Brie cheese for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about brie cheese for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have brie cheese?
Babies can have brie cheese from about 12 months, as long as it is made with pasteurized milk. Before 12 months, lower-risk cheeses such as ricotta, cottage cheese or mild cheddar are better choices.
Can babies have brie cheese?
Babies under 12 months are better off skipping brie cheese because soft-ripened cheeses have a higher Listeria risk. Toddlers 12 months and up can eat pasteurized brie in small amounts, spread thinly or melted.
Is brie cheese a choking hazard for babies?
Brie cheese can be a choking risk when served in thick, gooey chunks that stick to the roof of the mouth. Spreading brie thinly on toast or melting it into other foods lowers the risk, and the firm rind is easier to manage if you cut it off for young toddlers.
Is brie cheese a common allergen?
Yes, brie cheese is a common allergen because it is made from cow's milk, and dairy is one of the Top 9 food allergens. Introduce brie in a small amount and keep an eye out for any signs of a reaction.
How do I serve brie cheese to a 6 month old?
A 6 month old should not have brie cheese yet because soft-ripened cheese carries a higher Listeria risk. Offer a 6 month old smooth pasteurized ricotta or plain yogurt on a spoon instead, and save brie for after the first birthday.
Why is brie riskier than other cheeses for babies?
Brie is riskier than firm cheeses because it is soft, moist and less acidic, which lets Listeria survive and grow if the cheese is contaminated. Listeria infection is rare but can be serious in young children, so careful storage and pasteurized brie matter.
When can babies have unpasteurized brie?
Unpasteurized or raw milk brie is not recommended for babies or young children at any age. Choose brie labeled pasteurized, and ask your pediatrician if you have questions about raw milk cheese for older kids.
Can toddlers eat the rind on brie?
The rind on brie is edible, but toddlers can find the rind chewy and hard to break down. Cutting the rind off for young toddlers makes brie easier and safer to eat, and older kids can try it once they chew well.
Is baked brie safe for toddlers?
Baked brie made with pasteurized cheese and heated until steaming throughout is a good option for toddlers 12 months and up. Let baked brie cool well before serving, since melted cheese holds heat and can burn the mouth.
The takeaway
- Babies can have brie cheese from about 12 months, and only brie made with pasteurized milk.
- Spread a thin layer of pasteurized brie on a toast strip or cracker, or melt a small amount into a grilled cheese or onto roasted vegetables.
- 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.