Dairy Food Library
When can babies have camembert cheese?
Can babies have camembert cheese?
Children can have pasteurized camembert cheese from 12 months, ideally baked or heated until steaming hot. Camembert is a soft, mold-ripened cheese, a type more likely to carry Listeria, so unpasteurized camembert should be avoided entirely in early childhood. Camembert is made from milk and counts as a dairy allergen.
How to serve camembert cheese by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Hold off on camembert. Introduce dairy with safer, milder options like plain whole milk yogurt or pasteurized ricotta stirred into a smooth fruit or vegetable puree and offered on a spoon.
7–8 months
Keep waiting on camembert. Offer other pasteurized dairy instead, such as ricotta mixed into lumpy mashed vegetables, plain yogurt, or grated mozzarella melted into soft scrambled eggs.
9–12 months
Keep waiting on camembert and continue offering other pasteurized cheeses, such as grated cheddar melted into eggs or ricotta spread thinly on toast strips.
12 months +
Bake a whole pasteurized camembert until it is bubbling and steaming hot all the way through, about 165°F (74°C), let it cool to warm, then spread a thin layer on toast strips, a soft cracker or steamed vegetables. Spread it thinly rather than offering a scoop, since warm camembert is sticky and can form a glob in the mouth.
Why it’s good
Camembert cheese provides protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin A, along with fat that toddlers need for energy and brain growth. Camembert is moderately high in sodium and saturated fat, so a thin spread a couple of times a week is plenty. Pair it with fruit, vegetables or whole grain toast for a more balanced snack.
Safety notes
- Only serve camembert made with pasteurized milk. Raw milk camembert can carry Listeria, E. coli and other bacteria that are especially dangerous for young children. Check the label for the word pasteurized.
- Soft, mold-ripened cheeses can still pick up Listeria after pasteurization. Baking or microwaving camembert until it is steaming hot throughout, then cooling it to warm, adds a layer of safety.
- Melted or warm camembert is sticky and can form a gooey ball in the mouth. Spread it in a thin layer on a food your child can hold, and avoid large lumps or cubes.
- The white rind is edible, but it can be chewy. Remove it for young toddlers or chop it finely and mix it into the melted cheese.
- Camembert contains a fair amount of salt. Keep portions small and choose lower-sodium cheeses like fresh mozzarella, ricotta or Swiss for everyday use.
Introduce camembert cheese on its own, then keep it in
Camembert cheese is made from cow's milk, one of the Top 9 allergens. Introduce dairy earlier with simpler foods like yogurt, and if your child already tolerates dairy, camembert is unlikely to cause a new reaction; still watch for hives, vomiting or swelling and check with your pediatrician if your child has a known milk allergy.
Camembert cheese for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about camembert cheese for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have camembert cheese?
Babies can have pasteurized camembert cheese from 12 months, ideally heated until steaming hot and then cooled. Before 12 months, offer milder pasteurized cheeses like ricotta, mozzarella or cheddar instead.
Can babies have camembert cheese?
Babies under 12 months should skip camembert cheese because soft, mold-ripened cheeses carry a higher Listeria risk. From 12 months, toddlers can eat pasteurized camembert in small amounts, preferably baked or warmed through.
Is camembert cheese a choking hazard for babies?
Camembert cheese can be a choking hazard because warm or melted camembert is sticky and can form a glob that is hard to move around the mouth. Spreading camembert thinly on toast or vegetables and avoiding chunks lowers the risk.
Is camembert cheese a common allergen?
Yes, camembert cheese is a common allergen because it is made from milk, and dairy is one of the Top 9 food allergens. Children who already eat yogurt and other cheeses usually tolerate camembert, but watch for signs of a reaction the first time.
How do I serve camembert cheese to a 6 month old?
Camembert cheese is not recommended for a 6 month old. To introduce dairy at 6 months, serve plain whole milk yogurt, ricotta or soft pasteurized mozzarella, and wait until 12 months for pasteurized, well-heated camembert.
Is camembert cheese pasteurized?
Most camembert sold in US supermarkets is made with pasteurized milk, while traditional French camembert is often made with raw milk. Read the label every time and skip any camembert labeled raw milk or lait cru for young children.
Why should I bake camembert before giving it to a toddler?
Baking camembert until steaming hot kills Listeria, a bacteria that can grow in soft, ripened cheese even after pasteurization. Heating to about 165°F (74°C), then letting the cheese cool to warm, makes camembert safer for toddlers.
Can toddlers eat the rind on camembert cheese?
The white rind on camembert cheese is edible and safe when the cheese is pasteurized. The rind can be chewy for young toddlers, so remove it or chop it finely and stir it into the melted center.
Is camembert or brie better for toddlers?
Camembert and brie are very similar soft, mold-ripened cheeses with similar safety rules. Either one should be pasteurized, heated until steaming and served thinly spread, and neither is a better choice than everyday cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella.
The takeaway
- Children can have pasteurized camembert cheese from 12 months, ideally baked or heated until steaming hot.
- Bake a whole pasteurized camembert until it is bubbling and steaming hot all the way through, about 165°F (74°C), let it cool to warm, then spread a thin layer on toast strips, a soft cracker or steamed 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.