Dairy Food Library
When can babies have goat cheese?
Can babies have goat cheese?
Babies can have pasteurized goat cheese from about 6 months. Soft fresh goat cheese (chevre) mixes easily into purees at first, and from 7–8 months it can be spread thinly on toast, but it can be sticky, so keep it thin. Goat cheese is a dairy food and is a common allergen, even for babies who are allergic to cow's milk.
How to serve goat cheese by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Stir a small spoonful of soft, pasteurized fresh goat cheese into smooth mashed sweet potato, peas or squash until it is fully blended, then offer it on a spoon. Avoid giving a lump of cheese on its own, since it can cling to the roof of the mouth.
7–8 months
Mix goat cheese into thicker, lumpier mashes, or spread a thin layer on a soft toast strip or a soft-cooked vegetable spear for baby to hold. Keep the layer thin so it does not form a sticky glob.
9–12 months
Offer small crumbles about the size of a pea mixed into scrambled eggs, pasta or roasted vegetables for pincer-grasp practice. Keep spreading it thinly on toast or soft crackers.
12 months +
Toddlers can have goat cheese on sandwiches, pizza, omelets, salads or melted into pasta sauces. Thin slices of firm aged goat cheese also work, as long as they are thin enough to chew easily.
Why it’s good
Goat cheese gives babies protein, fat for energy and brain growth, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and riboflavin. Fresh goat cheese is usually a bit lower in sodium than feta or aged cheeses. It is not a source of iron, so pair it with iron-rich foods.
Safety notes
- Only serve goat cheese made with pasteurized milk. Raw milk cheese can carry Listeria, E. coli and other harmful bacteria.
- Soft goat cheese is thick and sticky. Spread it thin or mix it into other foods rather than giving a spoonful or a large lump.
- Aged and crumbly goat cheeses are saltier. Use fresh goat cheese most often and keep portions small.
- Surface-ripened goat cheese with a white bloomy rind has a higher food safety risk; for babies, stick to fresh, pasteurized goat cheese.
- Goat milk dairy is not a safe swap for babies with a cow's milk allergy, because the proteins are very similar.
Introduce goat cheese on its own, then keep it in
Goat cheese counts as a dairy allergen, and most babies allergic to cow's milk also react to goat milk. Offer a small amount the first time and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, coughing or wheezing, and talk to your pediatrician first if your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy.
Goat cheese for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about goat cheese for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have goat cheese?
Babies can have goat cheese from about 6 months, as long as it is made with pasteurized milk. Start with a small amount mixed into a smooth puree, then try a thin smear on toast from about 7–8 months.
Can babies have goat cheese?
Yes, babies can eat pasteurized goat cheese in small amounts. Fresh, soft goat cheese is a good choice because it is mild and often lower in salt than many other cheeses.
Is goat cheese a choking hazard for babies?
Goat cheese can be a choking hazard for babies when served in thick globs, because soft cheese is sticky and can coat the mouth. Spread goat cheese thinly or mix it into other foods, and avoid large crumbles of firm goat cheese.
Is goat cheese a common allergen?
Yes, goat cheese is a common allergen because it is a dairy food. Goat milk proteins are very similar to cow's milk proteins, so babies allergic to cow's milk usually react to goat cheese too.
How do I serve goat cheese to a 6 month old?
To serve goat cheese to a 6 month old, mix a small spoonful of fresh pasteurized goat cheese into smooth mashed vegetables and offer it on a spoon. Keep the first serving small and watch for signs of an allergic reaction. Thin spreads on toast strips can follow at 7–8 months.
Is goat cheese easier to digest than cow's milk cheese for babies?
Goat cheese is not clearly easier to digest for babies than cow's milk cheese, and it still contains lactose and milk proteins. Choose goat cheese if your family likes it, not as a fix for a milk allergy.
Is goat cheese pasteurized?
Most goat cheese sold in US grocery stores is pasteurized, but some farmers market and imported goat cheeses are made from raw milk. Check the label for the word pasteurized before serving goat cheese to a baby.
How much goat cheese can a baby have?
A baby only needs a small amount of goat cheese, such as a teaspoon or two spread on food. Goat cheese is one dairy option among many, so rotate it with yogurt, ricotta and mild cheeses.
Can babies have goat cheese with herbs or honey?
Babies can have goat cheese with plain herbs, but avoid honey-coated goat cheese before 12 months because honey can cause infant botulism. Flavored goat cheeses can also be saltier, so plain is best for babies.
The takeaway
- Babies can have pasteurized goat cheese from about 6 months.
- Stir a small spoonful of soft, pasteurized fresh goat cheese into smooth mashed sweet potato, peas or squash until it is fully blended, then offer it on a spoon.
- 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)
- Preventing Listeria Infection Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Botulism Prevention 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.