Dairy Food Library
When can babies have mozzarella cheese?
Can babies have mozzarella cheese?
Babies can have pasteurized mozzarella cheese from about 6 months. Fresh mozzarella is one of the lowest-sodium cheeses, which makes it a great first cheese, but it is rubbery and can be hard to chew, so grate and melt it into purees at first, then offer thin slices or thin torn strips from about 7–8 months. Mozzarella is a dairy food and a common allergen.
How to serve mozzarella cheese by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Finely grate low-moisture pasteurized mozzarella and melt a small amount into smooth purees or mashed potato, stirring until it blends in fully, or blend fresh mozzarella into vegetable puree. Offer it on a spoon, and avoid stretchy melted strings.
7–8 months
Stir grated mozzarella into lumpier mashes or soft pasta, or offer a thin, wide slice of fresh pasteurized mozzarella or a strip torn about the length of an adult finger. Avoid balls, cubes and string cheese sticks.
9–12 months
Tear fresh mozzarella into small, thin pieces or offer shredded mozzarella for pincer-grasp practice. Mix grated mozzarella into omelets, quesadilla strips or baked pasta.
12 months +
Toddlers can have mozzarella on pizza, in sandwiches and in pasta dishes. Cut mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini or pearls) into quarters, and peel string cheese into thin strings rather than handing over the whole stick.
Why it’s good
Mozzarella gives babies protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12 and fat for energy. Fresh mozzarella is lower in sodium than most cheeses, which makes it a good everyday cheese choice. Mozzarella is not a source of iron, so pair it with iron-rich foods.
Safety notes
- Choose pasteurized mozzarella. Most US mozzarella is pasteurized, but check labels on fresh, imported and buffalo mozzarella.
- Mozzarella is rubbery and springy. Avoid cubes, whole mini balls and whole string cheese sticks, which can block the airway.
- Melted mozzarella can form a long, stretchy glob. Let it cool and cut pizza or baked dishes into small pieces with the cheese spread thin.
- Smoked and pre-seasoned mozzarella is saltier. Plain fresh mozzarella is the best choice for babies.
- Store fresh mozzarella in its liquid in the fridge and use it within a few days of opening.
Introduce mozzarella cheese on its own, then keep it in
Mozzarella is made from cow's milk or water buffalo milk and is a dairy allergen either way. Offer a small amount first and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, coughing or wheezing, and keep dairy in the diet once tolerated.
Mozzarella cheese for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about mozzarella cheese for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have mozzarella cheese?
Babies can have mozzarella cheese from about 6 months, as long as it is pasteurized and grated and melted into purees at first, then thinly sliced or torn into thin strips from about 7–8 months. Mozzarella is a good first cheese because it is mild and low in salt.
Can babies have mozzarella cheese?
Yes, babies can eat pasteurized mozzarella cheese. Fresh mozzarella is one of the lowest-sodium cheeses, so it is a good everyday dairy option.
Is mozzarella cheese a choking hazard for babies?
Yes, mozzarella cheese can be a choking hazard because it is rubbery and hard to chew, and melted mozzarella can form a stretchy glob. Grate mozzarella, slice it thin, or quarter mini balls before serving.
Is mozzarella cheese a common allergen?
Yes, mozzarella cheese is a common allergen because it is a dairy food. Buffalo mozzarella is also dairy and is not a safe swap for a cow's milk allergy.
How do I serve mozzarella cheese to a 6 month old?
To serve mozzarella cheese to a 6 month old, finely grate a little pasteurized mozzarella and stir it into a warm smooth puree or mashed potato until it melts in, then offer it on a spoon. Thin, wide slices can follow at 7–8 months. Avoid cubes and whole balls.
Can babies have melted mozzarella?
Babies can have melted mozzarella once it has cooled and is spread thinly over food. Thick strings of melted mozzarella can be hard to manage, so cut pizza and baked dishes into small pieces.
Can babies have string cheese?
Babies can have string cheese if you peel it into very thin strings, not as a whole stick. A whole string cheese stick can break into rubbery chunks that are a choking risk.
Is fresh or low-moisture mozzarella better for babies?
Fresh mozzarella is usually lower in sodium and softer, so it is a little better for babies. Low-moisture mozzarella grates easily and is also fine in small amounts.
Is buffalo mozzarella safe for babies?
Buffalo mozzarella is safe for babies if it is made from pasteurized milk. Check the label, since some imported buffalo mozzarella is made from raw milk.
The takeaway
- Babies can have pasteurized mozzarella cheese from about 6 months.
- Finely grate low-moisture pasteurized mozzarella and melt a small amount into smooth purees or mashed potato, stirring until it blends in fully, or blend fresh mozzarella into vegetable puree.
- 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)
- 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.