Cheese is one type of food that is high in nutrition. But is it okay to give cheese to babies? If so, from what age can babies be given cheese? If not, What is the reason?To find out the answer, come on, ssee explanation on following article.
Every parent always wants to give the best for their baby, including nutritional intake, starting from the womb until the little one is born into the world.
One of the foods that are known to contain lots of nutrients is cheese. In addition, the good taste can make the baby eat more voraciously. However, giving cheese to babies is still quite a debate.
Cheese Feeding Time for Babies
During the first 6 months after birth, it is recommended that you only give breast milk to your little one. Only after that, complementary foods (MPASI) can be introduced slowly.
nowOne of the most frequently asked questions among parents is is it okay to give cheese to babies? According to some pediatricians, most babies are allowed to eat cheese as long as they are over 8 months old.
However, if the baby's parents or siblings have allergies to milk and processed products, postpone giving cheese to babies.
Conditions for Giving Cheese to Babies
Cheese is included in the list of recommended protein sources for toddlers. In addition, cheese is also rich in calcium, fat, vitamin D, vitamin A, and vitamin B.
However, giving cheese to babies has conditions, namely:
- Before introducing cheese to your baby, introduce some other solid foods, such as meat, vegetables, and fruit, in the form of puree or filter porridge.
- Choose cheese labeled as pasteurized. Unpasteurized or raw cheese can contain Listeria bacteria, which causes listeriosis. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, or diarrhea.
- Start with softer cheeses, such as cottage cheese and mozzarella, because these types of cheese are easy for babies to chew.
- If your little one does not show an allergic reaction, continue giving cheese in its whole form or mixed in its food. Cut the cheese into small pieces so your little one doesn't choke.
If your child suffers from food allergies, especially allergies to cheese or milk, consult with your doctor first before giving him cheese.
Symptoms of a Milk and Cheese Allergy
If your child turns out to be allergic to milk and dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, he will experience itching, swelling, skin rashes in the form of red spots, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing after eat these foods.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction are different for each child. There are mild or severe reactions, and there are reactions that appear immediately or only appear a few days after consuming milk or its processed products.
If your baby's milk allergy symptoms appear later, he or she may experience diarrhea, skin rashes, choking, vomiting, and constant crying or colic.
What to Pay Attention to if Your Baby is Allergic to Cheese
When your little one shows signs of an allergy after eating cheese, stop giving formula milk or other dairy products to your little one. If the allergic reaction is severe, such as a swollen mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, or fainting, immediately take your child to the nearest emergency room for treatment and supervision.
If your little one is old enough to be given complementary foods, consult your pediatrician to find out what foods are allowed and not allowed to be given to babies, including whether or not you can give cheese to babies.
