When can babies have yogurt and cheese?
Here is the part that surprises a lot of parents: yogurt and cheese are fine from around 6 months, even though cow's milk as a main drink waits until the first birthday. Dairy foods and the milk drink follow different timelines.
Why the timing is different from cow's milk
Cow's milk is low in iron. Given as a main drink before 12 months, it can crowd out breast milk or formula and drag down a baby's iron levels. Yogurt and cheese are eaten in much smaller amounts as part of a meal, not relied on for the bulk of nutrition, so they are perfectly good from around 6 months. For the drink itself, see when babies can have cow's milk.
Choosing a yogurt
Go for plain, full-fat, pasteurized yogurt. Babies need the fat for energy and brain development, and plain keeps you clear of the added sugar packed into most flavored and "kids" yogurts. Want it sweeter? Stir in mashed banana, berries, or applesauce yourself.
Choosing a cheese
Full-fat pasteurized cheeses like mild cheddar are great, offered grated, in small soft strips, or melted into food. A few to avoid or save for later:
- Mould-ripened soft cheeses (brie, camembert) and blue cheeses, because of a small listeria risk, unless thoroughly cooked.
- Unpasteurized cheeses of any kind, for the same reason.
- Very salty cheeses in large amounts. Cheese counts toward your baby's low salt budget, so keep portions small. See salt for babies.
Yogurts and cheeses to explore
Every yogurt and cheese we cover. Offer them softer or grated for younger babies, and go easy on the saltier aged cheeses like feta, parmesan, and halloumi.
Yogurts. Plain and whole-milk; skip the added sugar.
Greek yogurt, Kefir, Labneh, Skyr, Yogurt (whole milk), Kadhi, Shrikhand, Lassi, Kishk, Jameed, Amasi, Yogurt melts.
Cheeses. Grated or in soft pieces for younger babies, and go easy on salt.
Cheddar cheese, Cheese, Colby, Cottage cheese, Cream cheese, Feta, Goat cheese, Gouda, Halloumi, Manchego, Mascarpone, Monterey jack, Mozzarella, Muenster, Paneer, Parmesan, Provolone, Quark, Queso fresco, Ricotta, Swiss cheese, American cheese, Cheese curds, Fromage blanc, Emmental, Comte, Pecorino, Brie, Khoya, Labneh balls, String cheese, Burrata, Gruyère, Havarti, Edam, Cotija, Oaxaca cheese, Fontina, Munster cheese, Chhena.
Milk is still a top allergen
Cow's milk is one of the major food allergens, so when you first offer yogurt or cheese, introduce it the same careful way as any allergen: a small amount, early in the day, and watch for a reaction. Our milk allergen guide walks through it, and food allergy signs covers what to look for.
Related reading
See when babies can have cow's milk, does formula count as introducing dairy, introducing milk, and best first foods for babies.
Frequently asked questions
When can babies have yogurt and cheese?
Dairy foods like plain full-fat yogurt and cheese are fine from around 6 months, when your baby starts solids. This is different from cow’s milk as a main drink, which waits until 12 months. Choose pasteurized, full-fat, unsweetened options.
Why are yogurt and cheese okay at 6 months but not cow’s milk as a drink?
Cow’s milk is low in iron and, when given as a main drink before 12 months, can crowd out breast milk or formula and affect iron levels. Yogurt and cheese are eaten in much smaller amounts as foods, not relied on for the bulk of nutrition, so they are fine from around 6 months.
What kind of yogurt is best for babies?
Plain, full-fat, pasteurized yogurt is ideal. Babies need the fat for energy and brain development, and plain avoids the added sugar in flavored yogurts. You can stir in mashed fruit for sweetness. Skip low-fat and sugary varieties.
Which cheeses should babies avoid?
Avoid mould-ripened soft cheeses like brie and camembert, blue cheeses, and any unpasteurized cheese, because of the small listeria risk, unless they are thoroughly cooked. Also go easy on very salty cheeses. Full-fat pasteurized cheeses like mild cheddar are good choices.
Let the app track the big 9 for you
Log a first taste and YummyYucky opens a watch window on that allergen, tells you when it is clear to start the next, and keeps the ones that go fine in rotation. Free.
Start the allergen tracker, freeLast updated July 2026. Next review January 2027. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.
This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.
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