Edam Cheese

Dairy

Last updated July 5, 2026. The Tummi Food Team maintains this Can I Feed This safety guide guide. Supporting links appear in Sources when available.

Written By

Tummi Food Team

Food prep and safety guidance

Clinically reviewed by Andria Procopio and Arefa Mohamed

Direct answer

Can babies eat Edam Cheese?

Yes, babies can eat edam cheese from around 6 months of age when they are ready for solids; choose pasteurized varieties and serve in safe, small pieces.

6+months Serve Age: Most babies start solids around 6 months once they show readiness signs. Match the texture and serving size to your baby's skills.
How to serve
Allergens: Edam Cheese is flagged for milk. Introduce common allergens in a baby-safe form and follow your clinician's advice if your baby is higher risk.
Details
12345 3 Choking Risk: Some choking risk. Use the prep section to change the size, shape, or texture before serving.
Risk notes

This guide is for everyday food prep questions. Ask your pediatrician about medical concerns, feeding delays, allergy plans, or serious reactions.

How Do You Serve Edam Cheese?

How to serve Edam Cheese to babies 6 months and older

1
Use only pasteurized Edam and avoid raw/unpasteurized varieties.
2
Cut cheese into thin, flat strips that are easy for a baby to grasp — do not serve cubes or large chunks.
3
If warming or melting, sprinkle a small amount of shredded cheese on food rather than creating large melted blobs; keeps textures manageable.
4
Always supervise while eating and ensure the baby is sitting upright; stop feeding if pieces break into small, hard fragments.

How to serve Edam Cheese to babies 12 months and older

1
Serve pasteurized Edam in small, easy-to-chew forms like thin shreds or short strips torn from a thin slice.
2
Grate the cheese and mix it into warm foods (e.g., pasta or mashed vegetables) so it breaks into tiny pieces. Reduces choking risk.
3
Avoid firm cubes, large slices, or big melted globs (such as large pizza blobs) that can be hard to swallow.
4
Always offer cheese while seated and supervised, and adjust piece size to match your child’s chewing ability.

How to serve Edam Cheese to babies 18 months and older

1
Always remove the wax and any non-food wrapping before offering the cheese.
2
Serve the cheese whole only while the child is seated and closely supervised — within arm’s reach so you can intervene quickly if needed.
3
Model taking small bites and encourage thorough chewing; offer a small piece first to check readiness.
4
Avoid giving cheese when the child is walking, running, or distracted — cut into pieces if you’re concerned about choking.

Is Edam Cheese a Common Allergen?

Dairy

Egg

Fish

Gluten

Tree Nut

Peanut

Sesame

Shellfish

Soy

Edam is a semi‑hard cheese made from cow’s milk and contains milk proteins (casein), so it is not safe for anyone with a cow’s‑milk allergy. It is often lower in lactose than fresh cheeses, so some people with lactose intolerance may tolerate small amounts, but it still contains milk and is not lactose‑free. Always check product labels for added ingredients or cross‑contact warnings, and consult your pediatrician or an allergist before offering to infants or anyone with a history of severe milk allergy.

Is Edam Cheese a Choking Hazard?

Moderate Choking Risk

Hard

Slippery

Edam cheese can be a choking hazard: its firm texture and tendency to form sticky, cohesive masses in the mouth can block the airway. When introducing it, stay within arm’s reach and supervise closely so you can act if baby gags or chokes. Be familiar with the signs of choking and keep your infant choking first-aid skills up to date.

Have More Questions?

Yes, edam cheese can be introduced to babies around 6 months old when they are starting solids. Ensure it is pasteurized to minimize health risks.

It depends. While edam cheese can be high in sodium, giving small amounts occasionally as part of a varied diet is generally fine for babies.

Yes, edam cheese, made from cow’s milk, is a common allergen. It’s best to observe your baby for any allergic reactions when first introducing.

Yes, edam cheese can be a choking hazard for babies due to its firm texture. Serve it in small, age-appropriate pieces and supervise feeding.

It depends. Small, wax-wrapped Edam cheeses like Babybel are better suited for toddlers over 18 months, with appropriate supervision and preparation.

Save Edam Cheese to your food log

Track foods, reactions, and prep notes in Tummi when you want to keep your baby's feeding history in one place.

Try For Free

Sources

Dangers of raw milk - U.S. Food & Drug Administration fda.gov
Consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk and milk products by pregnant women and children (AAP, Pediatrics 2014) pediatrics.aappublications.org
Avoidance of added salt for 6-12-month-old infants: A narrative review (Archives de pediatrie, 2023) sciencedirect.com
Infants' and Children's Salt Taste Perception and Liking: A Review (Nutrients, 2017) mdpi.com
Sodium: Too Much of a Good Thing (National Capital Poison Center, 2013) poison.org
Does salt intake in the first two years of life affect cardiovascular risk? (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis, 2012) doi.org
Modeling the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on cheese (Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2014) frontiersin.org
Listeria infections - KidsHealth (2017) kidshealth.org
Foods to avoid giving babies and young children - NHS (2018) nhs.uk
Cheese Microbial Risk Assessments - A Review (Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2016) doi.org
The epidemiology of milk allergy in US children (Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2013) doi.org
The challenge of cow milk protein allergy (Small Ruminant Research, 2007) doi.org
Cow’s milk protein allergy - GI Kids (2019) gikids.org
Histamine Intolerance in Children: A Narrative Review (Nutrients, 2021) mdpi.com
Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art (Biomolecules, 2020) mdpi.com
Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome and allergic proctocolitis (Allergy Asthma Proc., 2015) doi.org
Living with lactose intolerance (InformedHealth/IQWiG, 2010) informedhealth.org

What Other Dairy Can Babies Eat?

Source-Linked Guidance

See the evidence behind the guide.

Food guides show direct links to public-health guidance and research when supporting references are available. Source inclusion does not imply endorsement.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Developmental milestones, nutrition guidelines, and allergen introduction timelines.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Evidence-based feeding recommendations from the leading pediatric authority.

National Institutes of Health

Peer-reviewed research on infant nutrition, allergies, and food safety.