First foods database

🧀 Ricotta for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat ricotta? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as it is pasteurised, which almost all UK supermarket ricotta is. Ricotta is soft, mild and much lower in salt than most cheeses, so it is a gentle, easy way to bring dairy into weaning.

From 6 monthsAllergen: MilkLow choking risk when prepared well

Good source of: Calcium, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin B12

How to serve ricotta by age

6 to 9 months

Spoon-feed plain ricotta on its own or mixed into fruit purée, mashed pear or puréed spinach. Spread a thin layer on toast fingers or soft pancakes for a finger food. Introduce on its own the first time, as milk is an allergen.

9 to 12 months

Stir ricotta through pasta with peas or spinach, mix into scrambled egg, or bake into soft ricotta pancakes and fritters.

12 months and up

Ricotta in lasagne, stuffed pasta shells, pancakes and creamy dips with herbs.

Choking safety

Ricotta is soft and low risk. Spread it thinly, as a thick spoonful on bread can be a little sticky.

Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).

Good to know

Introducing it as an allergen

It contains milk, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce milk

Easy ideas

Goes well with

🥬SpinachFrom 6 months🍝PastaFrom 6 months · Gluten🍐PearFrom 6 months🫐BlueberryFrom 6 months

Recipes with ricotta

🥞Raspberry and ricotta pancakesFrom 9 months · Breakfast · 22 min🟢Ricotta, pea and mint dipFrom 6 months · Snack · 9 min🐚Spinach and ricotta stuffed pasta shellsFrom 9 months · Dinner · 50 min

Weaning with OBubba

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat ricotta?

Can babies eat ricotta? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as it is pasteurised, which almost all UK supermarket ricotta is. Ricotta is soft, mild and much lower in salt than most cheeses, so it is a gentle, easy way to bring dairy into weaning.

Is ricotta safe for babies?

Yes. Pasteurised ricotta is fine from about 6 months and is one of the lowest-salt cheeses.

Can I freeze ricotta for baby meals?

Ricotta can turn grainy when frozen on its own, but it freezes well inside cooked dishes like lasagne and pancakes.

Sources

OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).