General information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician before starting solids or allergens.

Paneer, watercolor illustration
Dairy

Paneer for babies

When and how to serve paneer at every stage of starting solids.

Introduce from
6–9 months
  • Protein rich

How to prepare paneer by age

  1. 6–9 months

    Pasteurised paneer only. Warm it through until soft (for example simmered in a mild spinach or tomato sauce), then offer finger-length strips about the width of an adult finger, or crumble it finely. Cold paneer is firm and squeaky, so keep it thin.

  2. 9–12 months

    Soft strips or small pieces cooked in dishes, or crumbled into scrambled egg or vegetables.

  3. 12 months+

    Cubes or strips in curries and wraps; grilled paneer is chewier, so cut it smaller.

Common allergen

Contains cow's milk (dairy) , one of the 9 common food allergens.

Contains milk, a common allergen. Offer a small amount mixed into a familiar food first and watch for any reaction. Choose products made from pasteurised milk only.

First time with cow's milk (dairy): Offer dairy in food, such as full-fat plain yogurt or cheese, or milk used in cooking. Cow's milk should not be the main drink before 12 months.

If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, talk to your pediatrician before introducing allergens.

Nutrition highlights

  • Protein rich
  • Calcium rich

Serving ideas

  • Soft paneer strips in a mild spinach sauce
  • Crumbled paneer with peas
  • Paneer and vegetable wrap (12m+)

Prepare these as described above for your baby’s age.

Choosing and storing

Storage: Refrigerate and use by the date on the pack; once opened, use within 2-3 days or freeze.

Sources

This guide is based on published guidance from:

More dairy

Browse all 147 foods

Keep every first food in one place

BabyJoy shows how to prepare all 147 foods by age, helps you introduce the 9 common allergens one at a time, and counts your baby’s First 100 foods. Free on iPhone, with optional Premium to remove ads.

Download on the App Store