Parmesan

The earliest stage on this page is 6–8 months: Finely grated into a soft dish rather than given in a piece. Check the label says pasteurised — NHS advice is that unpasteurised cheese is better avoided because of listeria risk, but is fine used in a cooked recipe, as cooking kills listeria.

6–8 months (Flaked): Finely grated into a soft dish rather than given in a piece. Check the label says pasteurised — NHS advice is that unpasteurised cheese is better avoided because of listeria risk, but is fine used in a cooked recipe, as cooking kills listeria.

9–11 months (Flaked): Finely grated into pasta or vegetables — it is hard and very salty to give in a piece on its own.

12–24 months (Flaked): Grated into the family meal. It is one of the saltier cheeses, so not at every meal.

Added salt is hard on a baby's kidneys. Avoid stock cubes, gravy, soy sauce and cured meats; do not salt cooking water. Source: NHS: foods to avoid.

Mould-ripened soft cheese, ripened goats' milk cheese and soft blue cheese carry a higher listeria risk. Pasteurised hard cheese, such as mild cheddar, is fine from 6 months. Source: NHS: foods to avoid.

Yes. On the UK allergen list it counts as Milk.

Milk is one of the UK's 14 declarable allergens. Offer it from around six months, then keep offering it — regular exposure is what current guidance recommends, not a single try.