Published on March 22nd, 2022 and Updated on January 15th, 2024
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A baby’s first solid food moments are adorable—gummy smiles dribbling mashed banana and chubby cheeks smeared with whirled-peas. In fact, can you think of anything cuter than a happy baby finger-painting applesauce all over a table? Or how about clenching a juicy burger in tubby toddler hands?
Wait….what? That last one’s a stretch. Can babies even eat meat?
The idea of babies devouring red meat seems comical, frankly (see what we did there?). However, there are compelling reasons why you can and should feed meat-based meals to your little carnivore as early as 6 months old. Although burgers should not be on your lil’ buddy’s menu for quite a while, there are numerous safe ways to feed meat to your baby as one of the earliest solid foods.
If you’re confused by the idea of babies eating meat, don’t worry—here’s a guide to all things carnivorous for you and your little lion to explore.
When is your baby developmentally ready for solid food?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breast or formula-fed for the first 6 months of life. However, between 4 and 6 months of age, babies begin to develop the coordination and interest they need to try solid foods.
How do you know if your baby is ready to eat from a spoon instead of a bottle or breast? Consider the following:
- Can she hold her head upright with good neck control?
- Does she open her mouth and seem eager when food is near?
- Does she swallow food from the spoon (as opposed to it dribbling down her chin)?
- Has she doubled her birth weight?
If the answer to all four of these questions is yes, then your baby is ready to try solid food.
Baby’s First Foods
Once your baby is developmentally ready for solid food, you’ll decide the order in which to introduce them.
Infant feeding advice used to rely on a schedule of first foods, starting with soft rice cereals, then progressing to vegetables, then fruits, and then, finally, meats. Luckily, current research does not support this rigid schedule and instead puts more focus on the quality of the food, rather than a particular order of introduction.
Plus, by adding a variety of foods to your baby’s diet, you likewise add a variety of important vitamins, minerals, tastes, and textures.
When your baby is developmentally ready, you can serve up first foods like:
- Brown rice baby cereal softened with breastmilk or formula (because it’s easy to digest)
- Pureed fruits, including:
- Bananas
- Pears
- Apples
- Peaches
- Avocados
- Pureed vegetables, such as:
- Peas
- Carrots
- Squash
- Sweet potato
- Spinach
- Pureed meats, like:
- Chicken
- Pork
- Beef
Whatever first foods you choose, here are a few tips for introduction:
- Frappe, puree, and blend – Baby’s first foods should be very thin, smooth, and liquid-y. Remember, your baby has never encountered food other than breastmilk or formula, so a smooth consistency = a smooth transition.
- Start with just a bite – At first, your teeny guppy may not be very impressed, so start by offering just a small liquid-thinned teaspoonful of food, whether it be rice or wheat cereal, red meat, chicken meat, fruit, or vegetable. If it’s rejected, don’t lose heart. Just try again in a few days.
- Introduce one at a time –Introduce one single-ingredient food at a time (excluding the water or breastmilk used to thin it) and wait 3 to 5 days before introducing a different food. This allows time to gauge your baby’s openness to the new treat, as well as notice any allergic reactions if the new introduction causes a food allergy.
- Take note – Whether you choose to begin with baby cereal, meats, veggies, or fruits, keep notes on what your darling likes and dislikes. Return to the dislikes occasionally to help your little one gain familiarity and keep it positive. Children come to foods in their own time, so it’s rejected, just try again.
Nutritional Benefits of Meat as a First Food
Packed with essential building blocks for strength and development, meats are one of the best first baby foods because they offer the following benefits:
- Available heme-iron – Iron is essential for healthy brain growth in babies because it plays a role in many major neurodevelopmental processes, including the creation of brain nerve fibers. However, not all iron is created equal. Heme-iron is iron that’s more easily absorbed by the body. Comparatively, non-heme iron is iron that’s harder for the body to absorb. About 12% to 15% of the iron found in animal protein is heme-iron. When you consider that most processed baby cereals only offer about 3% heme-iron, it’s clear that meat provides some serious developmental benefits.
- Choline – Like iron, choline (also known as cobalamin) is essential for optimal brain function and development. While it’s present in both breastmilk and infant formula ingredients, meat is another great source of this nutrient.
Meaty Bites by Age
Not exactly thrilled about the idea of blending beef and pureeing pork? Fortunately, your baby won’t be limited to liquified meats forever; chopped chicken meat and sliced sausage are on the horizon. Below is an age-appropriate timeline to introduce these meat options and ensure successful feeding.
- 6 to 9 Months – From 6 to 9 months old, babies can eat well-blended meats with an almost watery consistency, then move to a thicker smoothie-like consistency. During this stage, your baby is not ready for any chunky meats or meats flavored with salts which can be harmful to your little one’s health at this age.
- 9 to 12 Months – Sometime around 9 months old, your baby will begin to develop the finger dexterity needed for self-feeding. She’ll also have enough teeth that you can consider serving small pieces of chopped chicken, beef, and pork. Many parents introduce sausages around this time, just cut tubular sausages into quarters or smaller bits so they don’t pose a choking hazard.
- 1 year and beyond – Ready to start serving up an old reliable? At 1 year, you can introduce your little one to chicken nuggets (and start her childhood obsession with them). Babies 1 year and older are also ready for larger chunks of beef, pork, and roasted chicken; just be mindful to never serve rare, undercooked, or raw meat, as your little one is more susceptible to food poisoning. A meat thermometer and this handy guide can take the guesswork out of your meat doneness:
- Poultry pieces cooked to 165℉
- Whole poultry cooked to 180℉
- Ground beef and pork cooked to 160℉
- Beef, veal, and lamb cooked to 170℉
Other Precautions to Take When Introducing Meat
Aside from meat consistency, size, and temperature, here are some other helpful serving tips to keep in mind when introducing your baby to meat:
- Try to steer clear of processed meats and meat that contains high levels of preservatives (and therefore, salt), such as deli meats, bacon, and hot dogs. Because baby kidneys aren’t developed enough to process salt, too much salt intake can be dangerous.
- Similarly, it’s best to avoid frying meat, as this adds excess saturated fat—the unhealthy type of fat that can lead to future heart issues, such as heart disease.
- If serving leftovers, just re-heat the portion of meat you intend to serve, as re-heating leftovers more than once will diminish the quality. Leftovers more than 2 to 3 days old are also more likely to contain harmful bacteria and are better tossed out than served to your little one.
- Choose organic, hormone-free meats whenever possible to reduce your baby’s exposure to chemical pesticides and synthetic hormones.
Simple Recipes for Your New Meat-Lover
Reaching for a jar of pre-made baby food is easy, convenient, and cost-effective (and, trust us, we don’t judge!). But on the days you have a bit of extra time and energy to whip up some homemade options, try one of these simple meat-centric recipes.
Just be sure to safely store any leftovers by placing them in an airtight container and refrigerating them at 40℉ or below within 2 hours of cooking.
Basic Chicken Homemade Baby Food
This recipe is perfect for a first food. To start, boil 8 ounces of white, breast-meat chicken in low-sodium or sodium-free chicken broth until completely cooked. Then:
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken to a blender
- Add enough broth to cover the chicken
- Blend until completely smooth (being careful to vent if it’s hot)
- Thin with broth until the desired consistency is reached
Bonus points: You can substitute beef for Basic Beef Baby Food or turkey for Basic Turkey Baby Food.
Creamy Chicken and Rice
Once your baby has tried a few foods, you can begin to combine them in yummy new ways. A perennial favorite, this Creamy Chicken and Rice recipe is just one step beyond our Basic Chicken Baby Food recipe:
- Boil one chicken breast in broth until done
- Place the cooked chicken in a blender with 1 cup cooked brown rice
- Cover the chicken and rice with enough broth to create the desired consistency
- Blend until smooth
Bonus points: For an even more advanced version of this meal, try adding cooked carrots or peas.
Finger-Food Beef
Beef can make for a tasty finger food, but how you feed it to your wee one depends on his grasping ability:
- For a baby around 6 months old who still uses a full-hand palmar grasp, try feeding a strip of beef that can be easily held and gnawed.
- For an older baby who has developed a pincer grasp (utilizing their fingertips), encourage self-feeding of ground beef or even a smashed meatball.
Incorporating meat into your baby’s diet from as early as six months old, in the form of purees and later in small, soft chunks, can provide critical nutrients such as heme-iron and choline, which are vital for healthy brain development. As you navigate this new culinary adventure, remember to take into account the safety and developmental appropriateness of the food’s consistency, size, and preparation method while also keeping in mind your baby’s individual taste preferences and readiness for new foods.
Sources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/default.aspx
- Cleveland Clinic. Feeding Baby in the First Year. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9693-feeding-your-baby-the-first-year
- Parents. When Do Babies Hold Their Heads Up? https://www.parents.com/baby/development/when-can-my-baby-hold-her-head-up/
- Very Well Family. Making Sense of ‘Stages’ and ‘Steps’ on Baby Food Labels. https://www.verywellfamily.com/baby-food-stages-and-steps-2634465
- Parents. Why You Shouldn’t Delay Meat for Babies. https://www.parents.com/recipes/scoop-on-food/why-you-shouldnt-delay-meat-for-babies/
- Nutrients. The Role of Iron in Brain Development: A Systematic Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7400887/
- Happy Family Organics. Why Choline Matters for Babies, Tots, and Mama. https://www.happyfamilyorganics.com/learning-center/baby/why-choline-matters-for-babies-tots-and-mama/
- Healthline. Baby Grasp Reflex: Palmar vs. Plantar. https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/grasp-reflex#definition
- USDA. How many times can I reheat foods? https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-many-times-can-I-reheat-foods
- Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Minute: Practical tips for leftover foods. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-practical-tips-for-leftover-foods/
- CDC. Four Steps to Food Safety: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill. https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe.html
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SneakPeek aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to help our readers make informed decisions regarding their health before, during, and after pregnancy. This article was written based upon trusted scientific research studies and/or articles. Credible information sources for this article are cited and hyperlinked.
