When did you start feeding your baby meat?

Karen - posted on 01/22/2013

I started at about 7 months along with all the other baby foods. As long as you are keeping it well balanced you're fine to start anytime after 6 months. My son had fruit with his AM nursing, then some veggies with "lunch" and a little meat with "dinner" along with nursing at each meal.

Bernadette - posted on 01/21/2013

chicken is great to start off with. You can either use mince, or breast fillets and stew it which makes it nice and soft. I always made all my own baby food, just veges when they first started at six months, but over the next few weeks as they started to accept it I would add meat. Chicken purees up really well if it's stewed, or when he's ready for some pieces to chew just stew the whole breast and when it's fully cooked it just breaks apart and is very easy to chew up. And I would also use beef mince, or lamb steaks and just add all my veges and meat to a pot with some water and gently stew it all until cooked and everything is soft, then puree it and separate it into small containers to freeze. I also made a point of giving them the same thing every day for about a week, to get them used to the taste. The first time they tried something, they would usualy reject it so instead of binning it and going to the trouble of making something else, I'd offer it again when they were next hungry. Then they'd have the same thing the next day and would spit bits out, then the next day and the next and by the end of the week they'd be happily eating it. The following week I'd make something different, and do the same thing for a few days, then throw in one of the leftover ones from the previous week, then back to the new flavour again until they were happily accepting both. Next week, something different with a few of the old ones thrown in. I'd gradually add different meats, and turn the blender on for shorter periods to introduce chunks that they had to chew. Eventually, just mash it. It has resulted in my kids being pretty happy to eat anything they are given. Someone else I know would offer her kids food, they'd spit it out and make gagging noises and they'd throw it away and immediately give them something she knew they would eat and would never try the food they rejected again as she was worried they were going to make themselves sick. Her kids are now almost 6 and 4, and they are the fussiest kids I have ever met in my life. There are only a few foods that they will eat, and dinner time is a very painful process for them. So whenever you do decide to introduce meat (or any new food) is to persevere with it for at least a week until they have time to adjust to the new flavour/texture, before deciding that they don't like it and not to feed it to them anymore.

Sawsan - posted on 01/20/2013

Hi ,
In what do you replace meats and fish ?
all the best

Madilyn - posted on 06/24/2010

besnike: you arent supposed to give any solids until at least 6 months then just for tastes you shouldnt cut out any breastmilk until at least 1 year

Besnike - posted on 06/22/2010

My dogher is olmost 4 month old and I wonder if i can start feeding her with food and not oly brest feed

Heidi - posted on 06/16/2010

My son is 8 years, and still won't eat meat that you really have to chew.

Heidi - posted on 06/16/2010

6 mo., doctor said to start with chicken he ate it up.

Robin - posted on 06/16/2010

We're waiting until at least a year. I'm a vegetarian so we will only be giving her hormone free and organic as well which I'll be making and pureeing.

Brooke - posted on 06/16/2010

well our daughter was eating the pureed baby food at 6 months which says it has meat in it.. She started eating more and more every month after that. Now at 16 months she can eat what ever we put on her plate, if we have steak, she has steak to.

Kristin - posted on 06/16/2010

That's great your making the effort to get hormone-free meat! I'm a vegetarian, and my son won't be eating any meat until he's old enough to ask for it, I'm imagining 6 years or older. Babies can live well on a vegetarian diet, as long as they have a good variety, and eat beans. My son is vegan so far, and I want to avoid the cow milk as well, as it can be hard on the stomach. It's not even that good for adults, so I don't want to give my baby any milk besides my own. See http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/m... Just like every other mom, I want only what's best for my baby.

Mindee - posted on 06/16/2010

Oh, and we sneak in spinach and avocado into the smoothies too! The avocado makes it extra creamy and provides healthy fats to feed her brain, and you can't even tell the spinach there, but you're getting all the extra antioxidants and nutrition! It's wonderful! And the little one loves it!

Mindee - posted on 06/16/2010

Legumes are mostly thought of as beans, lentils, soy, peas, peanuts, etc. (google it). Humans can get all the iron and protein they need by eating these forms of protein. A lot of babies are happy to just eat plain beans from a can. Ours loves bean dip, 7-layer dip, vegan chili (just leave out the meat!) She enjoys a peanut butter and honey sandwich every now and then, and an occasional soy-banana-blueberry smoothie. Fish is another good option for protein as long as it's only a little bit once or twice a week.

Karren - posted on 06/16/2010

We started giving our daughter meat at 7 months, cut up small but not pureed, she had plenty of teeth. Now she eats what we eat, and it was the same as my other two kids.

Justyna - posted on 06/15/2010

you don't have to feed your baby any meat until they are at least one. Their bodies don't tolerate meat. IT is perfectly fine for them to be vegetarian unitl 1 year+. There is a great book that explains all that, you can get it on Amazon ' Infant Nutrition: A Holistic Guide for Health and Wellness for the Infant '.

I have 2 kids, my oldest who is seven was vegetarian until 13 months, and my 2nd who is 8 months, is vegetarian, and I am in no hurry to give her meat. I give her such variety of fruts and veggies that there is no need for it. If y you can get a hold of the book it is really great read and explains a lot of stuff. Alsa going organic is a wonderful choice. I use mostly organic food, and it is worth every penny. If you choose to give your baby meat, I think it would be a wise decision to look for organic and hormone free meat. good luck

Kim - posted on 06/15/2010

we started with cereal, veggies and fruits. We have just started making pureed "dinner" meals with meats at 8 months, I have made all of his fruits/veggies but don't use organic products, I am not convinced of the health benefit and the cost is high.

Lisa - posted on 06/15/2010

I tried pureed meats at 5 months, and now have cooked some separately (no spices) and cut it very small. Gets him use to picking it up and texture.

Madilyn - posted on 06/14/2010

I personally am not starting my son on meat until 18months. But it is actually now recommended as a first food so the minimum age would be 6 months with the start of solids. It is a good food to give your baby iron if he/she is low but green veggies (esp. avocado) is also good for this. I would say whenever you feel is best as long as it is after 6 months

Annie - posted on 06/12/2010

Gotsome, I think I am going to try some beans tonight. Others have suggested the same thing. Like I said before we are having trouble finding hormone free meat so beans will be a good sub for now. Thanks you. BTW great picture!

Gotsome - posted on 06/12/2010

We waited until our little guy was 9 mos & like you decided to give him the best meat out there & that I would prepare it myself for him. We had started introducing protien in the form of beans, lima & lentil, around 8ish months which he continues to like better - so far we've tried chicken & verdict is still out - good luck!!

Amy - posted on 06/11/2010

Lol! My nephew is like that. He stores it all in his cheeks like a chipmunk. But even after it turns into liquid he still won't actually swallow it! It's kinda gross...lol! We can't figure out how to get him to just eat.

Stacey - posted on 06/11/2010

LOL Amy, thats great yours was eating steak so early... mine was lazy and didn't want to chew... still doesn't and she's 3! Thank gosh for slow cookers she has no choice lol

Amy - posted on 06/11/2010

By the time my daughter was 8 months she ate steak-lol! She also had a LOT of teeth! 8 or 9 if I remember correctly. She could chew it up like a pro (and I made sure it was cut up into small pieces and that it wasn't too tough). She never really liked baby food very much so a taste of table food and she started wanting everything! Lol!

Stacey - posted on 06/10/2010

about 2 months after we started feeding her we added beef stock then sauagaes, mince fishetc. She didn't really eat steak until about 18 months old.

Liz - posted on 06/10/2010

We started giving her meats and other proteins at about 6 months, but she really was not a fan of pureed meat. At first I thought she just didn't like meat (which I would have been fine with, hubby and I are trying to eliminate most of the meat from our own diets), but she'll eat it if it's in chunks. She also really likes cheese and beans, we haven't tried tofu yet though. I do agree though, other varieties of protein tend to be healthier, as well as the hormone and antibiotic free meats.

Also, legumes are mostly beans, but here's the wiki for legume: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legume

Annie - posted on 06/10/2010

Mindee, what is legumes?

Mindee - posted on 06/10/2010

Our daughter was fed vegan until about 13 months, now she's just vegetarian (at 20 months). If she REALLY wants to try a bite of meat we may be eating,(which we don't eat much of) we'll let her, but she doesn't like it. Sometimes she'll eat a little tilapia when we have it. Instead of meat (which can help lead to type 2 diabetes later in life...all animal protein does), we give her legumes. She loves bean dip and vegan chili! There's really no need to ever introduce meat. You'd be wiser to just introduce other varieties of protein.

ALEXANDRA - posted on 06/09/2010

6 months

Amy - posted on 06/08/2010

I started feeding my daughter meat right after she got used to veggies and fruit. She hates the jarred meat. Shell only eat it if its hand fed lol

Keren - posted on 06/08/2010

my baby started having chicken and turkey at the age of 5 months. 2 tea spoons of it twice a day to see that he is ok with that.. and at the age of 6 months he is eating veg soup with all kinds of meat in it and enjoying it

Annie - posted on 06/08/2010

Yeah right, we live in a city of about 50,000. We are coming along, but always seem to be behind the times a little.

Kathy - posted on 06/08/2010

Your very welcome Annie, I hope they have some there. Here there are a few few the summer and a huge indoor one all year round. We also like it because there is a hutterite colony that has a stand there.... some of the best veggies there are!! And if you get there at the right time they have bacon thats to die for.... and I'm pretty sure their meat is all hormone free as well, so theres another option if you have a colony in your area

Louise - posted on 06/07/2010

hi i started givinbg my son meat at 6 months as he had 9 teeth so could eat it but he eats more chicken then red meats but eats alot of veges and fish so very healthy baby hes 18 months now so feeds himself

Annie - posted on 06/07/2010

Thanks Kathy, I haven't checked the farmers market yet. We have a very small one.

Brianna - posted on 06/07/2010

actually i read in a booklet for the health unit that its ok to give babys puree meat as there first food at 6 months old! i was really surprised by that. i had thought that you would give meat after you have tried all the veggies and fruit.

Jensy - posted on 06/07/2010

I will only feed my daughter meat when she is 9 months. When they are 9 months, they can eat what ever you eat.

Mary - posted on 06/07/2010

i started feeding my kids meat as soon as they got teeth..my oldest eas 5 mths when i started and the middle child was almost 6 ths and the youngest was 4 and a half mths

Kathy - posted on 06/07/2010

I take it you make your own baby food? Do you have a local farmers market?? Ours here in Edmonton on Whyte Ave has 2-3 stands that are organic meats, no hormones. I haven't bought alot because its expensive but its good!! The one even makes raw-organic dog and cat foods... its worth taking a look if thats your main concern with meats.

Annie - posted on 06/07/2010

He is getting his iron checked in a few week at our next WIC apt. I haven't seen any signs that he is having any issues. I am having issues with the way meat is processed now. Too many hormones! Girls developing and starting puberty at 7 and 8. I am having trouble finding hormone free meat in our area!

Kathy - posted on 06/07/2010

she was about 6 1/2 months as per the health nurse. Her doctor said to start in the order of cereal, veggies, fruit then meat, but the nurse said she needed the protien and iron in the meat so I started her on the meat after her first or second veggie, just so if she didn't like it I could mix it with the veggie that she did like to get her to eat it.... The easiest I found was turkey & sweet potatoes... she LOVES sweet potatoes but I have a hard time getting her to eat meals with beef in it.

Natasha - posted on 06/07/2010

I gave my son meat for the first time when he was 7 months old. it was usually just a big bone from a steak or a chicken leg and he would chew on it. Was fantastic for teething and it gave him his iron too. He is now 14 months and loves meat! He eats all types of everything we eat.

Amy - posted on 06/06/2010

Never, and she's 6 years old now ;-) I was vegetarian from birth and so she's just eaten what I do. It's not an absolute necessity, so I'd probably wait until he can eat it by himself.

Annie - posted on 06/06/2010

I think, as well as some of you, that we will wait until he can feed himself. It's not too far away. he is getting his top teeth as we speak and i think I felt the bottom ones tonight. He is healthy at 23.5lbs. Thank you so much for your advice.

Aicha - posted on 06/06/2010

still haven't started feeding my daughter meat she is happy to breastfeed and eat fruits and vegetables once in a while I let her decide when she wants to eat fruits and vegetables when she does start eating meat it will be Halal and I will cook and puree it for her. she is 8 months old now

Janita - posted on 06/06/2010

My babies doctor adviced us to start cerealat 4months, fruits and veg at 6months, and meats at 7 months.

Jennifer - posted on 06/06/2010

our son is 6 months old and we will be giving only organic meat as well but we won't be pureeing it...we are going to wait until he can pick it up and chew. i'm vegetarian (11 years) and the thought of pureeing meat grossed me out lol

Krista - posted on 06/05/2010

On the advice of our public health nurse, we started giving our baby meat when he was about 7 months old. We started him on a bit of chicken or turkey, mostly just to get him used to the taste of it. Eventually we added pork and beef. We do use finely chopped food and freeze it ahead of time. Due to our schedules, it just works out better to feed him at 6pm, get him settled and into bed for 7pm, and then eat our own dinner later. Once he's a bit older, he'll probably just eat what we eat (within reason -- he won't be partaking in sushi night for awhile, obviously.)

Sherry - posted on 06/04/2010

6 months.. the doc gave the OK to feed him whatever we wanted to feed him (with a few exceptions like honey and fish and nuts)

Minnie - posted on 06/04/2010

All solids, meat or otherwise, were given when my daughter took the initiative to feed herself. No purees.

So we went straight to everything. This was at ten months. What we ate she ate.