starting to feed meats?

Tanya - posted on 09/08/2010

annabel karmel website has stunning recipes. my lg loves the chicken, carrot and apple puree....she is 6 1/2 m. paediatric dietician told me to start meats from around 6m :)

Amanda - posted on 09/07/2010

8 months...wait until they are 8 months or it makes them sick via my daycare owner....she's fabulous and been in the business for years!

Krista - posted on 09/07/2010

Gerber baby food has meats with a fruit mix already for those that don't like to make it themselves. There is a Chicken with Apples, one w/ Ham and something else too. They are stage 2, so fine for a 6 mo old.

Lauren - posted on 09/06/2010

No, we haven't, as we are raising our son a vegetarian.

Victoria - posted on 09/05/2010

my dr told me to wait until my son is 1 year.

Sheila - posted on 09/05/2010

I have been giving my 7 month old, small pieces of chicken in a feeding net - but there are some lovely receipes on the Karmel Annabel website.

Jennifer - posted on 09/04/2010

My pediatrician recommended waiting until 8 months to start meat. My son is now 7 1/2 months and we just introduced gerber chicken & veggies that I purchased today at our local grocery store. I was blown away on the price of jar of baby food with meat. $1.09 for 2 oz. That seems ridiculous to me. We will be pureeing what we have for dinner going forward.

Jessica - posted on 09/03/2010

i started my son on meats 2 weeks ago. loves 'em.

Stephanie - posted on 09/02/2010

I started feeding my son meat around 6 months. I started him on cereal, then veggies & fruit. Once he had chewing down ( I feed him what I eat, not baby food ) I introduced chicken then pork then beef. I just cut it up into tiny pieces & he looooves it!!

Kelli - posted on 09/02/2010

I purchased a book called Blender baby food from amazon. It has some really great baby food recipes that I am going to try for us (sans the blending). My doctor suggested waiting until 7 months to start meats but pretty much I take our left overs and run them through the blender to puree and thin with water if necessary. You can google blender baby foods and there are a lot of free recipes out there.

Tanya - posted on 08/31/2010

www.annabelkarmel.com/
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

Lois - posted on 08/31/2010

We started with veggies and fruits, carrots are a favourite, but we also tried pumpkin, parsnips, pear, apple, and banana. Now he is used to that I tried with a small amount of minced beef mixed with one of the veggies and pureed up. He wasn't keen at first, because of the taste I think, but I kept trying and now he has got the hang of it. He is just over 6 months old. I make all my own baby food to avoid any additives and unnecessary sugar and salt, and just put them in ice cube trays in the freezer. I'm a doctor and have seen a number of babies between 7 and 9 months become iron deficient if they are just on breast milk or formula and no solids. They need meat as a decent iron source. About 90% of the iron in red meat is easily absorbable whereas for green veggies its only about 5-10% so they have to eat much more to prevent iron deficiency. Or use an iron rich cereal or formula. I hope this helps.

Joanne - posted on 08/30/2010

There are plenty of other sources of iron other than Meat. Vegetarians would be knackered all the time else. I also wouldn't recommend baby cereals as they are very sugary! Either make your own porridge or give them low salt adult cereals like weetabix without sugar on!
Here is a list of foods with iron content
http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/nutrition/...
Brocolli is a particularly good example as it also has vit c which aids absorption of iron! Besides, the amount of extra iron they should need is so tiny it's negligable and even FF babies should have enough to last till a year.
The whole iron thing is just a con made up by baby cereal/follow on milk companies to sell their products imo!

Jayne - posted on 08/30/2010

i'v never seen any information saying babies need meats from six months
what i'v been told from all my medical professionals and the internet research i'v done is that breastmilk is complete nutrition for babies and only after 1 year old does their iron store start to deplete. formula fed babies need iron earlier because the iron in formula is not as easily absorbed, so they don't get as much.

.....but yeh...thats just my experience, my bub is 6mo, ebf and has only had occasional puree vegies and is oversize...i guess just do whatever works for you....

Esther - posted on 08/29/2010

vegetables you can steam or boil. use a little bit of formula or breastmilk when you puree it. and put it in ice cube tray to freeze. once frozen put in ziploc baggie until ready to thaw and serve. i was told to not mix the foods until about 8 1/2 to 9 months. because mixing foods can create a allergic reaction. meats cook it without spices and add lil formula or breastmilk when you puree it will get thin or just by the gerber meats.wic gives 6 months and up jar food now.

Angela - posted on 08/29/2010

I started my baby on meats a little while ago... the kind mixed with veggies. The plain meat is super nasty..I have stuck with chicken or turkey and veggies or rice. The beef mixes taste odd to me..Id rather give her pureed beef that Ive cooked myself but Im holding off on that.

Chelse - posted on 08/28/2010

I feed my son whatever we happen to have for dinner. In perspective of course, if we have mashed potatoes I give him some. If we have burgers I puree him some. I wouldn't fed him anything like spicy jambalaya or anything. He likes most of what we feed him, and letting him eat what we're eating helps him get use to eating regular foods instead of baby food all the time. And honestly, the baby meat in the jars is actually pretty gross, even to baby.

Although I only do this with dinner, for breakfast and lunch he still gets fruit and veggie baby food, with his respected bottles throughout the day.

Maricel - posted on 08/27/2010

I've started since last month. Chiara started with grilled liver and now at six months she's having grilled or boiled chicken with cream cheese, or mixed with her veggies puree.

Sheila - posted on 08/27/2010

Hi
I am beginning to give my 6 1/2 month old small strips of cooked chicken - but there are some FAB receipes on Karmenl Annabel website... definitely worth a look
But yes I have read that 6 month olds need the nutrinents from meat from 6 months old as their reserves are depleted by this age.

Mandi Lynne - posted on 08/27/2010

At our 6 month visit, the doctor gave us the ok on meats. We started veggies and then fruits, but i havent really done any blends yet except with meats. You can puree veggies together but generally you would wait until baby has tried them all individually for a week at a time. Someone said let them eat what you eat. That's the best because you dont have to do a separate dinner for baby. Our doctor said we should try to give baby a meat, veggie, grain, and fruit at both lunch and dinner. Try pureeing some chicken with a few carrots and you can even throw in some mangos or apples. Mix it up with a little of baby's multi-grain cereal and you've got a full course gourmet meal!

Devon - posted on 08/26/2010

Hey, it is actually a new recommendation to start with infant cereal and/or meat/ meat alternatives before fruits and veggies b/c babies need the iron from the iron fortified cereal and the meat. By six months their iron stores are depleted and they can become anemic if they don't get enough iron. At this time in their life they actually need more iron than an adult needs. Breastmilk and formula do not provide enough iron for their growing bodies. So you should start the meats now. As for recipes, it is important they get used to the texture and learn to chew so just pureeing it up plain is best. Once they get used to it you could mix it with some pureed veggies as well. My 6mo old has had salmon (i think it is an easier texture so i started with that meat) and black beans (for a meat alternative) He also has the infant cereal daily. I plan on trying chicken next. As for how to puree the meat i use a food mill and grind it up that way... one more thing... before i tried the meat i made sure my son could handle the baby cereal in a thicker consistency not thin honey consistency and then i tried some meat... hope this helps, devon

Nicole - posted on 08/25/2010

They are usually ready right around 6 months...any later than that and they may refuse it. Take a cue from your baby as to when she is interested. She will start to watch you eating and want to grab the spoon! When she exhibits these signs, then try some cereal!

Ali - posted on 08/24/2010

Thanks so much for all the advice I am still waiting to start and think I will nearer to 7 months thanks again

Nicole - posted on 08/24/2010

The main source of nutrition should definitely be breast milk/formula. Babies start to need iron after 6 months so start on iron fortified single grain cereals. Mix in one veggie or fruit at a time, feed for days to ensure no allergies...then move on!

Nikole - posted on 08/24/2010

My pediatrician tells me that eating right now is only for practice. The baby's main source of food should be the bottle. I feed my little girl (Who will be 7 months on Sept. 1) one veggie a day mushed up. Doctors suggest not feeding your baby solids to early because they can get tummy issues later in life. Meat in general is not very digestable and might be a bit harsh on babies tummy. Baby gets all the nutrients/protein from milk. But always start baby with veggies. Starting on fruits will make them not want to eat their veggies!
This is what I've been taught. For the first year baby's primary source of food should be formula/breast milk.

Katie - posted on 08/24/2010

we dont eat just meat on its own in a meal, we normally have with with veges. If your giving pork remember you could add some homemade apple sauce to the veges aswell. Good luck.

Katie - posted on 08/24/2010

i feed my 6 month old the same dinners we eat minus the salt of course. I always feed the family fresh home cooked food. My little one likes lamb stew, beef casserole, tuna or salmon pasta bake, chicken and aubergine bake etc Just give your baby what you have!

Gena - posted on 08/23/2010

My son does not like the meats. I think they are very strong so I don't blame him. The only way he will eat them is if I mix them with a fruit or veggie. It may be a texture thing too. They seem thick to me. Remember they have to try things up to 10x's before they know if they like it or not. So give it a shot a couple of times & mix it with different things to see what baby will take.

Marjolaine - posted on 08/23/2010

i have also recently started my son on meats i just boil it and purree it sometimes ill add some carrots or other veggies with it but stuff like steak i keep on it own but add a few light spices to make it tastey he loves it

Charlotte - posted on 08/23/2010

I havent started yet. My doctor said she can have meat, but to wait closer to eight months because I started her on fruits and veggies first...I've only been feeding her baby food since 5/12 months, so he said to make sure she has no fruit or veggie allergies! There is more than enough protein in their formula, but if you find out any good recipes let us know! Good luck! :)