When and How to Start Introducing Meat, Chicken, Fish

You should not introduce fish at all until after 1 yr old. I would get through all the fruits and veggies before introducing any meat. Because she is getting formula/breastmilk she is getting protein. I would start with the fruits and veggies first. Once you've gone through that I'd and started with stage 2's or 3's then worry about meats. At 5 mos your daughter isn't really understanding the concept of chewing yet. Right now she's just figuring out how to move food to the back of her mouth. And anything that needs to be chewed can be a choking hazard.

you can introduce chicken and turkey in the Stage 2 baby foods. I would hold off on red meat until 1 year old and I wouldn't do fish until 2 years old, especially shell fish. My boys are 16 months old and they eat red meat as well as chicken and turkey. Good Luck and Enjoy as this time goes really fast.

As long as you're careful, you can introduce meat once your baby is showing that he or she can chew well. For my son, it was around 7 months. For a lot of babies, it's later- 8-9 months. Most babies, mine included, won't eat anything with a "meaty" texture though (at first). My son won't even touch regular chicken! He'll eat ground meats, a little fish, or chicken patties (which aren't very healthy). So I have added in soft beans, soy products (nuggets, tofu, etc.), and cheese and yogurt. That's plenty of protein! (They don't need much protein in the first year. Their kidneys can't handle it.) You can also use almond butter, as long as there are no signs of allergies.

But all of this is still dependent on your child's chewing and interest. For the first year, it's all about breast milk or formula for nutrition. The food is just practice! There's no need to rush, and I wouldn't start adding in fancy stuff until your baby is up to 3 meals a day. Once you're at that point, slowly add in the other stuff, waiting a few days between each new food. Our biggest problem has been diaper rashes, when we go too fast. No big allergies- but who knew peas and blueberries could cause such trouble! :)

Good luck, and have fun feeding your baby!

fish, you should wait. mercury levels and allergies of shellfish are of concern. as for your reasoning, i would reconsider. the first year, a baby lives on breastmilk or formula, and adds foods to compliment. all the nutrients your child needs comes from those liquids.

there is no proof that giving your child something sooner is going to make them like it more. its just unneccessary. some kids like meat or vegetables, some dont.

as for your plan, just wondering why you are planning to add another meal at 6 months? it is more recommended to wait until 6 months to start solids. babies have very sensitive stomachs and can be too immature for some foods. im not saying to not ever give your baby meat until a year, but considering at 6 months you should just be starting solids, meats should be a long way off still.

good luck!

Hi M.!

I just started my 8 mo daughter with the Gerber USDA certified Organic jar food that has squash, corn and chicken. She likes it warm mixed with rice cereal. I think they have another kind also with vegetables, barley and turkey.

I didn't introduce her to this until I knew she was ok with each ingredient separately and her digestive system was handling different kinds of food properly.

Anyway... she seems to like it. But I agree with the other Mommies out there, they will be eating regular stuff before we know it so enjoy the time you have while your baby is little!

Good luck to you!

I think I ntroduced chicken around 8 months. Sooner is probably fine. I gave her really soft dark meat in tiny pieces. I think I let her try salmon around the same time. I wouldn't do too much fish though because of the mercury. I let her have fish once every other week. I also give her meatballs and meat loaf made with ground turkey meat since that is really soft.

Basically, if it's soft enough, go for it. I would at least get through all the fruits and veggies pureed though before i start on meat. I think i introduced a new one every week to make sure she had no allergies and tasted everything. Then I started feeding her off my plate. Good luck

Well, apparently, it depends on who you ask!
My ped told me to start breakfast lunch and dinner at 4 months old! The meats came in with stage 2 food (at 6 months) for lunch and dinner. Actually, my ped told me that the longer you wait, the more likely a child can have food allergies. My husband fed my daughter about 4 types of fish from a combo plate when we were in Jersey over Columbus Day weekend, and she loved it.
Personally, I think the whole "no meat for the first year" mantra began because in many cultures, people have thought that meat gives a baby a "hard head" - stubborn, not physically.
Gerber 2nd stage and Beech Nut have every type of meat known to man, and they're still in business, so apparently it works! My daughter eats them all (chicken, beef, etc) including, say, one for lunch and a different one for dinner, and has really done well (not even too-gross poops!)
Then again, I LOVE food, so maybe it's like mother like daughter!
Take care!

Hi M.,
Many infants have a hard time with the texture of meat/poultry/fish. I wouldnt' suggest trying too soon, usually these are introduced after cereals, veggies and fruits.
With my first baby, I tried those jarred baby meats, they were gross and she didn't like them so we waited til she was able to eat table foods. She actually didn't care for meat til she was about 4 years old, but that didn't bother me since I don't consider meat to be necessary. With my 2nd, I didn't bother with those jarred foods, and at 9 months he just tasted bits of whatever we had for dinner and ate meats and poultry at that age.
Good luck!

You should start really slow. I didn't start my son on two meals a day until about 7 1/2 months. At 8 1/2 months he started 3 meals a day. There is no big rush. She should not be eating meat until 8 or 9 months. At 5 1/2 months, solids should be more like a dessert- just a little taste. Otherwise she will fill up on solids and not drink enough milk/formula. Solids are lower in calories and your baby still needs the calories from milk/formula more than the solids. Many doctors are not even recommending starting solids until 6 months. She only needs a tablespoon or two of anything at this point, and it should only be cereal and maybe some fruit. It's too hard for her to digest anything else at this point. Super Baby food is good. You can also look at this website for advice: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/index.html

I'd be careful about introducing meats before about 9 months as babies have a hard time tolerating and digesting it. It can cause more problems than you bargain for.

Treasure this time. Baby will be eating meats before you know it. :)