Does your baby eat meat? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Jonanner · 04-19-2007, 12:51 PM

I was just wondering when everyone started giving their babies meat. My doctor said my 6mo should start having meat 3-4times a week because all of her iron stores (from the placenta) have been depleted by this age. She suggested those baby food jars with the meat and veggies mix. I didn't think she needed meat yet since she has no teeth. It doesn't seem like Nature intended for her to eat meat so soon. Meat in a jar seems gross to me. She said if I make it myself I would have to cook it, puree it and strain it. I really don't think I have time for that.

I would love to hear any suggestions or opinion on this topic. Did anyone give their babies iron through other sources? Did anyone give their babies meat from their plates? TIA!

Mrs.Khan · 04-19-2007, 01:03 PM

I think the doc is right .My son deveopled anaemia .Iron stores can deplete soon .Anyways u can try to give her minced meat .Also the jars are not that bad .Another thing ...give her 1 banana daily .that contains lot of iron and potassium .Offcourse less than beef .But more than any other fruit .Just blend the banana with some water and give it to her .Hope that helps

xinerevelle · 04-19-2007, 01:35 PM

Iron comes from lots of different sources for babies, but primarily from breastmilk/formula and iron-fortified cereal. Your doctor is right that the iron stores that she had when born are now gone and that she's got to get that iron from her daily diet now. I don't know that iron is the reason to start meat now, though, since there is plenty of iron in the cereals (oatmeal, rice, barley, etc.).

The primary reason, IMHO, is to get baby used to eating meat now when she's much more willing to try new things. In a few months, from what I've read at several sources, she may be less apt to want to please her parents and give a new food a whirl. She'll need to start getting her protein and iron from meat by one year, since she'll be decreasing the formula/breastmilk and the baby cereal by then. Get her used to it by starting now.

I didn't think anything of it and tried a jar of turkey with my 5 month old -- before I thought to check out when she should start meats... She wasn't that thrilled with it (unlike peas or sweet potatoes!) and made lots of funny faces as she was eating it. Very different texture and taste compared to cereal, veggies, and fruits. Next month I'll try it again and keep at it, a little bit a day for 3 days or so, then another kind the following week, etc.

LisaFaith · 04-19-2007, 04:56 PM

I don't remember exactly when I introduced meat to my Ds, but I'm sure it was somewhere between 6 and 9 months. I first tried just plain baby food chicken, and he hated it! Then I tried a jar of chicken and apples, and he loved it. He liked any of the meat/veggie and meat/friut mixes.

prairie_dawn · 04-19-2007, 07:28 PM

My dd9months gets cereal, fruit and veggies. I have severe allergies in my family so I do not start giving fruit and veggies till after 6months even 7motnhs of age. But at about 4motnhs started cereal. She is big and then some too. I have not introduced meat since my dr's dont do that till after they are 9-10 months old. But I live in NJ and my two pediatricians are Russian and I really do think that they are great compared to the american ped's in this particular area. I am not russian but have good values and that is what brought me to them and i have been with them for 8 years now.

If there were tests that showed there was anemia then I think you need to find out why there is. Are you feeding cereal? Fruit? veggies?

X is right there are many other sources of iron out there. Everything has iron in it nowadays so dont worry about it. Also I have eaten every kind of baby food you can imagine. And please dont freak that it might taste gross. It actually does for some, well maybe not gross but bland with no salt,pepper or A1 steak sauce on it. Just like with your baby making faces when she eats a new tart fruit she will get use to it the same with feeding her the meat. I have always trusted gerber meats and beach nut. they dont taste like what we eat but baby will be fine with it.

If you are not comforable feeding her this early then see what happens next month. just as long as you know she is eating other iron sources. My dd didnt get her teeth till just 3 weeks ago.

But my ds12yr got his two teeth by 4months and by 6months had 4.

every kid is different. I still didnt give him meat till he was about 9months.