When to introduce meat to baby over 6 months old

[maloosak]

I have a DS nearly 6 mo who has been exclusively BF. I read on the LLL website and elsewhere that it is a good idea to introduce meat into the baby's diet asap after 6 months because exclusively BF babies can become iron and zinc deficient, esp. under the age of 1.

I intend to continue BF until he is at least 1.

Did you introduce meat early, approx. at what age, and if so did baby tolerate it quite well ?
What kind of meat did you start with ?

Hi, have you read Annabel Karmel. She has some lovely chicken recipes. She recommends chicken first because of it's mild taste. She then introduces red meats. Have recently done it with my DTs. Lots of root veg, carrots, parsnips, sweet potato. She has a website here

I introduced meat when DS was 5 and a half monthes. I started with chicken and turkey, he really enjoyed it and was fine so after a week or so I introduced beef and lamb. He will eat most things as long as the texture is right and loves beef stew!

A good way to introduce meat is to start by adding meat stock to veggies, instead of milk/water, then up the meat content as you go on.

Thanks for the tips everyone. Thanks Mars, I bought First Foods by Karmel a couple of months ago. I really enjoy cooking so I will be in the kitchen cooking soon for DS ! I just wasn't sure about meat.

Yes, it sounds like a good idea to start with white meat and then move on to red. Adding the juices from meat to veg first so he gets a taste for meat is also an excellent suggestion, warmmum.

My sister has really fussy children, now 9 and 11. I am trying to be careful so my DS will end up eating whatever I give him, hopefully .

Is it ok to freeze a quantity of pureed meat, say enough for a week and just defrost a little everyday ? I imagine he won't be eating more than a tablespoon or so at first ?

DS is nearly 7 months and I introduced chicken very soon after he was 6 months (had started introducing solids at about 5.5 months). Since then he's had fish, pasta bolognese and this week he's tucked into chicken liver with veg! I'm surprised how quickly he's taken to all the new foods - much quicker than dd 2 years ago.

Yes, I freeze everything in ice cube trays then defrost 2 or 3 at a time. How long you keep stuff frozen depends on your freezer I suppose. I personally would be comfortable with keeping things for longer than a week but probably not much more than a month or so.