when did you start letting your children have meals containing gravy?

[mogwai]

was going to give our 9 month old some shepherd's pie but i it has gravy in it??

I personally would have given it, but only a bit of the part with gravy, and plenty of veg.

I don't know if this is the right thing to do though.

I started letting ds have a little gravy when he was over 1yr but dont know what the 'official' take on it is. I would agree with colditz about just a little bit of gravy and lots of veg/potato.

I used to buy baby gravy. Prob. gave real gravy about 2 yrs. Always paranoid about salt.

What on earth is wrong with gravy? My mother taught me that the gravy is very nutritious and naturally easier for a baby to swallow than meat itself.

Gosh I am glad I am not weaning these days and that even when I was I follow common sense rather than popular trends.

Sorry mogwai, hope you don't think that is an attack on you. I just can't believe how "difficult" weaning has become these days. Also, I wasn't thinking of gravy granules, but of the juices from the meat.

I think there is a sort of blanket ban on gravy, because a lot of people make it quite thick with the granules, which are very salty. Normal gravy that you make yourself is a different matter, IMO. I think you should use your discretion, you know yourself how salty the meal is.

about 12-28 months

I would avoid it until child is at least 2 yrs old, salt is a good thing to avoid with a baby/todler.

just give him a jar of goo instead

Cow & Gate do a 'baby gravy' which as far as I remember has no salt in it. I haven't seen it for a while though.

I make gravy with the juices of the meat, flour and gravy browning (caramel) no added salt at all

When DD's serving has been put in a cup/bowl I add a bit a salt for DH & I (not much as he's getting on a bit)

If you find that a bit bland, try frying onions and making that into gravy...it's lovely - DD had onion gravy from about 5/6 months (no salt at all)

Why did you make shepherd's pie with gravy in, anyway?? Sounds a bit ODD

I always put gravy in shepherd's pie.

I haven't had shephed's pie for ages.... that's tea sorted then!

urh sounds like some slops served up by Little Chef

what's your recipe then Colditz?

must have gravy in pie or meat go all dry!!!!

It's probably more like cottage pie, because I use beef mince, I also don't have a baby so wouldn't be suitable for a 9 month old.

Get a wok, lightly oil it, and crumble the mince into it. When it's cooked, drain the fat off it, add chopped onions, fry until lightly browned, and add pre-made gravy and pre-cooked carrots (and whatever other veg you have lying around) (by precooked, I don't mean tinned, btw!)

Bubble it in the wok until it has quite a stiff consistancy, stirring occasionally, then put into a deep dish and top with mashed potato. Sprinkle some herbs and slice a tomato on top.

Oh, then p[ut it in the oven until browned ![

'Baby gravy' always sounds like a very rude euphemism to me.

There's nothing wrong with home made gravy for a baby as long as it is not salty. Gravy granules are not fit fot human consumption in general IMO>

I crumble half an Oxo cube into the mince and a very small dollop of tomato puree.

cottage pie = beef

shepherd's pie = lamb

Nice with Lea and Perrins in the mince, too!

Hadn't thought of that - good idea!

Franny, you're back!

AHHHH you see I always use half a bottle of wine at that stage

"Baby gravy" was in fact how Bill Clinton referred to his ejaculate

OMG, how did I get here?

(am just, erm, popping in from time to time)

We always make shepherds or cottage pie with the left over roast and gravy, no extra salt in that so I've been giving it to DS since about 9 months.

gravy made with meat juices, flour and veg water so good and nutritious.