7mth wont eat meat/chicken

[Aila]

Hi, my baby refuses meat and chicken. I have tried mixing it with veg etc to hide the taste but he still refuses. If anyone has any tips I would be grateful.

have you tried sweet potato/apple/chicken recipe from annaebl karmel
its lovely!
start off with just a small amount chicken(ie more sweet pot and apple) and the increase if he takes it
if not just wait a few weeks and start again
add chicken stock (salt free) to veg purees to start with?

Meat is a very strong flavour, that he may not be ready for for a while. Don't worry too much at this stage. Maybe you should just go with his instincts for the moment.

My children didn't eat any meat at all until they were past 2. Remember that at this age they are getting most of their nutrition from milk anyway.

Have you tried some very well cooked lentil or chick peas? Both of mine loved them - particularly the lentil puree! Also, have you tried him on fish?

My son refused meat for ages, he would eat fish though. He has started to try meat now, at 10mo but still loves his fish!

DS loves sliced meats - ham and beef particularly, from deli sections of supermarkets. I just tear it up into pieces and he plays with it and then eats some. Maybe try that?

DS didn't eat any for a while, still sometimes he has loads and sometimes doesn't fancy any. He's almost a year now.

why is it so important he eats meat?just asking because (speaking as a vegetarian with veggie children) he doesnt 'need' it.if your worried about something missing from his diet you can replace it with something else.

Definitely no need for meat at 7mo. Difficult to digest too for tiny tummies. Take the cue for your baby, he'll eat it when he's ready. Give it a rest for now and replace with pulses, green veg and dried fruit for the iron, at 7mo he'll still be getting his protein requirement from milk.

Thanks for all your replies.

The reason I was concerned re the meat was that its my understanding that the iron stores a baby has from birth are depleted by the time they are 6mths and its important for them to eat meat etc (altho I know that there are other foods with iron!), also I keep on reading how important it is to introduce baby to range of food early so they are not fussy eaters later on, so thats why I am keen to introduce.

luvaduck - I have that book and have tried that exact recipe! You are right, its lovely, but not as far as my baby is concerned!

seeker - tried fish/lentils but he doesnt like them. not tried chickpeas.

Thanks for all the tips, I will try the ideas you suggested and see how it goes, and just let my baby let me know when he is ready.