Can You Feed Your 7 Month Old Chicken

Chicken and other lean meats are a good source of protein and iron for your baby, and they are easy to introduce! If your baby can hold their head up and sit in a highchair after 4-6 months, you can introduce solids like pureed chicken to them.^[1] If you have any questions or concerns about when or how often to feed your baby solids, reach out to your pediatrician.

Ingredients

• 18 ounces (510 g) of boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breast
• 1 cup (240 ml) of low-sodium chicken broth

Yields ~12 ounces (340 g) of puree

1. 1

   Choose organic, free-range, skinless chicken if possible. Chickens that are allowed to roam freely are generally healthier than those confined to cages. A chicken labeled as "organic" means that the animal is fed organic feed and is raised without added antibiotics or hormones.^[2]

   • You can offer either white meat, dark meat, or both to your baby. White meat has less fat, but dark meat is juicier. You may want to blend a little bit of both meats together.^[3]
   • Your child could choke on chicken bones, so it's important not to offer them meat on the bone. If you don't buy skinless chicken, you should remove the skin as it contains fat that your child does not need in their diet.^[4]

2. 2

   Cut the chicken into 1 inch (2.5 cm) cubes. Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, cut 18 ounces (510 g) of boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs into 1 inch (2.5 cm) strips. Then, cut the strips into 1 inch (2.5 cm) cubes.^[5]

3. 3

   Put the chicken and 1 cup (240 ml) of low-sodium chicken broth into a saucepan. A medium saucepan works well for this recipe. It's important to use low-sodium chicken broth so that your baby doesn't receive unnecessary amounts of salt in their diet.^[6]

   • Read the ingredients list to be sure there are no unnecessary items in the broth.
   • You could use chicken stock instead of broth, if desired. Both homemade or store-bought stock or broth are fine.
   • Do not add salt to the chicken.^[7]

4. 4

   Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Turn the burner to medium heat and allow the mixture to come to a boil.^[8]

5. 5

   Turn the heat down to low and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes. Once the mixture comes to a boil, turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Allow the mixture to simmer until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.^[9] It should reach a temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) as measured by an instant-read meat thermometer.^[10]

6. 6

   Let the mixture cool for at least 10 minutes. Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked, turn off the burner and remove the pan from heat. Allow the mixture to cool down for at least 10 minutes before transferring it to your blender or food processor.^[11]

1. 1

   Puree the mixture in a blender or food processor. Carefully transfer the cooked chicken and broth to either a blender or food processor. Puree the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and even.^[12]

2. 2

   Add more chicken broth, if desired. If the mixture seems too lumpy or thick, add ¹⁄₄ cup (59 ml) of additional chicken chicken broth to the blender or food processor and blend the mixture again.^[13]

3. 3

   Store the mixture in the fridge for 3 days if you aren't feeding your baby immediately. The chicken puree is ready to feed your baby at this point. If you prefer to store it, transfer the puree to an airtight container. The pureed chicken can be stored in the fridge for 3 days.^[14]

4. 4

   Freeze the mixture for up to 60 days. If you make a large batch of chicken, you can freeze it for up to 2 months. Be sure to store it in an airtight container, first. Label the mixture with the date and be sure to use it up within 2 months.^[15]

   • Move the container to your refrigerator and allow it to thaw for 24 hours before feeding it to your baby.

1. 1

   Start feeding your baby solids after 4-6 months. Usually, babies are ready to try solids after 4-6 months. Make sure your baby has doubled their birth weight before moving from breast milk or formula to solids. If your baby can hold their head up and sit in a highchair, you can introduce solids like pureed chicken to them.^[16]

2. 2

   Introduce chicken as your baby's first solid or after other foods. It's up to you what you want your baby to eat first. Some parents choose to start with grains, fruits, or veggies, while other parents begin with meat. Feel free to make whatever decision feels right for your family, and don't hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician if you want a professional opinion.^[17]

   • If you've already introduced your baby to other solids, you can try giving your baby chicken that's cut up into small, soft pieces so they can pick them up and feed themselves.^[18]
   • You can purchase pureed chicken in a jar as an alternative to preparing it yourself, if desired.

3. 3

   Don't introduce another new food for 4 days. It's important not to introduce more than 1 new food at a time, so you can pinpoint allergies in the case of a negative reaction. If you plan to introduce chicken to your baby, don't offer any other new foods for at least 4 days. Your baby can still eat other foods that you have previously introduced to them during this time.^[19]

   • Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, a rash, flushed skin, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. If your child shows signs of allergic reaction, seek medical care immediately.
   • An allergic reaction could be caused by ingredients in the broth, not necessarily the chicken. Speak to your child's pediatrician for help identifying the allergy.

4. 4

   Secure your baby in a highchair and wash their hands before feeding them. To keep your baby safe while eating, you should put them in a highchair and secure the straps. You may want to put a bib on your baby to prevent their clothes from getting dirty. Wash your baby's hands before feeding them.^[20]

5. 5

   Feed the baby up to 2–4 tablespoons (30–59 ml) per sitting twice a day. Dip a spoon into the puree and offer it to your baby. Aim to feed your baby 2–4 tablespoons (30–59 ml) of the puree in 1 sitting. They can also eat another 2–4 tablespoons (30–59 ml) of another solid in the same day. The rest of their diet should be made up of breast milk or formula.^[21]

   • As your baby grows, they will need more frequent and larger meals. At 6-8 months, they can eat 4 servings of 2–4 tablespoons (30–59 ml) per day. At 8-10 months, they can eat 6 servings of 2–4 tablespoons (30–59 ml) per day. After 10 months, your child may be ready for small pieces of fruit, veggies, and meat instead of purees.
   • Just because your baby can have 4-6 servings doesn't mean they should all be composed of meat! Aim to feed your baby 1 serving of fruit, 2 servings of veggies, and 1 serving of meat every day.

6. 6

   Don't give up if your baby doesn't seem to like chicken at first. If your baby refuses to eat the puree, spits it out, or otherwise signals they don't like it, it doesn't mean they never will. Simply wait a few days and try again. If your baby still refuses to eat the chicken, mix a little bit of the puree with their favorite pureed vegetable.^[22]

   • Chicken pairs well with peas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and carrots. You can create these combos when making the purees, or make them separately and combine them later.

Sample Schedule and Recipes

Add New Question

• Question

  How can I introduce chicken into my 6-month-old baby's diet?

  

  Dr. Andrea Rudominer is a board certified Pediatrician and Integrative Medicine Doctor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Rudominer has over 15 years of medical care experience and specializes in preventive health care, obesity, adolescent care, ADHD, and culturally competent care. Dr. Rudominer received her MD from the University of California, Davis, and completed a residency at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. Dr. Rudominer also has an MPH in Maternal Child Health from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a Member of the American Board of Pediatrics, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Member and Delegate of the California Medical Association, and a Member of the Santa Clara County Medical Association.

  

  Board Certified Pediatrician & Integrative Medicine Doctor

  Expert Answer

  I don't recommend starting with chicken as your baby's first food. If you're just getting started, I'd start with fruits and veggies, and if they tolerate that for a couple of months, you can add meat. To prepare the chicken, puree it without adding any salt or sugar. When your baby is 7-8 months old, if you think they're ready, you can start offering them small, soft pieces of veggies, fruit, and chicken that they can pick up and feed to themselves.

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• Once your child has gotten several teeth, you can begin to give them small pieces of food, like cereal puffs and bits of fruit and veggies. When they have figured out how to eat these soft items, you can offer very small pieces of cooked chicken.^[23]

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Saucepan
• Blender or food processor
• Airtight container
• Highchair
• Bib
• Baby spoon

About this article

Article Summary X

To prepare the chicken, put 18 ounces of cubed, boneless, skinless chicken into a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer the mixture for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F. Puree the cooked chicken and broth until it has a soup-like consistency. For tips on choosing the best chicken and offering new foods to your baby, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.mom/Introduce-Chicken-to-Babies

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