When to introduce meat?

Hi,

My wee man has been doing well on solids since he was 4 months pretty much.

I have introduced a fair few fruit and veg and he doesn't seem to mind anything, so when should I introduce meat?

I have already moved him onto the baby musli over the baby rice which he seems to prefer and would like him to try weetbix in the morning and then chicken or beef with veg for lunch.

he is on about 4 bottles a day of about 200 each so just don't want to overdo the protein?

I would check in the supermarket as to what age they use for the baby food that have meat in them. Probably from 6 months from memory - but check there.

baby musli had oats in it too - so I guess another thing for them to try, apart from that very little difference.

if you freeze a meat meal, do you need to heat through completely before serving?

Hi, I just had a Karitane appointment yesterday where we discussed this.

Introduce pureed meat (as you usually can't just mush it with a fork like you can veggies) at 6 months as this is when their iron levels start to deplete & you should give 4 servings a week of meat . She said formula & baby muesli doesn't have the same iron absorbancy (spel?) as meat.

She also said it's really important to introduce lumpy food which they need to chew on. I'm going to puree my meat & put into cubes then fork mash veggies & put that in cubes, then when it comes to a meat meal just take a few meat cubes & veggie cubes so you get a lumpy chewable mixture IYKWIM.

I make my own mash of vege and freeze it in bulk lots I add heaps of silver beet to top up their iron. Have only just started to introduce meat and have started with fresh skinned and boned fish (cod) as its lovely and flakey. A very easy meat for little mouths with little to no teeth to chew and swallow. My girls are loving the fish so I've been giving it with vege around 3 times a week. Plus its great for omega 3 total brain food so I hear

i decided not to start offering meat until he was 6months because i figured that was when he would need it as iron levels start to drop at 6months. We have never pureed meat. He tried mince first mixed in with lots of mashed veges and since has had pork and chicken mince too. Mind you he does have top and bottom teeth. Im glad we waited till 6months to start meat because now he eats so much. Lol