- Home page
- Give your body the nutrition it deserves
- Aussome for your baby
Iron-rich foods are recommended as first foods because your baby’s iron and zinc stores start to fall around this age, increasing their risk of iron and zinc deficiency.
When can my baby start eating beef and lamb?
Infant Feeding Guidelines recommend introducing solid foods to your baby at around 6 months to meet your baby’s increasing nutritional and developmental needs. Iron-rich foods are recommended as first foods because your baby’s iron and zinc stores start to fall around this age, increasing their risk of iron and zinc deficiency.
Suitable iron-rich foods include iron-enriched infant cereal, beef, lamb, fish, chicken, cooked tofu and legumes.
Vegetables, fruits and full-fat dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese and custard can also be included in your baby’s diet at this time.
The new Infant Feeding Guidelines state that foods can be introduced in any order and at a rate that suits your baby. This means that you can introduce beef and lamb to your baby as soon as they are ready for solids.
What are the best sources of iron and zinc for my baby?
Beef and lamb are two of the best sources of iron and zinc for your baby.
The type of iron and zinc contained in beef and lamb is well absorbed by the body.
How do I give beef and lamb to my baby?
Start with pureed meat and gradually increase the texture to mashed, minced and finally finger foods so that your baby is encouraged to chew, as chewing is important for speech development. It also helps your baby accept a wide variety of foods, important for establishing healthy eating habits for life.
