When to Introduce Chicken to Your Baby
You can introduce chicken to your baby around 6 months of age, but not before 4 months, when your infant shows developmental readiness for solid foods. 1
Recommended Timing for Introduction
Start complementary foods around 6 months of age when your baby is developmentally ready, though introduction should not occur before 4 months of age. 1
The World Health Organization recommends that meat, poultry, fish, or eggs should be eaten daily or as often as possible once complementary feeding begins. 1
Iron-rich foods including meat products are particularly important at the start of complementary feeding, as infants need these nutrients that become limited in breast milk after 6 months. 2, 3
Why Chicken is an Excellent Early Food
Chicken provides essential protein, iron, and zinc that are critical for growth and development during this period. 2
There is no evidence that delaying introduction of any foods, including poultry, beyond 4-6 months prevents food allergies—in fact, early introduction may be protective. 1
Chicken can be introduced alongside other allergenic foods without special timing considerations, as current evidence supports early rather than delayed introduction of all food types. 1
Practical Preparation Guidelines
Offer chicken in an age-appropriate texture: finely ground or pureed for younger infants (6 months), progressing to small, soft pieces as your baby develops chewing skills. 1, 2
Continue breastfeeding while introducing chicken and other complementary foods, as breast milk should remain the primary component of the diet initially. 2, 4
Introduce chicken as part of 3-4 meals per day by 8-9 months of age, offered every 90-120 minutes alongside other nutrient-dense foods. 5, 6
Important Caveats
Developmental readiness matters more than exact age: your baby should be able to sit with support, show interest in food, and have lost the tongue-thrust reflex before starting any solids. 1, 7
Avoid adding salt or sugar to chicken or any complementary foods. 3
Prepare following good hygiene practices to prevent foodborne illness, ensuring chicken is thoroughly cooked. 7
For infants at risk of iron depletion (exclusively breastfed with low maternal iron status, preterm, or small-for-gestational age), iron-rich foods like chicken may be beneficial even slightly earlier within the 4-6 month window. 7