Freshly cooked turkey may be offered as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Note: Turkey deli / sandwich meat is high in sodium and nitrates and should not be offered to babies. Turkeys are large birds that originated
in the fields and forests of the Americas. Thousands of years ago, people in Mesoamerica revered the bird’s wild ancestors, not only as a source of food and medicine, but also for its role in ceremonies and rituals. Today, the bird still holds significance as a celebratory food at gatherings, holidays, and weddings worldwide, especially in the Americas, where the majority of domesticated turkeys are raised. So why the name “turkey”? Evidence points to medieval London, where merchants sold
imported poultry as “Turkish cocks” or “Turkish hens” to appeal to English consumers who valued goods from afar. Eventually the shorthand “turkey” became associated with the specific bird known as guajolote and pavo by the Spanish, the ancestor of the modern, domesticated turkey. Yes. Turkey is packed with protein and plenty of nutrients to support baby’s growth and development. The meat contains all B vitamins (including folate and B12), choline, selenium, and zinc, which bolster baby’s immune system, growth, and development, as well as taste perception. The dark meat contains more iron and B12 than the white meat. Nutritional information for wild and heritage turkeys is limited. The giblets (the turkey’s heart, liver, and gizzard) are nutrient rich, but offer them in small amounts to babies (no more than 1-2 teaspoons of cooked giblets per week). The giblets are very high in vitamin A and rich in B-vitamins, folate, choline, iron, and selenium. While these are all essential nutrients for baby’s health and development, vitamin A can be toxic when consumed in high
amounts.1 Nutritionally, turkeys raised outside will offer higher levels of vitamins A, E, and essential omega-3 fatty acids.2 3 4 Around 83% of turkeys raised in the United States live in crowded large-scale farms with limited or no access to the outdoors.5 6The downside is that pasture-raised turkeys can be prohibitively expensive and difficult to find. As always, do the best you can with the resources available to you and know that, pasture-raised or not, turkey is a nutritious food for babies. ★Tip: Take precautions to minimize the risk of food-borne illness from bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter when preparing turkey. Keep raw turkey in the refrigerator or freezer and store it separately from produce. Thaw frozen raw turkey in the refrigerator (never on the counter) and cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) before serving.7 8 Always wash your hands and any surfaces that come into contact with raw poultry. Lastly, do not wash your turkey before cooking. Washing raw turkey creates droplets that can contaminate the kitchen and increase the risk of foodborne illness.9 Can turkey help baby poop?Turkey meat isn’t generally thought of as a food that promotes pooping. That said, it can play an important role in healthy bowel movements as part of a balanced and varied diet. Diets featuring white meats like poultry may promote the presence of beneficial bacteria, like Lactobacillus, which contributes to a healthy and diverse gut microbiome.10 11 12 Pooping patterns can vary significantly from baby to baby, so be sure to talk to your pediatric healthcare provider if you have concerns about your baby’s pooping or digestive function. Can babies have deli turkey?No. Due to excessive amounts of sodium in preserved meats, avoid serving deli turkey slices, turkey pepperoni, turkey bacon, and other processed and high-sodium turkey products to babies. Just one ounce of deli turkey can exceed the daily sodium recommendation for a 6-month-old, and turkey pepperoni can have even more sodium than deli meat. For more guidance, check out our Sodium and Babies FAQ page. Is turkey a common choking hazard for babies?Yes. Like all meat and poultry, turkey is a potential choking hazard. To minimize the risk, avoid offering turkey meat that has been cut into cubes or large chunks of ground turkey, and try not to overcook turkey, as this causes the meat to be dry and more challenging to chew and swallow. As always, make sure to create a safe eating environment and stay within arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards. Is turkey a common allergen?No. Turkey is not a common food allergen; however, cases of turkey allergy have been reported.13 Additionally, individuals with allergies to chicken meat may have an increased risk of allergy to turkey due to cross-reactivity.14 Turkey has been reported as a potential trigger for FPIES (Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome), which results in delayed vomiting with or without diarrhea beginning 2 to 4 hours after the ingestion of the meat.15 16 Some individuals with known allergy to feather and egg also have positive allergy test results to poultry meat.17 However, this does not commonly result in symptoms after the ingestion of well-cooked meat, as the allergenic protein is heat-sensitive. Therefore, routine testing for turkey meat allergy is not recommended in cases of egg allergy. As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity during the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the amount over future meals. How do you prepare turkey for babies with baby-led weaning?Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience. Your child is an individual and may have needs or considerations beyond generally accepted practices. In determining the recommendations for size and shape of foods, we use the best available scientific information regarding gross, fine, and oral motor development to minimize choking risk. The preparation suggestions we offer are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for child-specific, one-on-one advice from your pediatric medical or health professional or provider. It is impossible to fully eliminate all risk of a baby or child choking on any liquid, puree, or food. We advise you to follow all safety protocols we suggest to create a safe eating environment and to make educated choices for your child regarding their specific needs. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here.  6 to 9 months old: Offer long, thin strips of cooked turkey meat (bone and skin removed) for baby to suck and munch on. Dark meat will hold together better than white meat and is often softer and moister as well. You can also mix ground turkey into cooked grains for baby to scoop up with their hands or offer a turkey meatball, as long as it is relatively large and soft. You may also give baby a drumstick bone with all meat, loose cartilage, shards of bone, and skin removed. While baby won’t get any food in the belly this way, the drumstick offers fantastic practice for baby’s developing oral-motor skills and overall strength. Also keep in mind that turkey drumsticks, depending on how they’re cooked, can become brittle and easily breakable, especially at the edges. Cooking turkey for longer periods of time at lower temperatures can help prevent the bones from becoming brittle. We strongly recommend checking and testing the bone prior to offering by trying to bend it and pushing on the edges. Strong, firm bones are the way to go. If the bone breaks easily, crumbles at the edges, or splinters, the risk for bone to break off in baby’s mouth increases. 9 to 12 months old: At this age, babies develop the pincer grasp (where the thumb and forefinger meet), which enables them to pick up smaller pieces of food. When you see signs of this development, try moving down in size by offering shreds of cooked turkey breast or bite-sized pieces of ground turkey meatballs or patties. To minimize the risk of choking, refrain from offering cubes of meat. Try not to fret when you see baby trying to shovel food into the mouth: it is normal at this age and a good learning experience for the child. 12 to 24 months old: Serve bite-sized pieces of turkey as finger food for toddler to practice picking up with fingers or a utensil. You can also try serving crumbled ground turkey or shredded turkey mixed with grains, pasta, or vegetables. When you feel comfortable, try going back up in size to a whole drumstick to work on biting and tearing skills. Just be sure to remove the skin, pin bones, and loose cartilage or fat. Get inspired with new cooking ideas from our guide, 100 Dinners for Babies & Toddlers. What are recipe ideas for cooking with turkey?From curries to stews, meatballs to nuggets, salads to stir-frys, turkey can be used in any recipe that calls for chicken, the world’s most consumed meat. Look to the cooking of Central America, where turkey originated, for inspiration and serve turkey with molé sauce or turkey mixed with masa (cornmeal) and seasonings to make tamales. Commercially-raised birds have a mild flavor similar to chicken, while wild turkeys and heritage breeds have a deeper, gamier flavor that works beautifully in holiday dishes like pavochon—a roasted whole turkey. When cooking whole turkey, set aside some meat to freeze. Shredded turkey can be easily added to grains, pasta, salads, and soups or simply served on its own at future mealtimes. Recipe: Turkey MeatballsYield: 10-12 meatballs Ingredients
This recipe contains a common allergen: egg. Only serve to a child after this allergen has been safely introduced. Directions
To Store: Turkey Meatballs keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days or in the freezer for 2 months. ★Tip: This recipe can easily be scaled up to freeze for future meals. Just don’t salt the food until serving. That way, meatballs are ready to serve to baby at future mealtimes, and you can add salt to taste for adults and older children. Flavor PairingsTurkey is quite versatile and can be used as a substitute for chicken. It tastes great with cassava (yuca), corn, pinto bean, quinoa, sweet potato, and tomato. Reviewed by J. Truppi, MSN, CNS V. Kalami, MNSP, RD, CSP K. Grenawitzke, OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT S. Bajowala, MD, FAAAAI. Board-Certified Allergist & Immunologist (allergy section) R. Ruiz, MD, FAAP. Board-Certified General Pediatrician & Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Can you give a baby deli meat?When introducing meat, it's helpful to start with well-cooked ground meats or shreds of thinly sliced deli meats, such as turkey. Present your baby with a variety of foods, even some that he or she didn't seem to like the week before.
Can babies have deli lunch meat?No. Due to excessive amounts of sodium in preserved meats, avoid serving deli turkey slices, turkey pepperoni, turkey bacon, and other processed and high-sodium turkey products to babies.
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How to serve deli meat to baby
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