At what age can you give liver to a child?

Introducing novel foods to your child’s diet can be a bit confusing as well as exciting. When to start offering liver is one of the concerns that many parents have. Even though liver is nutrient-rich, it’s crucial to know when and how much to give.

Iron, vitamins, and other vital nutrients that promote growth and development are abundant in liver. However, timing is crucial to prevent giving too much too soon because it also contains high levels of specific compounds, such as vitamin A.

Selecting the best options for your child’s health can be aided by knowing when and how to introduce liver safely. Let’s examine when it’s appropriate to begin and how to properly incorporate it into their diet.

What is useful

• It is a protein dish from which children receive the entire list of amino acids necessary for their body. Among them are all the essential amino acids that are not formed in the body, but enter it with food.
• Dishes from it will give the child many vitamins, among which there are especially many vitamins E, A and D (fat-soluble), folic acid, choline and other B vitamins. The liver is also a source of various mineral salts, for example, iron, copper, calcium, selenium, magnesium and many others.
• The cholesterol it contains is important for the synthesis of hormones and other compounds, so it should be supplied to the child"s body in small quantities.
• The use of the liver can prevent the development of anemia and hypovitaminosis, and also positively affects the immunity of the child and growth processes in his body.

Cons

• In some children, it provokes an allergic reaction.
• Due to the high content of the protein, dishes from it are not recommended for children with kidney diseases.
• Its excessive use worsens the digestive tract.
• Due to the presence of a small bitterness in the taste of the liver, some children refuse such a product.

How many months can be given?

You can even wait up to a year to expose a child to an outcome like the liver. It’s best to introduce complementary foods to the child after they’ve tried and become accustomed to meat dishes. Most kids can offer it for the first time between the ages of 8 and 9 months. The product is first reduced to a homogenous, slightly thick consistency by boiling and grinding it thoroughly.

For a one-year-old child, the liver is used to make souffles, pates, casseroles, soups, puddings, and other dishes. Liver can be fed to a baby once he has developed good chewing skills. Fried foods made from this product, like liver pancakes, should not be given to a baby before the age of three. Regarding the question of what to serve with liver, vegetable dishes are frequently paired with this product. A cereal side dish can also be added to it.

Which is better to choose for baby food?

There are various varieties of liver, and each has benefits for a child’s diet.

The infant can be given the following liver:

• Beef or veal.It is recommended to start complementary feeding with liver, since such a product is very easily digestible and rarely causes allergies. Beef liver has a high content of vitamin A and B vitamins, as well as low calorie content. Its use maintains hemoglobin at a high level and increases the body"s defenses. The disadvantages are some hardness and the need to spend time cleaning from bile ducts and films.
• Chicken. Its advantages include a tender consistency and a pleasant taste. In addition, it is prepared for cooking and cooked faster than other types of offal. This product is rich in iron and folic acid, so it has a positive effect on immune function and hematopoiesis. It also contains a lot of choline, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and brain activity of the child.
• Pork. This type of liver is quite tender and loose in consistency, and the calorie content of the product is low. In addition, it is cooked quite quickly, and it does not have hard films. However, this offal also has disadvantages, including a slightly reduced content of nutrients, as well as the frequent presence of a bitter taste in finished dishes. Nevertheless, children receive iron, copper, manganese, vitamins A, E, group B, cobalt, iodine and many other substances from pork liver.
• Turkey. Like chicken, turkey liver is easy to digest, cooks quickly, has a delicate structure and a pleasant taste. At the same time, it is quite high in calories due to its high fat content (it has almost twice as many calories as beef, pork or chicken). From it, the child will receive vitamins B12, K and C, selenium, iron, phosphorus, chromium, vitamin PP and many other valuable compounds.
• Rabbit. Such a product contains many vitamins and minerals, including beta-carotene, calcium, tin, selenium, vitamin D, cobalt, vitamin K, choline and others. The only drawback of this tasty type is its high cost. In addition, it is found on sale much less often than chicken, pork or beef liver.
• Cod. This delicacy is rich in vitamin A, zinc, iodine, vitamin D and calcium. Its use will help prevent rickets, skin and dental diseases, and will also strengthen bones and protect the baby from infections. Such liver is also very useful for the cardiovascular system.

It is important to note separately that children should not be given goose or duck liver due to their high calorie content and high saturated fat content.

Although liver is a wholesome food full of vitamins and minerals, it’s crucial to introduce it to kids at the appropriate age. The majority of experts advise starting small with liver administration to a child between the ages of 8 and 10 months. Their liver can supply vital elements like iron and vitamin A, and their digestive system is more capable of handling it at this age. Moderation is essential, though, as having too much liver can result in too much vitamin A, which could be hazardous. A pediatrician should always be consulted before introducing new foods to your child’s diet.

How to introduce into the diet

A child’s menu should start with a single-component puree. The maximum amount that is administered is half a teaspoon. It is best to give the baby the first dose in the morning so that any side effects of the new product can be observed during the day. Should intolerance go undetected, the amount is progressively increased. Once or twice a week, the liver is served in place of a meat dish. The baby can receive up to 60 g per day by the time they are a year old.

The product is canceled if the baby displayed any allergy symptoms in response to the liver. If the infant refuses to try liver puree, it is also worthwhile to hold off on introducing the dish. Avoid pressuring the infant to eat it against their will to avoid causing further rejection. It is preferable to put off the tasting for a few weeks and then make the meal for the kid once more.

Ready-made purees

Many baby food manufacturers carry liver in their product line. For instance, Semper, a company, makes beef liver puree with vegetables for children older than eight months, while Babushkino Lukoshko, a company, offers beef puree with liver under the brands Babushkino, Frutonyanya, and Tema. When purchasing these jars, it’s critical to consider the puree’s composition and expiration dates, attempting to select a product with the fewest possible additives. These products typically come in small (80–100 g) packaging because an open jar should only be kept in the refrigerator for a maximum of 24 hours.

There are many nutritional advantages to include liver in a child’s diet, but timing is crucial. If given in moderation and cooked correctly, 8 to 10 months is generally a safe age to begin.

When adding liver, monitor for any allergic reactions or digestive problems. Since each child is unique, it’s critical to keep an eye on their reactions.

A pediatrician should always be consulted before introducing new foods to your baby’s diet. Their guidance will help guarantee that liver is introduced in a way that promotes healthy growth, at the appropriate time, along with other foods.

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