15 beef, pork and lamb recipes for babies

Meat, such as lamb and pork, can be good for your baby, especially when mixed with vegetables

Once you're beyond the first weeks of weaning, meat becomes an important element of your baby's diet. Most mums start by introducing chicken, as its mild flavour tends to be appealing to newly weaned babies, but from there, you can move on to other meats, such as pork, beef, lamb and turkey. All types of meat are a good source of protein, needed for your baby's growth and development, but red meat is also high in iron, which your baby needs for energy.

The texture of meat can be challenging for young babies, especially those without teeth, so you'll want to choose tender cuts, cook it until it's soft, and, most likely, puree it to a consistency that is easy to eat. And while it's great to introduce your baby to a variety of meat dishes, avoid giving salty meats such as bacon, ham and sausages to under-ones, as their kidneys aren't yet able to process salt.

Recipes for first weaning

Fruity pork and vegetables

Recipes for your 7-9 month old

Pork and apple

Pork and green beans

Pasta carbonara

Spaghetti bolognese

Lancashire hotpot

Recipes for your 9-12 month old

Slow cooked beef stew

Pork and paprika

Lamb rice casserole

Baked egg with cheese, tomato and ham

Fruity turkey with cous cous

Shepherd's pie

Pork, orange and apricot stew

Minty lamb stew

Breakfast burritos

Baby beef and broccoli stir-fry