Bone Broth for Babies + Toddlers (Benefits & EASY Recipe)

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Are you looking for more information on bone broth for babies and toddlers? Perhaps you are considering giving it to your little one for one of their first foods and wondering how to serve it. Whether you are looking for more information on the benefits of bone broth or how to make it, we have your answers covered.

Is Bone Broth Healthy for Babies?

It is recommended to wait until babies are six months old to start feeding them, including bone broth. Therefore, at six months of age or after, when baby-led weaning/feeding is started, chicken bone broth can be a healthy addition to a baby’s diet. Bone broth contains essential nutrients such as collagen, amino acids, and minerals that can help support healthy growth and development.

Bone Broth Considerations

1. Limit bone broth to no more than 1-2 oz per day, ensuring that most of their liquid comes from breast milk or formula.
   
2. Like all foods for babies, it is generally suggested to use a low-sodium recipe for babies (though the strength of research on low sodium for babies is definitely up for debate.)
   
3. As always, it’s recommended to consult with your pediatrician before feeding your baby.

Is Bone Broth Safe for Babies?

Yes, when given in small amounts so as to not displace the importance of breast milk or formula being the primary source of liquid and calories in a baby’s diet, bone broth can be safe for babies who are ready for solid foods. Also, note the other considerations above.

Bone Broth Benefits for Babies & Toddlers

Making bone broth at home is undoubtedly healthier and better than store-bought. Many store-bought broths and meat stocks are loaded with additives and are not truly bone broth. At home, you can control the ingredients and make a more collagen-rich broth.

Bone broth has been consumed and touted as a health food for a long time; in fact, even ancient civilizations used bone broth.

Some potential benefits of bone broth for babies and toddlers include:

• Provides Nutrients: Bone broth provides gelatin and collagen; minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium; and even protein. The amount of nutrition provided in bone broth can be influenced by how it is prepared. Homemade bone broth is generally more nutritionally dense than store-bought.
  
• May support digestive health: Bone broth contains gelatin which some research shows can help to support a healthy digestion process and good gut health. Some research shows there may be some benefit to healing in the gut lining. (1, 2, 3)
  
• May boost the immune system: While the scientific research on immune-boosting benefits is somewhat limited, some studies do suggest that the nutrients found in bone broth may have immune-supporting properties.
  
• Introduce new flavors to babies: Serving a small amount of bone broth to babies definitely gives them new flavors and helps to improve their palettes.

Best Type of Bone Broth for Babies & Toddlers

When it comes to bone broth for babies, it is recommended to use a low-sodium recipe (though, as previously mentioned, more research on low sodium diet for babies is needed) and to consult with a pediatrician before introducing bone broth or any new foods to a baby’s diet.

In terms of the type of bone broth for babies and toddlers, homemade broth is a mild-tasting choice, but beef bone broth can also be a good option. Simply make the broth with animal bones (chicken or beef bones), apple cider vinegar, and veggies including carrots, onions, garlic, and celery. I like to use high-quality pasture-raised organic chicken bones for my broth. I also add organic chicken feet, which are rich in connective tissue, in order to make my broth more gelatinous.

If purchasing store-bought bone broth, aim to choose a broth with minimally added salt and free of added sugar and other additives. I would opt for Kettle & Fire Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth for my baby if I were to buy.

How to Serve Bone Broth to Baby

When to Serve Bone Broth

Most babies will be ready for baby-led weaning or baby-led feeding at around six months. Discuss this with your child’s pediatrician, but your baby is likely ready for bone broth by six months old.

I served bone broth to my 7-month-old recently and thought it made a great first food. Just a couple of spoonfuls when he was six months old was enough to start to get him used to the flavor when he was ready to transition to solid foods.

Tips on How To Serve Bone Broth to Babies

1. Start with small amounts: I personally give my baby a spoonful or two at dinner or when I’ve made fresh bone broth and increase slowly as they are ready for more food. Since bone broth is liquid, treat it as water and do not exceed 1-2 oz to ensure it does not displace important breast milk or formula until they are 12 months or older.
   
2. Serve at a safe temperature: Test the bone broth on your wrist to ensure it is cool enough for the baby.
   
3. Serve by Spoon: You can serve your baby a spoonful of bone broth while practicing responsive feeding with your baby so they can try the broth’s flavor.
   
4. Serve by Cup: As you work on cup skills, you can serve it in a small cup like this along with their meals. I love this cup because it only holds 1 oz and is the perfect size for little hands and babies just learning to drink from an open cup.
   
5. Mix with Other Foods: You can mix it with foods such as pureed vegetables when making your own baby food. Or allow your baby to have it as part of a soup if you practice baby-led weaning.

Adding Nutrition for Toddlers with Bone Broth

Serving bone broth to toddlers can be a great way to add nutrition to their diet, especially for picky toddlers. There are many creative ways to encourage toddlers to drink bone broth besides simply serving it in a mug; here are a few of my favorites.

• Cook pasta or rice with bone broth instead of water.
• Use homemade bone broth when making homemade soups. (I love this incredibly easy broccoli cheddar bone broth soup!)
• Make bone broth hot chocolate <–This is my kid’s favorite option! (I really only recommend this for ages two and up due to the added maple syrup/honey.)
• Add bone broth to other foods: Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Oatmeal, Gravy, and Smoothies.

How to Make Baby Bone Broth

I prefer to make my chicken bone broth in the pressure cooker (Instant Pot) as I always get very gelatinous broth (that truly gels in the refrigerator) with this method. However, I have made it in the slow cooker or crock pot before as well.

Steps for Making Instant Pot Bone Broth:

1. Place chicken bones (I typically use two whole chicken carcasses and approximately six chicken feet plus any other bone scraps I have stored in my freezer) into the Instant Pot.
2. Fill with water between the min and max lines.
3. Set the Instant Pot to soup mode for 4 hours (240 minutes.)
4. Once finished cooking, release pressure and strain bones.

How to Store Bone Broth

You can store chicken bone broth in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer for several months. I prefer to store mine in the freezer using Souper Cubes. These food storage containers are perfect for storing broth, soup, and other items. I bought the 1 cup Souper Cubes, but you could also store them in ice cube trays or smaller silicone trays if you wanted to thaw a small portion for your baby.

Bone Broth Recipe for Baby

Ok, here’s my favorite way to make rich and perfectly gelatinous broth for my whole family (baby included!)

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