Bone marrow
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- high
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- high
Iron-rich · well cooked, no fat globs
When can babies eat bone marrow?
Well-cooked bone marrow can be served around 6 months, once baby is ready. Marrow is the soft, jelly-like tissue at the center of animal bones. It most often comes from beef thigh bone. Lamb and other animals' bones are used too.
Cook it thoroughly
Marrow must be cooked through. Raw or undercooked meat products are not served to babies.
Nutrition
Marrow is rich in fat and holds omega-3 fatty acids. It brings the minerals iron, selenium and zinc. Marrow also contains vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin B12 and vitamin A. These nutrients support growth, red blood cells, immunity, vision, skin and blood clotting.
How do you prepare bone marrow for babies?
Cook the marrow thoroughly. Mash until no firm lumps or chunks of fat remain. Mix it into soft foods or spread it on a toast strip. Adding it to protein-rich dishes such as lentils and beans boosts their nutrition.
You can offer the bone broth separately in an open cup. After 24 months a child can try scooping the marrow out of the bone.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · How to serve spread on toast stripsstrip
Cut: Smooth puree
Cook the marrow thoroughly. Mash it until no lumps or chunks of fat remain. Spread it thinly on toasted bread strips. Let baby hold the strip.
6 months · How to mix into a mashmash
Stir well-cooked marrow into scoopable foods like mashed vegetables. Adding it to mashed beans or lentils gives the dish extra nutrients. A small serving of broth made from marrow bones in an open cup is another option.
12 months
24 months · Let the child scoop it from the bonemash
Once your child is 24 months old the marrow can stay inside its bone. Hand over a small spoon or blunt knife. Let them scoop it and spread it on bread or food. A bowl of soup made with marrow bones works as well.
Is bone marrow a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: high
Marrow can hold firm, slippery globs of fat. Break them up until the texture is smooth.
Marrow can hold firm, slippery globs of fat. These traits raise the choking risk. Mash it until smooth.
Safe setting
Seat your child upright and stay within arm's reach during meals.
Is bone marrow a common allergen?
Marrow, whether beef, lamb or another animal, is rarely an allergen. People have reacted to several red meats, however.
Some tick bites (in the US mostly the lone star tick) lead to alpha-gal allergy. Alpha-gal is a sugar found in the meat of non-primate mammals. Symptoms start 3 to 8 hours after eating red meat or organ tissue like marrow. Some people with alpha-gal allergy react to the tiny amounts of this sugar in dairy and gelatin as well.
At the first try
Start with a small portion at the first meals and keep an eye on baby. If all is well, raise the amount slowly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about bone marrow
At what age can babies have bone marrow?
Well-cooked marrow can be served around 6 months, once baby is ready for solids.
Why does bone marrow carry a choking risk?
It can hold firm, slippery globs of fat. Mash them until the texture is smooth.
What is the link between tick bites and marrow?
Some tick bites cause alpha-gal allergy. Then a delayed allergic reaction can appear 3 to 8 hours after eating red meat or marrow.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- CDC. (n.d.). Alpha-gal syndrome.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com