Steak

Steak can be offered once baby is ready for solids, around 6 months.

What it is

Steak describes slices of meat from various animals (venison, lamb, and fish among them) but most often means beef. Beef steaks come bone-in or boneless and differ in texture. Filet mignon, ribeye, and sirloin are tender, while flank, rump, and skirt are much tougher.

Nutrition

It is rich in protein and often fat, both of which fuel growth and development. It also gives iron, choline, selenium, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12. These support growth, brain development, energy, healthy red blood cells, taste perception, immunity, and hormones. Baby's iron reserves run out from about 6 months, and steak is a great iron source at this stage.

Whichever cut your family has on hand is fine, as long as baby is ready for solids and the meat is prepared for the age. Cuts with a sturdy bone attached, like T-bone and ribeye, are good choices. Once loose meat and fat are removed, the bone's firm texture and long shape act like a teether and help baby learn the limits of the mouth.

Cooking

A steak with a faintly pink center may be served from 6 months, provided the inside hit 63 C (145 F) and the meat sat for a few minutes first. This method lowers the risk of foodborne illness. Raw, rare, and medium-rare steaks raise the risk at any age, and babies and young children are more prone to it and can get more seriously ill.

Steak is firm and hard to chew. These traits raise the choking risk. Steak is a choking hazard for children and adults alike.

Sometimes meat moves too slowly down the food pipe. That can feel scary and uncomfortable, but the person can usually still breathe. If your child is crying and struggling to swallow, offer a drink from an open cup, bottle, or a nursing session. If that fails, call emergency services.

Prepare it to suit the age, set up a safe eating space, and stay beside your baby.

Steak is not a common allergen. Allergy to beef has been reported but is uncommon.

Alpha-gal

Certain tick bites (mainly the Lone Star tick in the US and other ticks elsewhere) are linked to an allergy to the sugar galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, called alpha-gal. It is found in the meat of all non-primate mammals. A delayed allergic reaction shows up 3 to 8 hours after eating red meat such as beef. Some people with alpha-gal allergy also react to the small amount of the sugar in dairy, gelatin, or mammal organs like liver.

Milk allergy

People with a dairy allergy may be slightly more likely to be sensitive to beef. Studies suggest that among people with confirmed beef allergy, many are also allergic to cow's milk.

When introducing

As with any new food, give a small amount for the first few meals and watch closely while baby eats. Raise the portion slowly if there is no reaction.