First foods database
🍗 Chicken thigh for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat chicken thigh? Yes, from about 6 months. Thigh meat is darker, juicier and contains more iron and zinc than breast, so it shreds easily and is a great early protein for babies. It is also usually cheaper than breast.
Good source of: Iron, Zinc, Protein, Vitamin B12
How to serve chicken thigh by age
6 to 9 months
Cook thoroughly and blend with vegetables and a little cooking liquid, or offer large strips of soft, moist thigh meat for your baby to suck and chew. Slow-cooking thighs in a casserole makes them extra tender.
9 to 12 months
Serve finely shredded or chopped thigh meat in rice, pasta and stews.
12 months and up
Offer bite-sized pieces, drumsticks with skin and small bones removed, or chicken in family curries. Skinless boneless thighs are quick to cook and easy to shred.
Choking safety
Remove all bones, gristle and loose skin. Shred meat along the grain or chop finely, and keep it moist, as dry meat is harder to manage.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Cook chicken until piping hot all the way through with no pink meat or juices.
Easy ideas
- Slow-cooked chicken thigh with sweet potato
- Shredded chicken thigh in a mild curry
- Chicken and vegetable risotto
Goes well with
Recipes with chicken thigh
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat chicken thigh?
Can babies eat chicken thigh? Yes, from about 6 months. Thigh meat is darker, juicier and contains more iron and zinc than breast, so it shreds easily and is a great early protein for babies. It is also usually cheaper than breast.
Is chicken thigh better than breast for babies?
Thigh contains more iron and zinc and stays moister, which makes it easier for babies to eat.
Can babies eat chicken skin?
A little crisp skin is fine for older babies, but it can be chewy. Remove it early on. Remove it for young babies and offer once they are confident chewers.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).