First foods database
🥩 Lamb liver for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat lamb liver? Yes, from about 6 months, in small amounts no more than once a week. Liver is extremely rich in iron and vitamin B12, but also very high in vitamin A, so a little goes a long way.
Good source of: Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Folate
How to serve lamb liver by age
6 to 9 months
Cook thoroughly, then blend a small amount into a casserole, bolognese or potato mash. A teaspoon or two is plenty. Mixing liver with other meat keeps the flavour mild and portions small.
9 to 12 months
Finely chop or mince cooked liver into meatballs or sauces alongside other meat. Lamb liver is milder than ox liver.
12 months and up
Offer a small portion of cooked liver in family dishes no more than once a week. Pair with onion gravy made without stock cubes.
Choking safety
Cooked liver can be dense and crumbly. Blend or finely chop it into moist dishes. Cook until there is no pink in the middle.
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
- High in vitamin A: no more than once a week, in small amounts.
- Do not give liver pâté to babies.
Easy ideas
- Liver blended into bolognese
- Liver and onion mash
- Liver mixed into beef meatballs
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat lamb liver?
Can babies eat lamb liver? Yes, from about 6 months, in small amounts no more than once a week. Liver is extremely rich in iron and vitamin B12, but also very high in vitamin A, so a little goes a long way.
How much liver can a baby have?
A small portion no more than once a week, because of its high vitamin A content. A small portion for a baby is around a tablespoon of cooked liver.
Can babies have liver pâté?
No. Pâté is not suitable for babies because of the listeria risk. Cooked liver at home is a different food from pâté.
Sources
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- NHS: What to feed young children
- NHS: Vitamins for children
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).