First foods database
🐇 Rabbit for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat rabbit? Yes, from about 6 months. Rabbit is a lean, mild meat, a little like chicken, that is rich in protein and vitamin B12, and it turns meltingly tender when slow-cooked in a stew or casserole.
Good source of: Protein, Iron, Vitamin B12, Phosphorus
How to serve rabbit by age
6 to 9 months
Slow-cook rabbit in a little water or unsalted stock with vegetables until it falls off the bone, then strip the meat, check for bones and blend with the vegetables and cooking juices. For finger food, offer soft shreds or a large piece of tender leg meat to suck and gnaw.
9 to 12 months
Serve finely shredded rabbit stirred into stews, risotto, pasta sauces or mashed potato. Keep it moist, as lean meat can dry out quickly.
12 months and up
Offer tender bite-sized pieces in family casseroles, ragu and pies, cut small and served with plenty of sauce.
Choking safety
Rabbit has many small, fine bones, especially around the ribs and back. Pick through every piece of meat with your fingers before serving, remove gristle, and shred along the grain so the pieces are easy 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 rabbit thoroughly until it is hot all the way through and no longer pink.
- Wild rabbit shot with lead pellets can contain pellet fragments; farmed or butcher-prepared rabbit is easier to check.
Easy ideas
- Rabbit and root vegetable casserole
- Shredded rabbit with buttery mashed potato
- Rabbit ragu stirred through pasta
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat rabbit?
Can babies eat rabbit? Yes, from about 6 months. Rabbit is a lean, mild meat, a little like chicken, that is rich in protein and vitamin B12, and it turns meltingly tender when slow-cooked in a stew or casserole.
Is rabbit meat safe for babies?
Yes, it is a healthy, lean meat for babies from about 6 months, as long as it is fully cooked and every bone is removed.
How do I make rabbit tender for babies?
Cook it low and slow in a stew or casserole for one to two hours until the meat falls away from the bone. Quick-cooked rabbit can be tough and dry.
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).