When can babies eat turkey?
Babies can start eating cooked turkey from around 6 months, once they show readiness for solids.
Ensure the turkey is well-cooked and prepared in safe textures suitable for your baby’s developmental stage.
See our first foods for baby guide for more ideas.
Select Baby's Age
How to cut turkey for a 6 month old
Use long, thin strips of very tender, cooked white turkey meat, shredded finely to a texture similar to shredded chicken. This helps your baby grasp and gum the meat safely.
6 month baby feeding schedule for more tips.
Safety Tips
- ✓Always ensure turkey is thoroughly cooked and tender before serving.
- ✓Avoid skin and any tough or chewy parts that may pose a choking risk.
- ✓Supervise your baby closely during meals to respond quickly if needed.
- ✓Cut turkey into appropriate sizes and textures based on your baby’s age and chewing ability.
Turkey recipe ideas for babies
Try these simple, baby-friendly turkey recipes to introduce new flavors and textures safely. See our baby recipes.
- ★Shredded turkey with steamed veggies
- ★Turkey and sweet potato mash
- ★Mini turkey meatballs with soft veggies
- ★Turkey and apple puree
Explore our baby-led weaning food list and first foods for baby for more inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can babies eat turkey?
Most babies can eat turkey from around 6 months when starting solids. Always serve it in a safe size and texture appropriate for your baby's age and development.
How do you cut turkey for baby led weaning?
For babies around 6 months, turkey should be cut into large pieces that are easy to grasp with their hands. As babies develop their chewing skills, the pieces can gradually become smaller.
How to serve turkey baby led weaning?
For BLW, cut turkey into strips or wedges that babies can hold. The texture should be soft enough to mash easily with gentle pressure.
Can babies choke on turkey?
turkey can become a choking hazard if served in small round or hard pieces. Cutting it into larger soft pieces appropriate for baby-led weaning helps reduce choking risk.
How should turkey be served to a 6 month old?
At around 6 months, turkey should be served in large soft pieces that babies can hold with their hands. See our full ingredient guide.
Is turkey safe for baby led weaning?
turkey can be included in baby-led weaning when cut into safe shapes and soft textures that babies can hold and gum.
How small should turkey be cut for older babies?
From around 9 months, babies typically use a pincer grasp, so turkey can be cut into smaller pea-sized pieces. Continue ensuring pieces are soft enough to mash and watch for any choking risk shapes.
Should turkey be cooked or raw for babies?
Cook turkey until easily mashable when raw textures are too firm for babies to gum. Soft ripe fruits are often offered raw, while firmer foods are typically steamed, roasted, or boiled until tender.
Can turkey be served as a finger food at 6 months?
Yes, turkey can be a 6-month finger food when cut into long graspable strips and softened to a mashable texture. Always supervise meals and adjust shape as your baby's chewing skills develop.
How to cut turkey for a 7 month old?
At 7 months babies still use a palmar (whole-hand) grasp. Cut turkey into long strips about 2-3 inches long and finger-width thick, with part sticking out of the fist for chewing. Soft enough to mash between two fingers.
How to cut turkey for an 8 month old?
At 8 months babies are refining grasp and may begin pincering. Continue offering turkey in 2-inch strips alongside a few small pea-sized pieces to practice the pincer grasp. Cooked until easily mashable.
How to cut turkey for a 9 month old?
At 9 months most babies have developed the pincer grasp. Cut turkey into pea-sized pieces (about ½ inch / 1.5 cm) for self-feeding practice. Continue avoiding round, hard, or sticky shapes; soft enough to mash with mild pressure.
How to cut turkey for a 10 month old?
At 10 months babies eat a wider variety of textures. Offer turkey in pea-sized pieces or small bite-sized cubes (½ inch / 1.5 cm). They can manage slightly firmer textures, but pieces should still mash easily.
How to cut turkey for a 12 month old?
From 12 months babies eat in pieces about ½ inch (1.5 cm). Round foods (grapes, cherry tomatoes) must still be quartered until age 4 due to choking risk. Soft enough to chew without much molar work.
Can babies eat turkey for breakfast?
Yes — turkey can be part of a balanced baby breakfast when prepared in baby-safe shapes. Pair with a protein, healthy fat, or whole grain (eggs, yogurt, oats, nut butter on toast) for a complete morning meal.
verifiedSources & References
This guide is informed by current guidelines from leading health organizations:
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