Age Suggestion
6 months
Iron-Rich
Yes
Common Allergen
No
Bone marrow may be introduced as soon as your baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months old.
Bone marrow is the jelly-like tissue in the middle of animal bones, typically a cow’s femur bones. It’s a trendy restaurant food that’s actually quite affordable (and ridiculously easy!) to prepare at home. Ask your butcher for “long, cross-cut” bones, which will make it easier for you to get the most marrow from the bone once it’s roasted.
Absolutely. Bone marrow is soft in texture and loaded with iron and healthy fats (including omega fats), both of which babies need loads of starting around 6 months old. Bone marrow is also packed with B-vitamins, antioxidant vitamins A and E, blood-healthy vitamin K, and immune-supportive minerals selenium and zinc.
It can be. When scooped from a roasted bone, the marrow contains globs of fat that need to be broken up before serving to your baby. The easiest way to do this is to blend bone marrow with an immersion blender or whip it with an electric whisk after it’s roasted and cooled.
For more information, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with common choking hazards.
Bone marrow is not a common food allergen. In theory any food can cause an allergic reaction, so watch closely while your babies are eating. Serve a small amount when introducing the food for the first few times. If your baby has no adverse reaction, slowly increase the serving size over time.
Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.
Spread roasted bone marrow on bread, thin rice cakes, or baby crackers. You may also whip roasted bone marrow with breast milk or formula and/or mix into other foods, such as mashed potatoes. Don’t go crazy though: a little goes a long way!
Slather roasted bone marrow on bread with thick crusts, such as sourdough, and give your toddler the time to really work at chewing and tearing. Roasted bone marrow can also be spread atop roasted veggies and other foods to boost the fat content.
Add bone marrow to protein-rich foods, like smashed beans or lentils, for an added nutrient boost to the dish. Butter also makes bone marrow even more delicious!
For more information on how to cut food for babies, visit our page on Food Sizes & Shapes.
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