Chicken Liver

Chicken liver has high levels of vitamin A—an essential nutrient that can be toxic when consumed in excess. For this reason, take care to limit the serving size and frequency; 1 to 2 tablespoons of chicken liver once a week is plenty.

Chicken liver, when well-cooked, may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Chicken liver has high levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, but can be toxic when consumed in excess. For this reason, take care to limit the serving size and frequency; 1 to 2 tablespoons of chicken liver once a week is plenty.

Chicken may be one of the world’s most consumed proteins, but the mighty liver is sometimes overlooked—even though chicken liver is one of the most nutritious foods we can eat. Chicken liver, cow liver, fish liver, and the livers of all sentient beings are the nutrient powerhouse of the body. The vital organ purifies toxins and processes vitamins and minerals during digestion, passing some to fuel bodily functions and storing others for energy. People often either love or hate liver for its distinctive taste—an intense minerality that pairs well with sweet fruits and vegetables and flavorful fats like schmaltz, the rendered fat from chicken skin that adds richness to dishes like the traditional Jewish preparation of chopped liver.

Yes, in moderation as part of a varied diet. When serving chicken liver to baby, a little goes a long way. Chicken liver has high levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, but can be toxic when consumed in excess. For this reason, take care to limit the serving size and frequency; 1 to 2 tablespoons of chicken liver once a week is plenty.

Chicken liver is rich in fat and protein, in addition to choline, iron, folate, selenium, zinc, and vitamins A, B12, and other B vitamins. Together, these nutrients support baby’s energy to play and explore, brain development, growth, strength, red blood cells, hormones, immune function, taste perception, vision, and metabolic processes. 

Since research is limited on their safety, avoid liver supplements for babies.

No. Chicken is not a common food allergen, though cases of poultry allergy have been reported. Chicken can also be a trigger for Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome, (FPIES), which results in delayed vomiting and/or diarrhea 2-4 hours after the ingestion of chicken meat.

While rare, certain individuals with fish allergies may have an increased risk of being sensitive to chicken. Some individuals with known allergy to feather and egg also have positive allergy test results to chicken meat. However, this does not commonly result in symptoms after the ingestion of well-cooked meat, as the allergenic protein is heat sensitive. Therefore, routine testing for chicken meat allergy is not recommended in cases of egg allergy.

As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity during the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.

Yes. Chicken liver can be firm and challenging to chew, which are qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, refrain from cutting liver into chunks or cubes and prepare and serve it in an age-appropriate way as described in the How to Serve section. Also, be sure not to overcook chicken liver as this causes it to be dry and more challenging to chew and move backwards to swallow. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. 

Learn the signs of choking and gagging and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

You can if you’d like, but there's no developmental need to start with textureless food. Babies can be served modified versions of what you eat. Use our First Foods Database to find how to safely serve any food.

There are many wonderful options. Look for foods that are easy for baby to feed to themselves, that are low in choking risk, and that offer nutrients babies need, such as iron. Some of our favorite first foods include steamed broccoli, oatmeal, and mango pits. See more ideas in our guide, 50 Fantastic First Foods.