Spare ribs may be introduced as soon as baby is ready for solids, which is generally around 6 months old. Whole ribs are fantastic teethers and you’re likely to see a baby go at them for a good 10 minutes. The long, thick bone and tough meat make it easy for babies to hold and can be a particularly good food for young eaters with special needs or who need jaw strengthening.
Yes. Along with fat, iron, and protein, which babies need oodles of at this stage in their lives, spare ribs have a decent amount of B-vitamins. In particular, they have vitamins B1 (aids cognitive development), B3 (cell development and function), and B6 (brain function). Lastly, spare ribs have high amounts of selenium, which is essential for immune defense and thyroid development.
Unlike short ribs (which are beef) spare ribs are the side ribs from a pig. They are big and flat, with meat all around the bone. Commonly used in American and Chinese cuisines, spare ribs are easy to make and fun for the whole family.
★ Tip: Be careful with rib seasonings! Spare rib recipes tend to call for barbecue sauce, salt, and sugar, which are not ideal for babies younger than age 2, and homemade recipes sometimes call for honey, which is not safe for babies younger than 12 months old because it can cause infant botulism. The good news is that spare ribs are delicious on their own and need little—if any—sauce to be tasty.
Spare ribs are safer for young babies than say, a chunk of meat on its own would be. However, chunks of meat that may be pulled off a rib—and especially chunks that are on the small to medium size—can be choking hazards. Baby is likely to just suck or gnaw on a rib, getting small bits of meat at a time, but pull off any loose pieces of meat and gristle before serving and watch baby as they eat to be safe. Also keep in mind that some ribs, depending on how they have been cooked, can become brittle and easily breakable, especially at the edges. We strongly recommend checking and testing your ribs prior to offering by attempting to bend them, and push on the edges. Strong, firm bones are the way to go. If the bone breaks easily, crumbles at the edges, or splinters, the risk for bone to break off in baby’s mouth increases. If a piece of meat gets pulled off that concerns you, coach the child to spit it out by sticking out your own tongue dramatically.
For more information, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with common choking hazards.
No. Allergies to pork are rare, though studies have shown that there is a relationship between cat allergies and pork allergies (cat serum albumin cross-reacts with pork albumin).1 Basically, if a baby is allergic to pork, it may actually stem from an allergy to cats.
Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience. Your child is an individual and may have needs or considerations beyond generally accepted practices. In determining the recommendations for size and shape of foods, we use the best available scientific information regarding gross, fine, and oral motor development to minimize choking risk. The preparation suggestions we offer are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for child-specific, one-on-one advice from your pediatric medical or health professional or provider. It is impossible to fully eliminate all risk of a baby or child choking on any liquid, puree, or food. We advise you to follow all safety protocols we suggest to create a safe eating environment and to make educated choices for your child regarding their specific needs. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here.
Spare ribs are a terrific first food as they are easy to pick up and enable baby to practice key oral development skills, such as tongue movement, biting and chewing. Make sure to test your ribs before offering to make sure the bone is not brittle enough to break or splinter when baby gnaws on it. If a too big piece of meat or any of the bone breaks off in baby’s mouth, coach them to spit it out and give your baby the opportunity to push the food forward on their own.
Continue to offer whole ribs for baby to gnaw and chew on. Make sure to test your ribs before offering to make sure the bone is not brittle enough to break or splinter when baby gnaws on it. If a too big piece of meat or any of the bone breaks off in baby’s mouth, coach them to spit it out and give your baby the opportunity to push the food forward on their own.
If you feel comfortable with it, continue offering whole spare ribs. Alternatively, you may slice the meat off of the bones and chop it.
What are the signs that baby is ready to start solids? Read all about them on our Readiness to Start Solid Food FAQ page.
Not sure how to introduce this food? Give this recipe a try. Feel free to substitute ingredients and flavor the food with your favorite seasonings.
Slab of spare ribs (pork side ribs)
Sweet paprika
Chipotle powder (optional)
Allspice
Tomatoes
Tomato paste
Mix 1 tsp of sweet paprika with ½ tsp of chipotle powder and ¼ teaspoon of allspice in a small bowl. Pat the spice rub all over the ribs. Once your child is 12 months old, try adding some molasses to the dry rub mix for a different taste.
Put the spiced ribs on a plate, cover, and place the plate in the fridge to let the ribs rest for an hour.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Open 1 small can of diced tomatoes and 1 small can of tomato paste. Dump the tomatoes and paste in a bowl, and whisk to combine. You need not measure; this is just to provide a little liquid for the ribs to rest upon in the oven.
Pour the tomato mixture into a wide, shallow casserole dish and set the ribs on top. Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil or with a ceramic cover.
Cook for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the ribs reaches 145 °F.
Spare ribs taste great with seasonings such as chipotle pepper, garlic, paprika, and soy- and tomato-based sauces. Serve with the ribs with a creamy side like baked beans, collard greens, polenta, or mashed potatoes as it’s easy to eat and swallow and gives your baby a little break from working on the ribs.
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