Turkey

Meat

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Yes

Common Allergen

a whole raw turkey on a white background

When can babies have turkey?

Turkey, when well-cooked, may be offered as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.

Turkeys are large birds that originated in the fields and forests of the Americas. Thousands of years ago, people in Mesoamerica revered the bird’s wild ancestors, not only as a source of food and medicine, but also for its role in ceremonies and rituals. Today, the bird still holds significance as a celebratory food at gatherings, holidays, and weddings worldwide, especially in the Americas, where the majority of domesticated turkeys are raised. So why the name “turkey”? Evidence points to medieval London, where merchants sold imported poultry as “Turkish cocks” or “Turkish hens” to appeal to English consumers who valued goods from afar. Eventually the shorthand “turkey” became associated with the specific bird known as guajolote and pavo by the Spanish, the ancestor of the modern, domesticated turkey.

How do you serve turkey to babies?

Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.

an infographic with the header "how to serve turkey for babies": a bone or thin strip for babies 6 months +, shreds of turkey meat for babies 9 months +, and bite-sized pieces for toddlers 12 months+

6 months old +:

Offer long, flat strips of cooked turkey meat (any bone and skin removed) for baby to suck and munch on. Dark meat will hold together better than white meat and is often softer and moister as well. Alternatively, offer shredded or ground turkey that has been mixed into a soft, scoopable food like mashed vegetables. You can also serve meatballs or meatloaf made from ground turkey; just make sure the food is fully cooked to 165 F (74 C), soft enough that it mashes between your thumb and pointer finger, and larger than baby’s mouth.

You may also give baby a drumstick bone with all meat, loose cartilage, shards of bone, and skin removed. While baby won’t get any food in the belly this way, the drumstick offers fantastic practice for baby’s developing oral-motor skills and overall strength. Keep in mind that turkey drumsticks, depending on how they're cooked, can become brittle and easily breakable, especially at the edges. We recommend checking and testing the bone prior to offering by trying to bend it and pushing 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. Stewing or slow cooking turkey drumsticks at a lower temperature can help minimize brittle bones while ensuring they are fully cooked.

9 months old +:

When you see signs of a developing pincer grasp (when the thumb and pointer finger meet), you can move down in size. Offer shredded turkey, thinly sliced turkey, or bite-sized pieces of turkey meatball or meatloaf for baby to practice picking up. As babies get better at picking up small pieces, they may start stuffing or shoveling food into the mouth. While this is an opportunity for learning what "too much" feels like, it can be quite stressful to watch happen. If this occurs, you can offer fewer pieces of food at a time and coach the child how to spit out food. You can also continue to offer a turkey drumstick with all meat, loose cartilage, shards of bone, and skin removed. When preparing turkey, make sure it is fully cooked to 165 F (74 C), and ground turkey crumbles, meatballs, or meatloaf are soft enough to easily mash with gentle pressure. Cooking ground turkey in sauce or stew or mixing breadcrumbs, egg, and/or milk into meatballs or meatloaf can help keep them soft.

12 months old +:

Serve bite-sized pieces of turkey as finger food for the child to practice picking up with fingers or a utensil. You can also try serving crumbled ground turkey or shredded turkey mixed with grains, pasta, or vegetables. When you feel comfortable, try going up in size to a whole drumstick with the meat left on to work on biting and tearing skills. Just be sure to remove the skin and any loose pieces of cartilage, meat, or fat.

a hand holding a long thin strip of cooked turkey for babies 6 months+ — A long, flat strip of turkey for babies 6 months +

a hand holding five small shreds of cooked turkey for babies 9 months + — Flat, bite-sized shreds of turkey for babies 9 months +

Videos

Amelia, 8 months, eats roast turkey

Max, 11 months, eats turkey meatloaf

Cooper, 18 months, eats a turkey drumstick

Is turkey a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Turkey can be challenging to chew and manage in the mouth, qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, refrain from cutting turkey in 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 turkey, as this causes it to be dry and more challenging to chew and 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.

Is turkey a common allergen?

No. Turkey is not a common food allergen; however, cases of turkey allergy have been reported. Additionally, individuals with allergies to chicken meat may have an increased risk of allergy to turkey due to cross-reactivity. Turkey has been reported as a potential trigger for FPIES (Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome), which results in delayed vomiting with or without diarrhea beginning 2 to 4 hours after the ingestion of the meat. Some individuals with known allergy to feather and egg also have positive allergy test results to poultry 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 turkey 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 amount over future meals.

Is turkey healthy for babies?

Yes. Turkey is rich in protein, in addition to choline, iron, selenium, and zinc, as well as vitamins B6 and B12. Together, these nutrients work together to support baby’s development, growth, brain functioning, red blood cells, immune function, taste perception, and metabolic processes.

★ Tip: Turkey is associated with foodborne illness from bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter. Taking the appropriate precautions can minimize the risk: Keep turkey in the refrigerator or freezer and store it separately from produce. Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator (not on the counter) and cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) before serving. Always wash your hands and surfaces that come in contact with the raw meat.

When can babies have deli turkey?

Because deli meat carries an increased risk of foodborne illness, when or whether to serve it is a personal decision for which you must calculate risk. Deli meats, such as turkey, have been implicated in a number of outbreaks of foodborne illness, namely Listeria. To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, especially for babies, young children, and any other immunocompromised individuals, heat deli meats until steaming and let cool before offering. Avoid offering glazed turkey or other deli meats made with honey before the first birthday due to the risk of infant botulism.