Can Babies Eat Liver?
Yes, in moderation. Liver is fine from around 6 months, and it is one of the most iron-packed foods you can offer. But it is also very high in vitamin A, so this is a small-portion, about-once-a-week food. Cook it through, blend it with sweet veg, and do not serve it often.
Liver has fallen out of fashion, but for babies it is genuinely one of the most nutritious foods around. Gram for gram, almost nothing beats it for iron and vitamin B12. There is just one rule that comes with all that power: because it is so high in vitamin A, you serve it small and about once a week, not more.
What is liver?
Liver is an organ meat, or offal, usually from chicken, lamb or beef. It has a soft texture when cooked and a strong, rich flavour. It is one of the most nutrient-dense foods there is, which is both its great strength and the reason it needs to be limited for babies.
Liver has a strong taste, so sweet, mild partners help. Blend a small amount with plenty of soft carrot, or mix it into a mild vegetable puree to soften the flavour.
Liver nutrition for babies
Liver is a nutrition powerhouse: outstanding iron, huge vitamin B12, folate and copper. It is also extremely high in vitamin A, which is the reason for the limit.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g (cooked) |
|---|---|
| Energy | 175 kcal |
| Protein | 27 g |
| Iron | 6.5 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 70 mcg |
| Vitamin A | very high |
| Folate | 253 mcg |
Typical values for cooked liver. The vitamin A content is very high, which is why liver is limited. Source: USDA FoodData Central.
When can babies eat liver?
Liver can start from around 6 months, always in small amounts and about once a week. Change the texture as your baby grows, but keep the portions modest:
Blend a small piece of fully cooked liver into a vegetable puree, keeping it to about once a week.
Mash a little cooked liver into a mixed vegetable and potato meal, still keeping the portion small.
Soft, home-made, no-salt liver dishes work now. Keep to a small serving about once a week.
Vitamin A: liver is very high in vitamin A, and too much over time can be harmful. Serve it in small amounts and no more than about once a week. Do not combine liver with vitamin A supplements on the same day.
Health benefits of liver for babies
Outstanding iron
Liver is one of the richest iron foods there is, in a form the body absorbs easily, which helps from 6 months.
Vitamin B12
It is exceptionally high in vitamin B12, needed for healthy nerves, blood and brain development.
Folate
Liver provides folate, a B vitamin the body uses to build new cells during rapid growth.
Serve liver with a vitamin C food to lift the iron even further. A little soft spinach in the puree, or some fruit afterwards, works nicely.
How to serve liver safely
Do
- Cook liver thoroughly with no pink.
- Serve small amounts, about once a week.
- Blend it with sweet, mild vegetables.
- Trim any tough bits before cooking.
Avoid
- Serving liver more than about once a week.
- Pairing it with a vitamin A supplement.
- Adding salt or shop-bought salty pate.
- Undercooked or pink liver.
Risks and safety
Liver allergy is uncommon, so the headline here is vitamin A. It is a wonderful iron food, but the same richness means it must be limited. Keep it to a small portion about once a week, cook it fully, and you get all of the benefit and none of the excess. Offal dishes such as haggis count towards that same weekly allowance.
Weaning advice: the NHS notes that liver is a good source of iron but is high in vitamin A, so it should be given in moderation to babies and young children.
Easy liver recipe (6 months)
Liver and vegetable puree for baby
Makes 3 baby portions, about once a weekIngredients
- 30 g liver, trimmed
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 small potato, diced
- Water or unsalted stock
Method
- Simmer the carrot and potato until soft, adding the liver for the last few minutes until it is fully cooked with no pink.
- Blend to a smooth puree, adding liquid to loosen it.
- Cool before serving, and remember to keep liver to about once a week.
Liver FAQ
When can babies eat liver?
Babies can have liver from around 6 months. It is one of the richest iron foods there is. The catch is that it is very high in vitamin A, so serve it in small amounts and no more than about once a week.
Why limit liver for babies?
Liver is extremely high in vitamin A, and too much vitamin A over time can be harmful. Keeping liver to a small portion about once a week gives your baby the iron benefit without overdoing the vitamin A.
How do you cook liver for a baby?
Cook it thoroughly until there is no pink, then blend it into a smooth puree with vegetables. Its strong flavour mixes well with sweet vegetables like carrot, which softens the taste.
Is liver good for babies?
In small, occasional amounts, yes. Liver is one of the best sources of iron and vitamin B12, both important from 6 months. It is the vitamin A that means you serve it in moderation rather than often.
Sources
- Liver (food), Wikipedia.
- FoodData Central, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Weaning and feeding, National Health Service (UK).
This article is general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. Talk to your doctor, health visitor or paediatrician about your own baby, and about starting solids or any allergy concerns.
