Drinks & extras Food Library
When can babies have bone broth?
Can babies have bone broth?
Babies can have bone broth from about 6 months, as long as it is unsalted or very low in sodium. Use bone broth to cook grains and vegetables or to thin purees, and offer small sips from an open cup. Bone broth is not a meal replacement and should not take the place of breast milk or formula.
How to serve bone broth by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Use homemade unsalted bone broth to cook vegetables, lentils or rice and blend them into smooth purees, or stir a spoonful into a puree to thin it. You can offer a few small sips of lukewarm broth from an open cup, held by you, as part of a meal.
7–8 months
Cook small pasta, rice, lentils or vegetables in unsalted bone broth and mash them with a fork for a thicker, lumpier texture, or stir finely shredded meat into a thick broth-based mash. Small sips from an open cup are still fine with meals.
9–12 months
Serve bone broth in soups with soft pieces of cooked vegetables, shredded meat and small pasta, or let your baby dip toast strips into a little cooled broth. Keep using unsalted or low-sodium broth.
12 months +
Toddlers can have bone broth in family soups, stews and risottos, or as a warm drink from a cup. Store-bought low-sodium broth is fine, though it is still best to use it as part of a meal rather than all day.
Why it’s good
Bone broth adds flavor and some protein, collagen, and a small amount of minerals to a baby's meals, and it helps with hydration. Bone broth is not a strong source of iron, calcium or most vitamins, so it works best as a tasty way to cook iron-rich foods like lentils and meat. Its savory taste can help babies accept vegetables and grains.
Safety notes
- Most store-bought broth is very high in sodium. Make it at home without salt, or buy broth labeled unsalted or no-salt-added, and avoid bouillon cubes and powders for babies.
- Cool bone broth until it is lukewarm before serving. Hot liquid can burn a baby's mouth, and microwaved broth can have hot spots, so stir and test it first.
- Strain homemade broth well through a fine sieve to remove all small bone fragments.
- Cool homemade broth quickly, refrigerate it within 2 hours, and use it within 3 to 4 days. Freeze small portions in ice cube trays for up to 3 months.
- Broth should not replace breast milk, formula or meals. Filling up on broth leaves less room for the nutrients babies need.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Bone broth itself is not a common allergen, but store-bought broths can contain soy, wheat, celery or fish, so read the label. Fish bone broth counts as a fish allergen, so introduce it as you would fish and watch for hives, swelling or vomiting.
Bone broth for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about bone broth for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have bone broth?
Babies can have bone broth from about 6 months, when they start solids. Bone broth should be unsalted or very low in sodium and used in food or offered in small sips.
Can babies drink bone broth?
Bone broth is best used as a cooking liquid or stirred into food for babies under 12 months. Breast milk or formula, plus small sips of water, are the drinks. For a sick baby, keep up breast milk or formula and ask your pediatrician about an oral rehydration solution. Bone broth should not replace breast milk or formula, which stay the main drink in the first year.
Is bone broth a choking hazard for babies?
Bone broth is a low choking risk for babies because it is a liquid. Strain homemade bone broth to remove bone fragments, and cut any vegetables or meat in the soup to a safe size and softness.
Is bone broth a common allergen?
Bone broth is not a common allergen on its own. Some store-bought bone broths include soy, wheat or other allergens, and fish bone broth counts as a fish allergen, so check the label.
How do I serve bone broth to a 6 month old?
To serve bone broth to a 6 month old, use unsalted homemade broth to cook grains or vegetables, or stir it into purees to thin them. You can also offer a few sips of lukewarm bone broth from an open cup that you hold.
How do I make bone broth for my baby?
To make bone broth for a baby, simmer chicken or beef bones with water, a splash of vinegar and some vegetables like carrot and onion for several hours, with no salt. Strain the bone broth well, cool it quickly and refrigerate or freeze it.
Is store-bought bone broth OK for babies?
Store-bought bone broth is OK for babies only if it is labeled unsalted or no-salt-added. Regular bone broth and bouillon often have far more sodium than a baby should have.
Can I give my baby bone broth when they are sick?
Warm, unsalted bone broth can be a comforting way to keep a sick baby hydrated alongside breast milk or formula. Call your pediatrician if your baby has fewer wet diapers, vomits repeatedly or is not drinking well.
Is bone broth healthier than regular broth for babies?
Bone broth has a little more protein and collagen than regular stock, but it is not a superfood for babies. Any homemade, unsalted broth is a good way to add flavor and moisture to baby food.
Is bone broth good for babies?
Bone broth can be a good addition for babies from about 6 months if it is unsalted or very low in sodium. It adds flavor, some protein and fluids, but little iron or calcium, and it does not replace breast milk or formula. Use it to cook lentils, grains and vegetables.
Is bone broth good for toddlers?
Yes, bone broth is fine for toddlers over 12 months in soups, stews and risottos, or as a warm drink from a cup. It works best as part of a meal with iron-rich foods like meat or lentils. Choose low-sodium or unsalted broth, since most store-bought broth is very salty.
The takeaway
- Babies can have bone broth from about 6 months, as long as it is unsalted or very low in sodium.
- Use homemade unsalted bone broth to cook vegetables, lentils or rice and blend them into smooth purees, or stir a spoonful into a puree to thin it.
- Choking risk is low. Not a Top 9 allergen, but offer a small amount first and watch for any reaction.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Recommended Drinks for Young Children Ages 0-5 American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.