Protein Food Library
When can babies have hare?
Can babies have hare?
Babies can have hare from about 6 months when it is cooked until very tender, deboned and shredded or minced. Hare is a lean, dark game meat that is rich in iron. If the hare was hunted, check carefully for shot pellets and bone fragments.
How to serve hare by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Slow-cook or braise hare until it falls apart, remove every bone, then blend the meat with some of the cooking liquid and smooth potato or vegetable puree. Keep it moist and serve it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Shred braised hare finely or mince it and stir it into lumpier mashed potato or lentils so it stays moist. You can also shape minced hare into soft meatballs or patties about the size of two adult fingers that fall apart easily.
9–12 months
Offer small, tender shreds of braised hare for pincer practice, or mix minced hare into pasta sauce, risotto or soft meatballs.
12 months +
Toddlers can have hare stew, ragu and meatballs. Keep the meat moist and shredded or in thin strips, and avoid chunks until your child chews well.
Why it’s good
Hare is rich in protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12, which babies need more of from 6 months as their iron stores drop. The iron in meat is easy for the body to absorb. Hare is very lean, so cook it with a little oil or serve it with fats like avocado or butter.
Safety notes
- Hare is lean and can turn dry and stringy, which makes it hard to swallow. Braise or slow-cook it until very tender, and shred it into moist dishes.
- Remove all bones. Hare has many small bones that can splinter.
- Hunted hare can contain lead shot or fragments. Cut away meat around the wound and check carefully, or choose farmed hare from a butcher.
- Cook hare thoroughly to at least 160 F (71 C). Wear gloves when handling raw wild hare, since wild rabbits and hares can carry tularemia and other infections.
- Season with herbs rather than salt, and skip salty marinades and stock cubes.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Hare is not a common allergen. Rarely, people with alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy linked to tick bites, react to mammal meat, so watch for hives, vomiting or swelling, which can appear several hours after eating.
Hare for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about hare for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have hare?
Babies can eat hare from about 6 months when it is slow-cooked until very tender, deboned and finely shredded or minced. Hare is a good early meat because it is rich in iron.
Can babies have hare?
Yes, babies can eat hare as long as it is fully cooked, moist and free of bones. Hare can be served shredded, in soft meatballs or mixed into stews.
Is hare a choking hazard for babies?
Yes, hare can be a choking hazard because it is lean and can be dry and stringy, and it has small bones. Cook hare until very tender, remove every bone and serve it shredded or minced.
Is hare a common allergen?
No, hare is not a common allergen. A rare meat allergy called alpha-gal syndrome can cause reactions to mammal meats like hare, often hours after eating.
How do I serve hare to a 6 month old?
To serve hare to a 6 month old, braise it until it falls apart, remove the bones, and blend it smooth with cooking liquid and mashed vegetables. Offer it on a spoon. Fine shreds and soft hare meatballs can follow at 7–8 months.
Can babies have wild hare?
Babies can eat wild hare if it was handled safely, cooked thoroughly and checked for lead shot and bone fragments. Farmed hare from a butcher avoids the lead risk.
Is hare the same as rabbit for babies?
Hare and rabbit are related, but hare has darker, stronger-tasting meat and slightly more iron. Both can be served to babies the same way, slow-cooked and shredded.
Can hare help babies poop?
Hare contains no fiber, so it will not help with constipation on its own. Serve hare with vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains to keep your baby's stools soft.
The takeaway
- Babies can have hare from about 6 months when it is cooked until very tender, deboned and shredded or minced.
- Slow-cook or braise hare until it falls apart, remove every bone, then blend the meat with some of the cooking liquid and smooth potato or vegetable puree.
- Choking risk is medium. 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
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Iron 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.