I know bone broth sounds like a strange choice for feeding your baby, but it’s actually one of the most nutritious foods there is. It is not at all the same as store-bought chicken broth, which is usually watery and not nearly as nutrient dense.

Bone broth is also wonderful for digestion, helps strengthen the digestive tract– helping it prepare for more foods–and can even help reduce the likelihood of food allergies. It’s generally considered safe to introduce bone broth at around 3-4 months of age and is especially great to give your baby during the winter months, since it can help boost the immune system.

As the bones cook, the minerals and nutrients leach from the bones and into the water making is a very nutrient dense food. Homemade broth is full of minerals, gelatin and glycosaminoglycans, which help in the development of healthy bones, hair, nails and joints. So much nutrition is drawn out of the bones that by the end of cooking, the bones typically fall apart when touched.

Making the broth is simple: all you need are some chicken or beef bones and water.

Here’s a simple recipe I use to make it using a slow cooker. It’s easy to make a large amount of broth and then freeze whatever you wont need in the next few days. Using an ice cube tray will help you freeze individual portions you can use for baby. Freezing flat in a Ziploc bag allows you to freeze larger portions you can use for make soup. There are several different ways to add this important food to your baby’s diet. You can simply offer it on a spoon, cup or use it to cut homemade baby food such as pureed meats or vegetables.

Your baby isn’t the only one who can benefit from bone broth. The high gelatin and collagen content can make your hair and nails grow stronger. Its important nutrients are wonderful for nourishing the adrenal glands, making it a healing food for postpartum moms as well.

Jacqueline Banks is a certified Holistic Health Counselor focused on nutrition and green living strategies. She works with women in all stages of motherhood, from mothers struggling with conception, through pregnancy, lactation and beyond to ensure the best health and nutrition for both mother and baby.