Bone Broth for Kids: A Simple Parent's Guide
From the team at Awaken Wellness (formerly Best Bones Broth). This brand started because of a parent's worry about their own child's health, so this one's close to home.
The short answer
Yes, kids can have bone broth, and it's one of the easiest ways to slip a bit of extra nourishment into a fussy or unwell child's day. A scoop of chicken broth powder stirred into food they already eat does the job without a fight.
Chicken's clean, fresh, natural chicken flavour blends naturally into the soups and savoury meals kids already eat, which makes it the easy one to add. If you'd rather it be completely undetectable, our beef powder is even milder, almost tasteless, so it hides in non-savoury foods too. As always with little ones, use your own judgement and check with your doctor or Plunket nurse if you have any concerns, especially for babies.
Why parents reach for it
Bone broth is a whole food, not a supplement. It's naturally rich in protein, collagen and the amino acids glycine and glutamine, which are traditionally valued for supporting the gut and digestion. For a parent, the appeal is simple: it's real food that's easy to get into a child who isn't eating much.
The two moments it tends to come out are:
- Sick days, when appetite drops and you want something warm and nourishing that's easy to keep down.
- Fussy eating, when a scoop stirred into a familiar meal adds nutrition without a battle over a new food.
It's not a cure for anything, and it's not a replacement for a balanced diet. Think of it as a helpful, easy addition to food they already have.
The easy ways to use it
Powder makes this genuinely simple. A small scoop dissolves into just about anything savoury:
- Stir into soups, pasta sauce, gravy or mashed potato
- Mix into mince dishes, risotto or scrambled eggs
- Add to the water when cooking rice, pasta or veggies
- For older kids, a small warm mug on a cold or sick day
Start with a small amount and adjust to taste. Stirred into savoury food the flavour blends in, so most kids won't make a fuss.
What to look for (and avoid) on the label
Kids are exactly who you want a clean label for, so the same checks from our bone broth buyer's guide matter even more here:
- Watch the salt. Children need far less sodium than adults, so check the sodium per 100g and go easy. Some broths, especially pastes and concentrates, lean heavily on salt.
- Skip the fillers. Tapioca starch, maltodextrin and "natural flavour" add nothing your child needs. A quick tell is the carbohydrate per 100g: real bone broth is close to zero, so a high carb number means added starch.
- Look for real ingredients. Free-range or organic chicken, no added hormones, and collagen that comes from the broth itself rather than added in.
- Choose gently dried. Freeze-dried broth keeps more of the nutrition than high-heat, spray-dried powders.
A note on babies and toddlers
For babies starting solids, bone broth can be used in small amounts to cook or moisten food, but keep added salt very low and introduce new foods one at a time. Every child is different, so if you're unsure about age or amounts, have a quick chat with your doctor, Plunket nurse or a paediatric dietitian. For toddlers and older children, a scoop stirred into meals is an easy everyday option.
Frequently asked questions
Can babies have bone broth?
In small amounts, bone broth can be used to cook or moisten a baby's food once they've started solids, with very little or no added salt. Introduce it gradually like any new food, and check with your doctor or Plunket nurse if you're unsure.
Is bone broth good for kids?
It's a nourishing whole food, naturally rich in protein and collagen, and an easy way to add nutrition to meals, especially when a child is unwell or eating poorly. It's a helpful addition to a balanced diet, not a medicine.
How do I give bone broth to a fussy eater?
Hide it. Stir a small scoop of chicken broth powder into savoury foods they already like, such as pasta sauce, mashed potato, soup or mince. If you want it completely undetectable, our beef powder is almost tasteless and works in non-savoury foods too.
Which bone broth is best for children?
Chicken broth powder is a popular choice, because its clean, natural chicken flavour blends into soups and savoury meals. Beef powder is even milder, almost tasteless, so it hides in almost anything. Either way, look for a clean label with no fillers and a low sodium level, and ideally one that's freeze-dried.
How much bone broth can a child have?
Start small and let taste and appetite guide you. There's no need for large amounts, a scoop stirred through a meal is plenty. Keep an eye on total salt across the day, since kids need much less than adults.
The brand behind this guide started with one family's health journey, so the "scoop in the soup" trick is one we know well. For the full rundown on choosing a good broth, read our Bone Broth Buyer's Guide, or take a look at our mild, family-friendly Organic Chicken Bone Broth Powder.
Written by the team at Awaken Wellness (formerly Best Bones Broth), made in New Zealand with certified organic ingredients. Bone broth is a food, not a medicine. This is general information, not medical advice, so please check with a health professional about your own child.