Oh baby, baby! This nutritious Baby Oatmeal is a great meal for your little one.
While babies often start on solid food like mashed banana or pureed vegetables, it’s a great idea to gradually introduce cereal so they get used to different textures and tastes. While pre-packaged baby cereal is certainly available and easy to prepare, it’s just as easy to make your own and you know exactly what your little one is getting!
Oatmeal is a great source of fiber, natural sugars, and essential vitamins for your babe’s development. It is high in iron, which is a rockstar mineral for brain growth, motor skills, and language development. All good things for this stage of life! And oatmeal is naturally low in sodium, which is a plus as well.
The best part of Baby Oatmeal is how you can customize it to your little one’s liking. Starting with the consistency, you can make it as thin or creamy as they like it. Start out on the thin side for easy ingestion. Flavor variations abound – adding fresh fruit (age-appropriate and in a non-chokable form, of course!) is an easy option. A dash of cinnamon or a little coconut oil are others. Experiment and see what your baby likes (or indicates is a definite no-go!).
Adding an Egg for Protein
As mentioned in the ingredients and instructions, as long as your baby is not allergic to eggs, blending in an egg is a nice option to give Baby Oatmeal a protein boost. So what’s the deal with babies and eggs? It’s simply when the child’s system mistakes the protein in egg as something harmful, so the body reacts, with hives, swelling, or other symptoms. Allergy to egg is one of the most common childhood food allergies, but the good news is it’s also one that most children outgrow over time. Always check with your pediatrician first on when and how to introduce egg in your baby’s diet. As long as you’ve gotten the all-clear, using egg in a recipe like Baby Oatmeal is a great option.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (50g) rolled oats
- 1 cup milk of choice e.g., breastmilk/formula, full-fat coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional, but highly recommended)
- 1 medium egg well whisked (optional, can leave out if there’s an allergy)
How to Make Baby Oatmeal
Step 1: Start by measuring out 1/2 cup of rolled oats.
Step 2: Select 1 cup of the milk that suits your baby’s dietary needs.
Step 3: If using, measure 1 teaspoon of chia, flax, or hemp seeds.
Step 4: If including, whisk one medium egg until well combined.
Step 5: In a small pot over medium heat, combine the oats and milk. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it starts to thicken.
Step 6: Stir in the chia seeds (optional) and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, or until the oatmeal reaches the desired consistency.
Step 7: If using the egg, slowly pour it into the oatmeal while stirring constantly. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to ensure the egg is fully cooked.
Step 8: Remove the pot from heat and let the oatmeal cool to a safe temperature before serving to your baby.
FAQs & Tips
Make ahead options abound for Baby Oatmeal, which is great news for a busy parent! If you want to make several portions ahead, just complete through Step 7, and let the mixture cool. Once cool, cover and store in the refrigerator, but be sure to stir after a few hours so the chia seeds don’t totally sink. One great idea for storing small portions is to pour the cooled oatmeal mixture into ice cube trays so you have baby-sized portions you can thaw out when you want them. Any make-ahead portions or leftover portions can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. When getting ready to serve, you may need to thin the mixture with a little additional water or whatever milk you used in the original recipe.
If you want to add something like cinnamon or coconut oil, add at the end, either when incorporating the egg or just before Step 7 if not using the egg. For adding fresh fruit or mashed banana, let the mixture cool a bit and then add it.
As an alternative to eating the oatmeal out of a bowl with a spoon, you can form the oatmeal into balls (determine the safest size to avoid any choking hazards) or even little “oatmeal fingers.” Some babies prefer this “delivery method” and can totally feed themselves, which is a nice bonus.
As always, double check with your pediatrician, but generally, parents wait until around the child’s first birthday to introduce cow’s milk. Until then, breast milk or formula is best. In this Baby Oatmeal recipe, using whatever milk source your baby is already familiar with will make it an easy-to-digest meal for them.
Serving Suggestions
When baby is ready to eat, depending on their age and preference, either offer them a spoonful at a time or let them dig in and feed themselves! For variation, offer something alongside of the oatmeal that you know your baby already likes. Mashed or pureed fruits or veggies are great options. The great part is that while we adults think of oatmeal as a breakfast food, babies don’t know that! Try it for a meal or hearty snack any time of day.
Homemade Baby Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (50g) rolled oats
- 1 cup milk of choice e.g., breastmilk/formula, full-fat coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional, but highly recommended)
- 1 medium egg well whisked (optional, can leave out if there’s an allergy)
Instructions
- Start by measuring out 1/2 cup of rolled oats.
- Select 1 cup of the milk that suits your baby's dietary needs.
- If using, measure 1 teaspoon of chia, flax, or hemp seeds.
- If including, whisk one medium egg until well combined.
- In a small pot over medium heat, combine the oats and milk. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to thicken.
- Stir in the chia seeds (optional) and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, or until the oatmeal reaches the desired consistency.
- If using the egg, slowly pour it into the oatmeal while stirring constantly. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to ensure the egg is fully cooked.
- Remove the pot from heat and let the oatmeal cool to a safe temperature before serving to your baby.
Nutrition
