Learn how to cook the perfect oatmeal for a baby. It’s easy, fast, and customizable! Serve as is or as a finger food, baby-led weaning style.

Baby Oatmeal

A common misconception is that you must purchase packaged baby oatmeal to serve babies, which can be costly and unnecessary.

You can safely prepare delicious oatmeal at home using any type of oats. While packaged baby oatmeal is often fortified with iron, it is naturally present in all varieties of oats. You can also easily incorporate other iron-rich foods into your homemade oatmeal.

When can babies eat oatmeal?

This nutritious whole grain can be offered to babies as soon as they’re ready to start solids, usually around 6 months. It’s important to remember that your baby is unique and that rather than going by the calendar, you need to make sure your baby is DEVELOPMENTALLY ready to start solids.

Health Benefits

Oatmeal is a wonderful first food as it is easy to digest and loaded with so many nutrients that babies need to grow and thrive, including iron, zinc, fiber, and calcium.

Variety is the name of the game when it comes to increasing food acceptance and minimizing picky eating down the road. And oatmeal is SO versatile! You can mix in eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, yogurt, cheese…endless possibilities!

Baby oat cereal is ground oats, which are easy to make at home with the oats you already have on hand.

You also don’t have to start with serving only baby cereal or ultra-smooth purees, unless that’s what you feel most comfortable doing.

If you’ve decided to take the baby-led weaning or combination feeding approach, you can serve thicker oatmeal from the start as long as the oats are well-cooked and soft.

For 6-8-month-old babies, quick-cooking or old-fashioned rolled oats are best.

Steel-cut oats are quite chewy in texture so they’re best to serve to older babies (10+ months).

Ingredients

• Oats – I prefer old-fashioned rolled oats as they’re the most versatile and have the perfect texture, not too mushy or firm.

• Milk – can use breastmilk, formula, cow’s milk, or non-dairy alternatives. While milk shouldn’t be given as a drink until around 12 months of age, it is fine to add to recipes. Dairy is one of the most common allergens, so take caution when introducing it for the very first time.

• Chia seeds –Chia seeds may be tiny but they sure do pack a nutritional punch!

• Egg(optional) – It not only makes the oatmeal creamy and fluffy, but it will also provide your baby with iron and protein! If using, be sure to whisk it well before mixing it in with other ingredients.

• Optional Toppings/Add-ins:

  • Vegetables – feel free to add in whatever you have on hand!

  • Peanut butter or nut/seed butter if there’s an allergy

  • Fruits – mashed banana, fruit puree, unsweetened applesauce, etc.

• Spices – Such an easy way to expose your baby to more FLAVOR!!

How to Cook Oatmeal for Babies

Quick Oats – 6+ Months

1. Heat 1 cup of milk on the stove and once it simmers, add 1/2 cup of oats. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 2-3 minutes.

2. Optional: Add in whisked egg, stirring vigorously, until light and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes).

3. Add in the extra ingredients (I’ve included suggestions below but feel free to add whatever you wish! Pictured: sweet potatoes). Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let it sit for another 3 minutes or so until fluffy. Thin out with additional liquid as needed.

Rolled Oats – 6+ Months

1. Heat 1 cup of milk on the stove and once it simmers, pour in 1/2 cup of oats. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 5-7 minutes.

2. Optional: Add in whisked egg, stirring vigorously, until light and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes).

3. Add in the extra ingredients. Thin out with additional liquid as needed.

Steel Cut Oats – 10+ Months

1. Heat 1 1/2 cup of milk on the stove and once it simmers, pour in 1/2 cup of oats.

2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Be sure to scrape the bottom to prevent the oats from sticking.

3. Optional: Add in whisked egg, stirring vigorously, until light and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes).

4. Add in the extra ingredients. Thin out with additional liquid as needed.

Cooking oatmeal with breastmilk

Heat does affect the quality and nutrient profile of breast milk. Research shows that it can break down various enzymes that aid in digestion and boost the immune system.

However, breast milk still provides incredible nutritional value. So if you have extra milk, you can certainly use it to cook with. But if you’re able to stir it into food once it’s cooked and cooled, it’s even better.

Tips for Success

• Normally, the oatmeal-to-liquid ratio is 1:2, which you can use if you desire a looser consistency. However, if you want to shape it into porridge fingers or balls, I recommend adding slightly less milk. You can always add more liquid at the end to achieve the desired consistency.

• If adding eggs – Be sure to whisk the egg before adding it in. Once you pour the egg into the oatmeal, mix in the egg VIGOROUSLY. Otherwise, it will cook unevenly and you’ll end up with scrambled eggs. Not the end of the world, but just something to be aware of.

• Refrigerating oatmeal for at least 30 minutes will make it easier to shape into fingers or balls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between homemade oatmeal vs. Store-bought infant cereals?

Once you try making oatmeal at home, I have a feeling you will never look back. It’s super simple to make and much cheaper.

Packaged cereals are oftentimes fortified with iron, which does give them a leg up, but you can easily add toppings to the homemade version, as you see here, to make sure your baby gets that essential nutrient. 

But of course, when we’re sleep-deprived and spread so thin, taking shortcuts may just be what the doctor ordered. And that’s fine! Remember to always take care of yourself!

What is the difference between baby oatmeal vs. rice cereal?

First, you don’t have to start with rice cereal. And if your pediatrician tells you that you need to, it is outdated advice.

Oats are going to be the better choice than rice as they contain a much smaller amount of heavy metals. This is not to say that you shouldn’t offer rice to your baby ever, but you want to make sure to incorporate variety and avoid serving it every day.

How much should my baby eat?

I never like to provide specific numbers as every baby is different and it’s so important to follow their lead. Start with a small amount so that it’s not too overwhelming for your baby, and offer more if they seem interested!

What’s the best way to store leftovers?

Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.

When ready to eat, microwave or take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. It will firm up so you can stir in water or milk (a great time to add breastmilk/formula) to thin it out a bit.

Serving Suggestions

You can prepare oatmeal for your baby the same way you would for yourself, so don’t hold back ;). You just have to be mindful of modifying the size and texture of add-ins according to your child’s eating skills.

6-8 Month Baby

If you are starting solids and introducing oatmeal for the very first time. Keep it pretty simple with just a couple of toppings of choice. Leave out the egg until you’ve tested separately for any allergic reactions as it is one of the top 9 common allergens.

If you’re desiring a more pudding-like consistency, make oatmeal the way you’d eat it and then simply blend. Voila! Oat porridge.

Offer a spoon but chances are your baby will just dive in with their hands and that’s ok! Resist the urge to interfere and continuously wipe them. Messy eating is an important part of learning to self-feed.

Alternatively, you can shape it into balls or fingers to make the oatmeal easier to eat.

Be sure to pair with a source of vitamin C to baby oatmeal to help absorb the iron in oats.

9+ months old

Continue offering the spoon without any expectation that your baby will use it. With continuous exposure and opportunities to practice, things will start to click!

Start experimenting with more toppings and textures. Again, variety is the name of the game!

4 Baby Oatmeal Recipes

1. Sweet Potato

You can use any variety of sweet potatoes. My son’s favorite food when he was a baby was purple sweet potatoes so they have a special place in my heart. Compared to the White ones, they are starchier but not as sweet.

I highly recommend you give them a try! Isn’t the color so gorgeous?! Simply cook and mash with a fork before combining with the rest of the ingredients.

2. Zucchini and bell pepper

You truly can use whatever vegetables you have on hand for this one! You can add finely chopped cooked or finely grated raw vegetables.

3. broccoli

Broccoli + lemon. Remember this combination!! SOO good!

4. Beetroot curry

Beets + spinach + coconut milk. Yup. It’s as good as it sounds!