Top 10 Oatmeal Recipes For Babies: Feeding Oatmeal At Different Ages And Stages

How to serve oatmeal to your baby or toddler? It’s all about adding texture as your little one grows. We’ve gathered 10 oatmeal recipes for babies and toddlers – learn how to choose the right one for your little one’s age and eating skills.

Oatmeal is a powerhouse first food for your little one. It's high in iron, so it’s ideal for keeping your baby's brain healthy. And the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fibers, carbohydrates, and healthy fats make it even more nutritious.

Plus, you can start feeding baby oatmeal as soon as they’re ready for solids.

Even better? You can easily adapt oatmeal to introduce baby to different flavors and textures. After all, it’s an awesome vehicle for other healthy foods.

Add fruits, yogurt, and even veggies – it’s like a blank canvas, ready for you to create a nutritious masterpiece. And you can change the textures of the oatmeal and mix-ins as baby becomes a more confident eater.

Today, we’ll cover the basic ways to serve baby oatmeal as your little one grows, and different recipes to inspire you at each age and stage.

Baby Oatmeal Ages And Stages: The Basics

How to serve baby the right oatmeal for their needs? It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Start with thinner oatmeal when baby first starts solids.

• This could be baby oatmeal, a blended oat smoothie, or blended overnight oats.
• These options are smoother and thinner than standard oatmeal, because they’re blended finely.
• You can buy prepared baby oatmeal.
• You can also make your own by finely blending rolled oats or steel-cut oats.
• Mix in pureed fruits or vegetables, blend the oatmeal with yogurt, or both.
• Once baby masters the thinnest puree, make the mixed puree thicker and slightly chunky.

2. Add more texture as baby gets used to solids.

• First, add mashed fresh fruit pieces to baby oatmeal, to introduce a slightly chunky texture.
• Then, switch to regular oatmeal (rolled or steel-cut oats that aren’t blended).
• Regular oatmeal is thicker and rougher in texture than baby oatmeal.
• When you switch to regular oatmeal, you can also serve it as unblended overnight oats.
• After baby masters the mashed fruits, serve regular oatmeal with diced fruit or vegetable pieces.

3. For older babies or baby-led weaning, serve oatmeal that baby can pick up and self-feed.

• This could be in the form of clumped thick oatmeal pieces, oatmeal fingers, or baked oatmeal.

When to feed each type of oatmeal to your baby?

Use this guide to decide when to feed each type of oatmeal to your baby. You can mix and match the types of oatmeal we’ve listed at each age and stage if baby is ready to explore that type of texture.

For babies 4-6 months old and just starting pureed solids:

Matches up with “Stage 1 baby food”

• Baby oatmeal by itself
• Baby oatmeal with thinner fruit/veggie purees
• Baby oatmeal with fruit, blended in the style of a thin smoothie
• Baby overnight oats (fully blended like a smoothie)

For babies around 6-8 months old who have mastered smoother purees:

Matches up with “Stage 2 baby food”

• Baby oatmeal with thicker fruit/veggie purees
• Baby oatmeal with mashed fruit

For babies around 6-8 months old who have mastered the above baby oatmeal options:

In between “Stage 2 baby food” and “Stage 3 baby food”

• Overnight oats (unblended) with thicker purees
• Overnight oats (unblended) with mashed fruit
• Regular oatmeal with mashed fruit or soft mashed veggies

For babies 8-12 months old who are moving to chunkier foods:

Matches up with “Stage 3 baby food”

• Regular oatmeal with soft, diced fruit pieces mixed in
• Regular oatmeal with soft, diced vegetable pieces mixed in
• Overnight oats (unblended) with soft, diced fruit or veggie pieces mixed in

For babies 8-12 months old and ready for finger foods, or any babies doing baby-led weaning:

• Clumped standard oatmeal pieces that are thick enough to pick up
• Oatmeal fingers
• Baked oatmeal

For toddlers 1-2 years old:

• Move to adding bigger pieces of chopped fruits or vegetables into regular oatmeal (or into overnight oats).
• Feel free to place chopped fruits or veggies on top of the oatmeal, as well as mixing them in.
• You can also serve baked oatmeal or oatmeal fingers to toddlers.

Baby Oatmeal Recipes: 4-6 Months Old

These recipes focus on the smoothest textures.

Baby Oatmeal With Puree

Ingredients:

• Oats of your choice, to finely blend
• Water
• Breastmilk or formula (as needed to thin the baby oatmeal)
• Fruit or veggie puree of your choice

Instructions:

1. Make homemade baby oatmeal with finely blended oats. Try one of these baby oatmeal bases:

• Baby Foode
• Yummy Toddler Food

2. Put ¼ cup of the prepared baby oatmeal in your little one's bowl.

3. Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of your chosen fruit or veggie puree.

4. Serve.

Blended Berry Overnight Oats

Inspired by a recipe from Healthy Little Foodies

Ingredients:

• ½ cup blueberries
• ½ cup raspberries
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• ¾ cup milk

Instructions:

1. Pour all the ingredients into a food processor or blender.
2. Blitz or puree until the mixture is very smooth.
3. Pour into a container and cover.
4. Refrigerate overnight.
5. Serve.

Mango Oat Smoothie

Inspired by a recipe from Kidspot

Ingredients:

• 1 mango
• 1 cup fruit of your choice: try peach pieces, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, banana, or mixed berries
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds, if desired

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Serve!

Baby Oatmeal Recipes: 6-12 Months Old

These recipes involve regular (unblended) oatmeal and overnight oats. How you mix in the other ingredients will depend on the textures your baby is ready for. We’ve included options for 6-8 month olds and 8-12 month olds.

Overnight Oats

Inspired by a recipe from MJ and Hungryman

Ingredients:

For each serving:

• ⅓ cup uncooked rolled oats
• ⅓ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt with no added sugar
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• Add-ins (see below)

Instructions:

• In a glass jar, stir together all the ingredients except the add-ins.
• Refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours).
• Once it’s ready, pour into a bowl for baby.
• Mix in your desired add-ins and serve.

Add-in ideas for 6-8 month olds:

• Mashed raspberries
• Mashed blueberries
• Mashed peaches
• Mashed mango
• Mashed butternut squash
• Mashed sweet potatoes
• Mashed avocado

Add-in ideas for 8-12 month olds:

• Diced peaches
• Diced berries
• Diced mango
• Diced butternut squash
• Diced sweet potatoes
• Diced avocado

Strawberry Chia Oatmeal Base

Inspired by a recipe from Baby Foode

Ingredients:

• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 cup oats
• 2 cups strawberries, hulled
• 1/2 tbsp chia seeds + added pinch of chia seeds for garnish
• Add-ins (see below)

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
2. Add the oats
3. Lower the heat to a simmer.
4. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the oats are cooked and the water is gone.
5. Set the oatmeal aside.
6. Cut the tops off the strawberries.
7. Pour the strawberries into a different saucepan, over medium-low heat.
8. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the berry pan.
9. Let the berries simmer for 5 minutes. Stir as needed.
10. Move the berries to a food processor. Add the chia seeds to the processor as well.
11. Puree the berries with the chia seeds in 5-second increments, until you've reached the desired texture.
12. Mix the oatmeal with the strawberry-chia seed blend, plus added chia seeds.
13. Mix in your other desired add-ins.
14. Serve.

Add-in ideas for 6-8 month olds:

• Mashed kiwi
• Mashed raspberries
• Mashed blueberries
• Mashed mango
• Mashed peaches
• Mashed banana

Add-in ideas for 8-12 month olds:

• Diced kiwi
• Diced raspberries
• Halved blueberries
• Diced mango
• Diced peaches
• Diced banana
• Diced cooked apples

Blueberry Oatmeal Base

Inspired by a recipe from Creative Nourish

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup oats
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons blueberries
• Add-ins (see below)

Instructions:

1. Pour the oats and water into a pot.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Then, turn down the heat to low or medium.
4. Mash the blueberries.
5. With about 3 minutes left in the cook, pour the blueberries into the pot.
6. Cook until the oats absorb the water.
7. Let cool for 5 minutes.
8. Mix in the add-ins.
9. Serve.

Add-in ideas for 6-8 month olds:

• Mashed kiwi
• Mashed raspberries
• Mashed strawberries
• Mashed mango
• Mashed peaches
• Mashed banana
• Mashed avocado
• Mashed sweet potato

Add-in ideas for 8-12 month olds:

• Diced kiwi
• Diced raspberries
• Diced strawberries
• Diced mango
• Diced peaches
• Diced banana
• Diced avocado
• Diced sweet potatoes
• Diced cooked apples

Feel The Beet Oatmeal Base

Inspired by a recipe from Baby Foode

Ingredients:

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 red beet, peeled and shredded
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• Add-ins (see below)

Instructions:

1. Pour water into a medium saucepan, and bring the water to a boil over medium heat.
2. Add in all other ingredients and stir.
3. Bring back to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Cover.
4. Cook for 10 minutes or until the water evaporates. Stir as needed.
5. Let cool.
6. Mix in desired add-ins.
7. Serve.

Add-in ideas for 6-8 month olds:

• Mashed butternut squash
• Mashed sweet potato
• Mashed avocado

Add-in ideas for 8-12 month olds:

• Diced butternut squash pieces
• Diced sweet potato pieces
• Diced avocado pieces
• Shredded cooked carrots
• Chopped strawberries

Easy Rainbow Oatmeal

Inspired by a recipe from RACHLmansfield

Ingredients:

• 2 cups quick rolled oats
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups milk
• Sprinkle of cinnamon
• Rainbow add-ins

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, add the water and milk and bring to a boil.
2. Add in the oats.
3. Cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and let the oats sit.
5. Stir in the cinnamon.
6. Add to baby’s bowl.
7. Add in bits of fruit and/or veggies so several colors are involved. See the combo ideas below for examples.
8. Serve

Add-in combo ideas for 6-8 month olds:

• Mashed raspberries, peaches, and blueberries
• Mashed strawberries, kiwi, and mango
• Mashed strawberries, bananas, and blueberries
• Mashed blueberries, mango, and avocado
• Mashed butternut squash, avocado, and beets

Add-in combo ideas for 8-12 month olds:

• Diced raspberries, peach, and blueberries
• Diced strawberries, kiwi, and mango
• Diced blueberries, mango, and avocado
• Diced blueberries, kiwi, and cooked apples
• Diced sweet potato, red peppers, and avocado

Baby Oatmeal Recipes For Baby-Led Weaning

These firmer oatmeal options are easy for BLW babies to pick up and manage.

Baked Oatmeal Cups

Inspired by a recipe from Healthy Little Foodies.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 egg
• 2 mashed ripe bananas
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 ¼ cup diced fruit of choice
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil, to grease the muffin tins

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix the mashed bananas and oats in a large bowl, until combined.
3. Add in the egg and milk and stir until combined.
4. Add the fruit and stir so it’s evenly spread throughout the mix.
5. Grease the muffin tin, then pour in the mixture.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cut into pieces for baby to pick up.
8. Serve.

Oatmeal Fingers Three Ways

Inspired by a recipe from Healthy Little Foodies

Ingredients:

Base recipe:

• 3 tablespoons rolled or quick oats
• 2 tablespoons milk

Choose your add-ins:

• 1 ½ tablespoons mashed berries of choice and 1 teaspoon unsweetened desiccated coconut
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce, 1 tablespoon grated apple, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce, 1 tablespoon grated carrots, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch of ginger, and a pinch of nutmeg

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients (except coconut if using).
2. Let the ingredients soak for a few minutes, or until mushy. Then, stir in the coconut if using.
3. Using the back of a spoon, press the mixture into the bottom of a small, flat, microwave-safe dish.
4. Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
5. Cut into fingers while hot.
6. Let cool and serve.

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