Graphic for post - oatmeal for babies - 4+ months - stage one - homemade. Image is of a gray baby bowl filled with a smooth oatmeal puree for baby as well as a freezer tray filled with oatmeal cereal for the freezer.

Ditch the box! And try this easy Oatmeal for Babies recipe instead. Made with simple nutrient-dense ingredients in less than 10 minutes, it's perfect for your baby's first bite or added into their favorite fruit or veggie puree. I'll as well evidence y'all how to serve oatmeal every bit a finger food for baby-led weaning. There is nix this babe oatmeal won't do, and it tastes so much better than the shop-bought boxed version! Infant food for vi+ months – stage i infant nutrient!

graphic for post- oatmeal for babies - purees or baby-led weaning, image is of bowl with pureed oats with spoon resting on top,

Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Oatmeal for Babies

A smooth and flossy oat cereal for your babe doesn't have to come from a box!

This like shooting fish in a barrel oatmeal baby cereal is loaded with omega-three fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, poly peptide, calcium and manganese and takes simply 10 minutes to make!

That's right! In 10 minutes you can have a stash of freezer-friendly oatmeal for your baby.

Yes, information technology can exist that piece of cake!

Showtime time making homemade baby food? Then, I would advise that you beginning by reading my very in-depthGuide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food – which goes over all the important data such as the all-time cooking tools to have on mitt, condom storage, how to know when baby is set up for solids, how to introduce purees, the best outset foods for infant, and more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more than information and recipes!

Oatmeal for Babies Video

Watch this video to see how like shooting fish in a barrel this Oatmeal Cereal recipe for your baby actually is to make!

Reasons to Love this Baby Oatmeal

  • baby food for 4-6 months and upward
  • phase 1 babe food
  • tin also be served for baby-led weaning
  • i primary ingredient, plus 2 piece of cake add together-ins
  • upkeep-friendly – less than ii cents per ounce
  • like shooting fish in a barrel to make – less than 10 minutes
  • tin serve lonely or with baby's favorite puree
  • flossy and smooth
  • bootleg
  • freezer-friendly
  • salubrious – full of essential nutrients for a growing baby
  • easy to flavor – 6 great combos below
Ingredients for oatmeal for babies spread on a cutting board.

Ingredients

Make certain to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient listing and instructions!

  • Oats: are a peachy source of two different types of cobweb, which help go on your little ones' digestive tract going strong. Oats are also packed with antioxidants, manganese, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc, and vitamin B1. They as well help stabilize blood sugar likewise equally support babe's cardiovascular health.
  • Chia Seeds: are high in antioxidants, omega 3-fatty acids, fiber, and magnesium and are a skillful source of poly peptide and calcium. They are great for digestive health, building healthy and stiff bones as well as overall heart wellness. We are going to add in a big pinch to this recipe, but you lot can leave them out if you prefer.
  • Hemp Seeds: are a good source of protein and fiber and are also loftier in GLAs, manganese and vitamin E. Hemp seeds are keen for aiding digestive health and promoting a good for you heart. You tin can leave these out if you prefer or add in footing flax seeds instead.
Small white bowl filled with oatmeal for baby.

Health Benefits of this Oatmeal Recipe

This bootleg oatmeal cereal is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals for a growing infant.

  • packed with ii different types of fiber
  • bang-up source of omega-three fatty acids which are essential for brain, eyes and organ development
  • has antioxidants that are essential for eliminating the hazards of complimentary-radicals

Types of Oats

The just difference between the 3 main types of oats – steel-cut, rolled and instant, is how much the oat grout is candy. The result of this process is different textures of oats with varying cooking times.

  • Steel-Cut Oats:are the to the lowest degree processed of the oats, and they retain about the same amount of cobweb equally rolled or instant. Steel-cut oats are a great option if y'all are going to blend your oats into a smooth puree for baby. Since information technology is thicker and chewier oat, it is all-time to serve to babies 11 months and older if not blending.
  • Rolled or Old-Fashioned Oats: Too known as old-fashioned or whole oats, rolled oats are flat, pre-cooked and dried. While they accept a similar amount of fiber as steel-cut oats, they are more than versatile and take less time to melt. Rolled oats are extremely easy to blend into a polish puree, served cold every bit a finger food, and they can easily be served to toddlers.
  • Instant Oats: are the more processed of the iii oats and cook very apace. While you tin certainly use instant oats to make a babe cereal, since they tend to exist slightly lower in fiber, I recommend the other two oat varieties first.

Gluten-Free Oats: all oats are naturally gluten-costless, but they may exist processed on mechanism that as well processes wheat. If you are looking to introduce baby to gluten-complimentary oats, then make sure you look for a make that is labeled equally Gluten-Gratis. This is my favorite brand of Gluten-Free Oats.

How to Brand Baby Oatmeal

At that place are several dissimilar ways to cook oats depending on which blazon of oat you are using.

Old-Fashioned Oats

  1. Boil: bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
  2. Add Oats: add in 1 cup of one-time-fashioned oats along with a compression of chia seeds, hemp seeds and whatsoever spices you lot are using.
  3. Cook: turn down the estrus to medium-low and melt the oats for 5 minutes or until all of the water is gone and the oats are soft. Allow cool slightly.
  4. Blend: transfer the oats to a blender or food processor and puree for i-two minutes, adding h2o in i/4 loving cup increments if needed, until completely smooth.
  5. Eat: serve to baby or freeze for later.

Steel-Cut Oats

  1. Boil: bring three cups of h2o to a boil.
  2. Add Oats: add in 1 cup of steel-cut oats along with a pinch of chia seeds, hemp seeds and any spices y'all are using.
  3. Cook: plough down the heat to medium-low and melt for 25-30 minutes or until all of the h2o is gone and the oats are soft. Permit cool slightly.
  4. Blend: transfer the oats to a blender or food processor and puree for one-2 minutes, adding h2o in ane/4 loving cup increments if needed, until completely shine.
  5. Consume: serve to baby or freeze for later.

Instant Oats

  • Boil: bring i loving cup of water to a boil.
  • Add Oats: add in 1/ii cup of instant oats forth with a pinch of chia seeds, hemp seeds and whatsoever spices you lot are using to a boil.
  • Cook: decline the oestrus to medium-low and cook the oats for 1-2 minutes or until all of the water is gone and the oats are soft. Let absurd slightly.
  • Blend: transfer the oats to a blender or food processor and puree for i-2 minutes, adding water in 1/4 cup increments if needed, until completely smooth.
  • Eat: serve to baby or freeze for later.

Other Cooking Methods

I have establish that cooking the oats commencement so blending them, creates the smoothest oatmeal for your baby. But there are a couple of other ways to make oatmeal for your baby.

BEABA Babycook

Honey the idea of fresh oatmeal for your infant, merely are short on time? And then allow me introduce to you the BEABA Babycook.. aka your new best friend! With a touch on of a button, the Babycook volition cook the oats and puree them into whatever consistency you prefer. Information technology'due south definitely kitchen magic!

Identify ane cup of sometime-fashioned oats and 1 cup of water inside of the grain insert basket, and place the basket into the glass container, endmost the lid. Fill the reservoir tank to a level 3, close and lock the lid. Printing the steam button, and let the Babycook do all the work! Once steamed, transfer the cooked oats to the glass container, leaving the h2o that is already in there and adding in an additional 1/4 cup of fresh breast milk, formula or water. Close the hat, and hit the blend button for i minute or until the puree is smooth. Yous may need to add more liquid to the puree if needed in two tablespoon increments.

Full Review: read my total, in-depth and honest review of the BEABA Babycook Neo here, including a list of pros and cons! Make sure to catch 15% off your Babycook with lawmaking (BabyFoode15)!

Oat Powder

  1. Grind Oats: Place ane cup of old-fashioned oats in a coffee grinder or blender. Grind for 1-2 minutes or until you take a very fine oat powder.
  2. Add Hot H2o: In a microwave-safe bowl, add together in roughly 1 tablespoon oat pulverisation and 1-two tablespoons hot or boiling h2o. Stir until smooth adding more than water if needed. Let sit until warm plenty to eat.

Helpful Tools

  • Blender or Nutrient Processor
  • Storage Containers for Fridge
  • Freezer Tray
  • Stasher Bag
  • Gray Bahighchair
  • suction bowl or baby bowl
  • baby spoon
  • bib with catch pocket
  • BEABA Babycook
Gray baby bowl filled with pureed oatmeal cereal.

Often Asked Questions

When can baby consume oatmeal?

Babe can have oats as one of their first foods. When a infant can get-go on solids is adamant by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-six months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in society to offset solids include: if your baby has solid control of their caput and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their rima oris when yous eat (encounter my guide hither). Before you first your infant on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your kid is developmentally fix.

Can oatmeal be babe'southward first food?

Oatmeal can 100% be your baby's first food if yous want it to be. It is recommended to expect to introduce the top eight allergen foods to your baby once a few other well-tolerated foods take been introduced, but otherwise, foods tin can be introduced in whatever order so cull whatsoever you are most excited for your baby to accept.

Is oatmeal a mutual allergen for infant?

No, oatmeal is non a common allergen, however, as with any food, first with a small-scale portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing information technology.

Do oats crusade constipation for babies?

No, oatmeal can actually assistance relieve constipation in babies due to the high fiber content that makes information technology easier on your babe to pass stools.

Can you lot add spices/herbs to this recipe?

north this recipe, nosotros are adding in a pinch of chia seeds and hemp seeds, but feel costless to add together in a compression of spices if you want. Some nifty options are: cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice blend, allspice, cloves or fresh ginger.
Tip on Spices: I usually add in spices to my infant food purees, but you lot can add or leave out spices in all of your baby food. You practise you! Either way, this puree will taste amazing.

Freezer tray filled with cooked baby oatmeal ready to be frozen.

Feeding Tips for Purees

  • Throwing spoons – is a common phase that all babies go through at one signal or another. One of the all-time means to handle spoon throwing is to ignore it and keep feeding baby every bit usual (with an extra spoon yous already have at the table). If infant ends up as well throwing back up spoons #ii AND #3, but encourage your infant to eat with their hands until they announced to be finished with the meal. Requite baby plenty of opportunities to exercise putting items in and taking items out of containers exterior of meal times.
  • Follow your baby's pb – when feeding purees from a spoon, sometimes in that location's a trend to keep offering bites past the bespeak of your baby existence full. E'er follow infant's cues for when they are done eating. Turning away from the spoon, closing her mouth, or pushing food away are all signs that infant is finished with the repast.
  • Purees are swell to go on in your babe's regular rotation of foods – but if you lot kickoff feeding with traditional weaning using purees, make sure to progress across eating But purees. In one case baby tin can safely and comfortably consume purees (usually by 7 or 8 months) it'south time to innovate other textures, such equally teething biscuits and soft cooked finger foods. Moving onto additional textures in a timely manner may assist prevent feeding difficulties at a afterwards historic period.

How to Store Oatmeal for Baby

Fridge

You can store the oatmeal cereal in an closed container in the refrigerator for iii days.

FREEZER

This oatmeal puree can exist frozen for up to 3 months.

  • Spoon pureed oatmeal into a freezer storage container (this is my favorite freezer storage container) – do not overfill.
  • Identify the lid on the storage container or cover with a piece of saran wrap and label with date and recipe name.
  • Identify the tray into the freezer and permit freeze completely – preferably overnight.
  • Popular-out the baby food cubes and identify in a zip-lock baggie or stasher handbag – don't forget to re-label the baggie or stager pocketbook for future reference.

Label Tip: Don't forget to label your purees before you identify them in the fridge or freezer with the name of the puree and date y'all fabricated it. Take it from me, you will completely forget when and what is in your freezer past the end of the week;).

Oatmeal Combination Purees

While Oatmeal is nifty by itself, it's also super piece of cake to mix and match with other food-dumbo babe food purees. Give these fun flavor combos a try! Stage two Infant Nutrient.

  • Apples
  • Carrots
  • Pears
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Green Beans
  • Peas
  • Pumpkin
  • Mango
  • Yogurt
Chunks of oatmeal for baby-led weaning.

How to serve Oatmeal for Baby-Led Weaning

Oats can be hard food for your baby to pick upwards and feed themselves (oh the mess!). A great style to serve oats as a finger food is by simply spooning a couple of strips or round shapes of cooked oats on a plate and then letting them cool off on the counter or in the fridge. Once cold, the oats will harden plenty for your baby to be able to pick them up past themselves. I'm not saying there won't be a mess.. just information technology will be less of a mess and definitely easier for your babe to self-feed. Babies are usually ready for baby-led weaning around 6+ months of age.

half dozen Ways to Flavor Oatmeal

One time you get the basics of oatmeal down for your infant, you can take some fun and serve them some flavorful combinations. Here are some great options that baby, toddler, kids and fifty-fifty you will love!

  • Apples + Cinnamon: add together in a couple of heaping spoonfuls of grated apple and a big pinch of cinnamon to oats right earlier serving. Tin add a touch of maple syrup or brownish sugar into toddlers or kid's bowls.
  • Spinach + Pineapple: cook the oats with a handful of frozen pineapple. Add to a blender along with a handful of spinach, pulse or puree until spinach is incorporated.
  • Blueberries, Cinnamon and Vanilla: add in a scattering of frozen blueberries, a pinch of cinnamon and a drizzle of vanilla extract while cooking the oats. Serve whole or blend for baby.
  • Banana + Peanut Butter: add together in slices of a very ripe (lots of brown spots) assistant to the oats while they are cooking. Mash the banana while it is cooking into minor pieces. Spoon oats with assistant into a bowl and add together a swirl of peanut butter (or any nut or seed butter y'all prefer) right before serving. Serve whole or blend for baby.
  • Carrots + Flax: add together in a handful of grated carrots to the oats while they are cooking. Serve whole or alloy for babe. Spoon the oats and carrots into a bowl and top with a sprinkle of ground flax seeds. You can also add together finely chopped walnuts and raisins to toddlers and child's bowls.
  • Mango with Kokosnoot Milk: melt the oats in canned coconut milk (instead of the water) and and so add together in a scattering of fresh or frozen cubed mango. While cooking, mash the mango with the back of a spoon. Serve whole or blend for baby.
Gray baby bowl filled with pureed oatmeal cereal.

Or lookout a shortened version of this video hither.

  • 2 cups h2o
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 tsp hemp seeds (optional)
  • 1 /2 tsp chia seeds (optional)
  • Boil: In a medium saucepan, bring two cups of h2o to a boil.

  • Add Oats: add together in 1 loving cup of one-time-fashioned oats along with the chia seeds, hemp seeds and any spices you lot are using.

  • Melt: plow downward the heat to medium-low and melt the oats for v minutes, stirring occasionally, or until all of the h2o is gone and the oats are soft. Let cool slightly.

    Small saucepan with cooked oats.

  • Blend: transfer the oats to a blender or food processor and puree for 1-two minutes, adding water in 1/four cup increments if needed, until completely smooth. I had to add i/two loving cup of h2o to my oatmeal. You will want the oat cereal to be on the thinner side then information technology doesn't go gluey. The oats volition go along to absorb liquid equally they cool, and so add more water, breast milk or formula equally needed.

  • Swallow: serve to baby or freeze for later.

    Bowl of oatmeal for baby with spoon resting on top of gray bowl.

Age: 4+ months

Yield: Makes roughly 20 ounces

Blazon of Oats:This recipe is for sometime-fashioned oats. For steel-cutting or instant oats, read the total post.

Calculation Spices: you can add a large pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice mix, or a smaller compression of nutmeg or cloves to these oats before blending.

Chia and Hemp Seeds: are added for a nutritional boost, but yous tin can add or omit if you lot prefer. Y'all tin become both of these at any health nutrient store or online here (chia / hemp).

Storage: Refrigerator – store in an closed container in the fridge for 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thawing: Once thawed the oats tin become pretty thick. To thin the oatmeal out over again, just add water, chest milk, formula or another fruit or veggie to the oatmeal ane tablespoon at a fourth dimension until you achieve your desired consistency.