Baby Oatmeal | Oat Porridge for Baby

Baby Oatmeal is a nourishing, warm and comforting breakfast for babies and toddlers. Oats provide a great start to your little one’s day! This creamy and easy-to-digest oatmeal porridge is packed with essential nutrients like fibre, vitamins, and minerals to support healthy growth. Plus, it’s super easy to whip up, whether you’re keeping it simple or mixing in fruit purees for extra flavour. This baby oatmeal recipe will become a comforting breakfast staple in your baby’s diet.

Baby oatmeal porridge served plain, with a jar of rolled oats in the background.

Porridge vs oatmeal

Oats are a really popular breakfast choice around the world. Depending on where you are, you might make porridge (Australia and the UK), oatmeal (US and Canada) or oats porridge (India). They’re all essentially the same thing – a classic breakfast made by cooking oats with water or milk, either on the stove or in the microwave. Or of course, in the Thermomix!


Are oats healthy for babies?

Yes! Babies can be served oats from 6 months of age, and they are a really nutritious whole grain food [1]! Oats are rich in polyphenols, plant compounds that have a range of health benefits. They’re high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals including zinc, folate, iron and magnesium, amongst plenty of others. They’re also a great source of healthy carbohydrates and the soluble fibre beta-glucan, which supports gut and immune health. Baby oatmeal offers an easy way for you to serve this nutritious grain to your little one.


Ingredients in baby oatmeal

This basic oatmeal recipe for baby needs just three ingredients!

Rolled Oats – A nutritious whole grain, and filling too. You could use instant or quick oats and reduce the cooking time (check packaging instructions).

Milk – Full-cream milk. In Australia, it’s recommended that pasteurised full-fat milk varieties be given to children until at least 2 years of age to meet their energy needs [2], with nutritionally incomplete alternatives such as coconut milk, soy milk and almond milk being avoided. For babies, you could substitute with expressed breast milk or formula. 

Water  Using a little water along with milk helps to make creamy oats, that are still soft enough in texture for baby (the water penetrates the oats to soften them).

Baby Oatmeal labelled ingredients on a chopping board.

How to make baby oatmeal

Use a blender or food processor to chop the dry oats to a finer texture for baby. You can then either cook the oats with milk and water on a stovetop or in the microwave. Top with your preferred toppings (see suggestions below!) and serve.

Thermomixer? Mill the dry oats in your machine to make a finer texture for baby, and then gently cook with milk and water. Top with your preferred toppings (see suggestions below!) and serve. This Thermomix porridge for baby is super easy to make.

You’ll find the recipe card below, with ingredient amounts and detailed steps for both regular and thermo cooker methods.


Serving oatmeal to baby

Oatmeal porridge is best served fresh and warm. You can eat it on its own, drizzled with honey (for children over 1 year old) or top it with stewed, dried or fresh fruits, yoghurt or spices. The options are endless! Below are our favourite serving suggestions for babies. 


Oatmeal toppings for baby

Oatmeal porridge is easy to customise! This oatmeal porridge recipe is the basic version, which you can then add your baby and toddler’s favourite toppings to. These are some of our favourites:

Pear and cinnamon –Stir this pear and cinnamon puree through the oatmeal once cooked for a naturally sweet, warm flavour boost.

Banana and peanut butter – Mash half a banana with a fork, and add a small spoonful of peanut butter. Mix together, and then dollop over the cooked oatmeal or stir through. 

Apple, nectarine and strawberry – Stir this summer fruit puree through the oatmeal once cooked, and top with extra mashed strawberries for a bright, sweet breakfast bowl.

Plain oatmeal alongside different oatmeal toppings for baby and toddler.

Storing baby oatmeal porridge

Leftover oatmeal porridge can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, transfer the oatmeal porridge to a pot on the stove or a microwave-safe bowl. If the porridge has thickened, add a splash of water or milk, and stir to loosen it up. Heat it gently until warm, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.

Looking for more nourishing breakfast recipes for babies or toddlers? Try this Oatmeal Berry Breakfast Smoothie. It pairs the natural sweetness of mixed berries and banana with yoghurt, oats, nuts and seeds to make a full breakfast, in smoothie form!

If you make this Baby Oatmeal please leave a 🌟 star rating and a 📝 comment below. I love hearing how my recipes work for you and your family! Don’t forget to follow me on FacebookInstagram and Pinterest too for more healthy breakfast recipes. 

Happy cooking,

Chloe x

Baby Oatmeal

Author: Chloe
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 4 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Category: Breakfast
No ratings yet
Servings: 1

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Baby Oatmeal is a nourishing, warm and comforting breakfast for babies and toddlers. Oats provide a great start to your little one’s day! This creamy and easy-to-digest oatmeal porridge is packed with essential nutrients like fibre, vitamins, and minerals to support healthy growth. Plus, it’s super easy to whip up, whether you’re keeping it simple or mixing in fruit purees for extra flavour. This oatmeal porridge recipe will become a comforting breakfast staple in your baby’s diet.

Ingredients 

  • 2 tbs rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup milk full cream for children under 2 years (Note 1)
  • 2 tbs water

Instructions

  • In a food processor or blender, chop the rolled oats to a fine texture. You may need to double the batch of dry oats for your blender to work effectively. Store the unused half in an airtight container.
  • Put all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 25 seconds. Stir, and microwave for another 25 seconds. Stir. Allow to cool to an appropriate temperature before serving to children. Top with preferred toppings.

Thermomix Instructions

  • Put oats into the mixing bowl. Mill for 20 seconds, speed 8, MC on.
  • Add milk and water to mixing bowl and cook 4 minutes, 90°C, reverse, speed 2.
  • Allow to cool to an appropriate temperature before serving to children. Top with preferred toppings.

Recipe Notes

1. Milk – It’s recommended that pasteurised full-fat milk varieties be given to children until at least 2 years of age to meet their energy needs [2]For babies, you could substitute with expressed breast milk or formula. 
2. Consistency – Depending on baby’s age and stage, you can adapt this easily to suit your baby’s needs. This oatmeal may be a little thick for first tastes or early weaning – it is easier to gradually thin it by adding liquid after cooking, than to thicken! You can thin it out by stirring through a little expressed breast milk, formula or water immediately after cooking. Adding purees for flavour will also change the consistency.
3. Storage – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freezer for up to 3 months. Be sure to practice food safety when storing, defrosting and/or reheating food.
4. Nutrition – Per serving, as a general guide only.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 4gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 27mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 104IUCalcium: 87mgIron: 1mg
Keywords: oatmeal for baby, oatmeal porridge, porridge

[1] 9 Health Benefits of Eating Oats and Oatmeal, 2024, Healthline Media LLC.

[2] Infant Feeding Guidelines: Summary, 2013, National Health and Medical Research Council

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Hello there! I’m Chloe, a mum, wife, lifelong learner, and teacher. I started this blog as a place to share our family’s baby and toddler recipes. Here you’ll find FREE recipes for busy, real, health-conscious families.