Oatmeal for Babies and Toddlers
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If it’s your first baby and it’s time to start to think about their first solid foods, it can be scary. Are you making the right foods? Should you buy already-made foods or make them at home? Should it be a rice meal, cereal, or oatmeal? All serious questions and not to be considered lightly.
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When To Start Feeding Babies Solid Food?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding babies for the first six months. Breast formula is the best you can give your baby as it is full of nutrients. After that, it’s recommended to begin with small amounts of pureed foods. But before we go into what to feed your baby, here are a few things to consider before starting. Ask yourself….
Does my baby have good head control?
Can my baby hold their head up, steady and upright?
Can my baby open their mouth for an awaiting spoon?
If you answered yes to all of these and they are 6 months then they are ready for oatmeal.
What if my baby refuses his or her first taste of solid foods?
It is not uncommon for babies to refuse the first taste of solid foods. No worries. Don’t force it. Just try the next day or in a couple of days.
Regular Oatmeal and Steel Cut Oats
Rolled Oats
Rolled oats or old-fashioned oats are first steamed and rolled to make them flat and oval-shaped. They don’t take as long as steel-cut oats to cook.
Instant Oats
Instant oats are the most professed of the three. These oats have already been pre-cooked, dried out, and pressed into thinner oats. They are also the quickest to cook.
Steel Cut Oats
Steel-cut oats by far are my favorite oats for babies and toddlers. Actually, best for all. It’s the least processed of them all and because of that, it is the most beneficial of rolled and instant oats. These oats are cut
Steel Cut Oatmeal Ideas for Babies, Toddlers, and Kids
The best oatmeal to buy is organic gluten-free steel-cut oats. It’s simple and easy to make. Since we are making oatmeal for infants it’s best to grind the steal cute oatmeal first and then cook it.
Grinding steel-cut oatmeal is super easy with a blender or the Nuk Baby Food Maker which is similar to what I still use. Nuk Baby Food Maker Blender is small and perfect for baby and toddler foods.
After grinding just follow the simple directions on the package, stir, and let cool.
We usually make oatmeal Monday through Friday. And store in small, glass baby bottles or small glass containers. Anything glass will do. We are not big fans of plastic containers.
At first, plain oatmeal is best. After a couple of days, you can add fruit puree and almond butter to it.
Purees are really easy to make. Just had water and your selected fruit and blend. Here are some ideas of what to add:
blueberries
blackberries
strawberries
bananas
almond butter
raspberries
After 8 months you can add:
apricot
apple
mango
melon
cinnamon (only a dash)
Our daughter is 3 years old and still eats steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast during the workweek and loves it. Her favorite is a simple version, just oatmeal and creamy almond butter plus a dash of milk.
oatmeal and fruit
The Best Organic
Gluten Free
Steal Cut Oatmeal
My child isn't gluten intolerent or sensitive but why not just go ahead and get the gluten free oatmeal, it can't hurt. The Arrowhead brand is my favorite. You can get it at any Whole Foods or on Amazon.
Baby Utensils and Accessories
Here are a few items we use for my toddler's oatmeal and puree, they are:
