This easy Oatmeal for Babies recipe is made with simple ingredients and can be made really quickly. Making homemade oatmeal cereal is one of the most rewarding and easiest ways to feed your baby. And after doing it, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered buying it at the store.

Why Make Oatmeal Cereal for Your Baby

  • Nutrient-Rich: As a parent, making sure your baby gets all the essential nutrients is always top of mind. Oatmeal cereal is a great one to start with when transitioning to solid foods because it’s packed with important vitamins and minerals that help support your baby’s growth and development from day one. 
  • Easy to Make: When feeding your baby, let’s face it, convenience is key! This recipe is quick and easy to prepare, making hectic mornings just a little bit easier. With a few minutes in the kitchen, you’ll have a wholesome meal ready to go for your little one. 
  • Versatile: I love how you can get creative with oatmeal cereal! Whether you mix it with water, breast milk, formula, or add pureed fruits or cinnamon, the possibilities are endless. It’s a blank canvas that allows you to introduce a variety of flavors and textures to your baby’s diet white keeping mealtime exciting for them.
  • Cost-Effective: Let’s not forget about the budget! Oatmeal cereal is not only nutritious and convenient but also budget-friendly (all you need is oats and water…). Compared to some other baby food options, oatmeal cereal is a smart choice that doesn’t break the bank. It’s a win-win for both your baby’s health and your wallet.

Ingredients You Need to Make Perfect Baby Oatmeal Cereal

  • Old Fashioned Oats: also known as 5 minute oats. You can use steel cut or instant in this recipe as well. More on the different types of oats below!
  • Water: You could also use breast milk or formula in place of water if you want some extra nutrients.
  • Optional add-ins: cinnamon, pureed fruits, or anything your baby loves

How to Make Baby Oatmeal – Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. To Make the Oatmeal Powder: Place oats in a food processor, pulse for 15 to 30 seconds or until finely ground. Store the oat powder in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer or in a cool dark place for up to 3 months.
  2. To Make Oatmeal Cereal: To make 1 serving of baby oatmeal for a 5-9 month old baby,  bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil and sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of the ground oats. Add 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, if desired. Whisk continuously for 30 seconds and then occasionally for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture is thick and creamy.

Tips for Success

  • Liquid of Choice: Use breast milk or formula in place of the water if you prefer. You can use cow’s milk if making oatmeal for a 1 year old or older. 
  • Start Gradually: Begin with small amounts of oatmeal cereal mixed with water breast milk, or formula. Start with a thin consistency and gradually thicken it as your baby becomes more accustomed to solids.
  • Use other grains: You can use other grains like quinoa or brown rice in this recipe if you want. Just puree into a powder the same way.

Types of Oats

There are three main types of oats, – steel cut, old fashioned or rolled oats, and instant oats. The only difference between these three is how much the oat is processed. 

  • Steel Cut Oats: Steel cut oats are the least processed of the three oat varieties and retain most of their nutrients like fiber and protein. With that said, they still have similar amounts of nutrients as rolled oats. Steel cut oats also take longer to cook and are a bit chewier than the other oats. I’d recommend steel cut oats for babies that are around 11 months or older because of this.
  • Rolled Oats: Rolled oats are also known as old fashioned oats or 5 minute oats. They’re rolled flat, pre-cooked and dried. Their texture makes them a little more versatile and they also cook faster than steel cut oats. I recommend this type of oats for baby oatmeal if possible. 
  • Instant Oats: Instant oats are the most processed of the three and cook very quickly. You can use instant oats for baby cereal, but these oats are much lower in fiber so I’d recommend the other two types of oats over instant for this recipe.

Storage/Freezing Instructions for Homemade Baby Oatmeal Cereal

To Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. To reheat, add hot water to thin out, stir and serve.

To Freeze: Spoon baby oatmeal into freezer cube tray and freeze overnight. Pop cubes out and place in a labeled freezer bag. Baby oatmeal can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Health Benefits of Eating Oatmeal Cereal for Babies

Oats are a fantastic addition to your little one’s diet, offering not just one, but two types of fiber to keep their digestive system healthy and running smoothly. These grains are also bursting with a powerhouse of essential nutrients! From antioxidants to minerals like manganese, phosphorus, copper, iron, and zinc, as well as vitamin B1, oats have it all. Plus, they’re great for stabilizing blood sugar levels and supporting your baby’s developing cardiovascular health. 

Tip: Store-bought baby oatmeal is typically fortified with iron. If you want to make sure your baby is absorbing the iron in this homemade baby oatmeal cereal, pair it with a source of vitamin C like mashed berries or you could add an infant iron supplement to the finished recipe.

Ways to Flavor Oatmeal Baby Cereal

Add any of these purees to your baby oatmeal cereal to change up the flavor and add more nutrients. With this many baby food combinations you can make the best baby oatmeal every time!

Next time you’re at the grocery and reach for that container of overpriced oatmeal cereal, remember that you probably already have the one ingredient you need to make it for your baby right in your pantry!

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Homemade Oatmeal Cereal for Babies

Making homemade oatmeal cereal is one of the most rewarding and easiest ways to feed your baby. And after doing it, you'll wonder why you ever bothered buying it at the store.
5 from 3 votes
Servings: 8 baby servings
Author: nickeynpointseo
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes

Equipment

  • small pot
  • food processor or blender
  • freezer cubes, optional

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Place oats in a food processor, pulse for 15 to 30 seconds or until finely ground.
  • Store the oat powder in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer or in a cool dark place for up to 3 months.
  • To make 1 serving of infant oatmeal cereal for a 5-9 month old baby: Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil and sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of the ground oats and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, if desired.
  • Whisk continuously for 30 seconds and then occasionally for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture is thick and creamy.

Video

Notes

To Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. To reheat, add hot water to thin out, stir and serve.
To Freeze: Spoon baby oatmeal into freezer cube tray and freeze overnight. Pop cubes out and place in a labeled freezer bag. Baby oatmeal can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Liquid of Choice: Use breast milk or formula in place of water if you prefer. You can use cow’s milk if making oatmeal for a 1 year old or older.
Start Gradually: Begin with small amounts of oatmeal cereal mixed with water breast milk, or formula. Start with a thin consistency and gradually thicken it as your baby becomes more accustomed to solids.
Use other grains: You can use other grains like quinoa or brown rice in this recipe if you prefer. Just puree into a powder the same way and follow the instructions.
Tools for This Recipe (affiliate links): Food Processor | Freezer Cubes

Nutrition

Calories: 19kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 0.3mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @Weelicious or tag #weelicious!

About the Author

Catherine is a mama of three. A Kentucky girl living in California. Here’s what I know: all kids can be great eaters and mealtime must be easy. I create simple, healthy recipes the whole family will love.

Comments

  1. I tried this today and my sweet boy had a complete fit bc the VERY FINE powdered oatmeal I made was still too thick when mixed in the bottle so I had to strain it with the mesh from his fruit feeder. Works fine with store bought baby oatmeal but stores are always out of the baby brand we like!

    1. The iron in the store bought cereal is giving my baby girl fits. Hopefully I will be able to blend it fine enough for her liking.

  2. Steel Cut Oats should work if you grind them finely enough. You might need to add more liquid when cooking them, too.

    1. 5 stars
      Infant formula, baby formula, or simply formula; or baby milk or infant milk, is a manufactured food designed and marketed for feeding to babies and infants under 12 months of age, usually prepared for bottle-feeding or cup-feeding from powder or liquid. I hope this in understanding baby formula 🙂

    2. Formula is a breast milk substitute made from a special dried-milk powder. Most infant formula is made from cow’s milk, vitamins and minerals. Formula is mixed with cooled boiled water and fed to babies in a bottle or cup. The nutrients in formula support a baby’s growth during their first 6 months. Sorry had to make another replying explaining more about it. Also formula can be made with soy plant as well 🙂

  3. good idea but way way too much cinnamon,

    as adult i eat oatmeal every day but only use a sprinkle of cinnamon..
    it’s good but can easily overpower

  4. Please be careful adding cinnamon. 1/2 tsp is a lot and can burn your baby or cause anaphylaxis. No bueno.

  5. I do this, but mix formula powder into the oat. (20%-50%) It’s still a lot cheaper than regular cereal. This fortifies the oats a bit with iron and other minerals the baby needs.

  6. I know this is meant for babies, but I wanted to let you know my 23 month old loved this! He’s got aversion to certain textures (we’re working with a feeding therapist to help him), so seeing him happily scarf this down was really rewarding. Thank you!

  7. I had the same problem with the oatmeal being grainy. My baby was gagging on it and didn’t seem to keep it down. She is 6 1/2 months. Any suggestions to make it smoother? The powder was extremely fine but when cooked turned out very grainy.

  8. If I want to thin this out to put into a bottle, would adding water be sufficient? As opposed to breastmilk or prepared formula? Seems like it would be, simply because the formula uses water, but I’d like to hear what others might have to say.

  9. No, it does not have enough iron. I also have not been able to find oats with anywhere near as much iron as the infant cereals. I wish I could. Oatmeal cereal is the only baby food that I buy. I love making my own.

  10. But does this homemade cereal have enough iron in it? It’s my understanding that there are 2 main reasons to start solids: developmental and iron supplement. I have not been able to find oats that are iron fortified like infant cereal. Yes, oats have iron but not enough.

  11. The oat powder can be stored for up to three months, meaning you should use them within three months of grinding them into a powder. It’s not saying that they have to sit for three months before using them. 😉

  12. My little one will be 6 months this month and I look forward to making this. Is it necessary for the oats to sit for 3 months before cooking?

  13. Those would work, but you might need to cook it longer and it will probably come out thicker!

  14. Hi,
    I am writing blog on all baby related checklists and one section of my blog is on all baby food recipes. I am going to host recipes from other food blogs on my blog. Your blog is like the ‘Master Blog’ of baby food recipes and I would like to have your permission to repost your recipes or link them up on my blog.
    Thanks,
    Sameera

  15. Okay I don’t know what I’m doing wrong here. I doubled the recipe bc my baby usually eats about 4 T of the boxed cereal. So I boiled 1 c. water and added 4 T. of the oatmeal, but it was very very liquidy, and never really absorbed the liquid. If I am making more oatmeal should I not add more water?

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