Porridge is not only great for the whole family, it's ideal as a baby food too. Filling and sustaining, porridge is relatively rich in protein and also a source of iron. It's the perfect food to give your weaning baby. Change it up each morning by adding yogurt, fruit purée, grated or mashed fruit. For a tasty finger food snack, simply shape oats into balls, include sticks of fruit and allow baby to pick up the porridge by themselves.
Make sure to use porridge oats to make your baby's breakfast as jumbo oats are too big for babies. Alternative grains can be used such as Millet which is rich in B vitamins and a makes a mild sweetish porridge. You can also use quinoa which is something of a supergrain, being rich in protein and other nutrients, including iron. Both millet flakes and quinoa flakes are available from health food shops.
Note: It is not recommended to add porridge to a baby’s diet until 6 months as it may be contaminated by gluten.
Cook time: 7 minutes
Makes: 1 x baby portions
Ingredients
15g porridge oats/ millet/ quinoa
150ml milk or water, or a mixture
Method
- Add the oats and milk or water to a saucepan. Place over a medium heat and bring to boil.
- Once boiling, simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring from time to time and making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the saucepan.
- Remove the heat, stir and leave to stand for 2-3 minutes before serving.
- Serve with toppings of your choice, such as flaxseed or yoghurt.
Weaning and Storage
6-7 months - Smooth and slightly thicker puree, no lumps
7-8 months - Thicker puree with increased texture
8-9 months - Minced and mashed with soft lumps.
9-12 months – Minced and finely chopped.
Our award winning Starter Weaning Set set has all the pots you need to batch cook, portion and safely store food for your weaning baby.
Our Weaning Advice page provides information and advice on weaning your baby. It includes recipes, tips, and articles on a variety of topics related to weaning, such as introducing finger food, adding herbs and spices to baby food, and healthy snacks for your baby, and lots more
