Oatmeal: How Your Baby Can Safely Self-Feed Oatmeal

7 snips

Jun 17, 2025

Discover why oatmeal is an excellent first food for babies and how to introduce it safely. Explore different types of oatmeal, including quick-cooking, rolled, and steel-cut, and their iron content. Learn how to promote self-feeding while transitioning from purees, and find tips for pairing oatmeal with other foods. Plus, get insights into the benefits of innovative breastfeeding technology for busy parents. Perfect for those navigating the world of baby-led weaning!

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INSIGHT

Oatmeal Suitable at Six Months

Babies can safely start eating oatmeal and solid foods at around six months if showing readiness.
Purees like oatmeal can be offered in a baby-led weaning approach by letting babies self-feed.

INSIGHT

Babies Can Digest Grains Early

Babies' digestive systems are capable of processing grains and proteins early, even as young as three months.
Age-appropriate feeding, not gut readiness, determines when to start solids.

ADVICE

Regular Oatmeal Is Enough

You don't have to buy specialized baby oatmeal; regular oatmeal is nutritious and cost-effective.
Baby oatmeal has extra iron but regular oatmeal already provides sufficient iron for babies.

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#47: Oatmeal is a warm, familiar food, but what’s the best way to introduce oatmeal to your baby? In this episode, I’m breaking down how to safely serve oatmeal so your baby can self-feed from the start. We’re talking about which types of oatmeal to use (and which to skip), how to cook it for the right texture, and why you don’t need to buy baby-specific oatmeal to get enough iron. Plus, I’ll show you how to keep the self-feeding principles of baby-led weaning, even with puree-textured foods like oatmeal. Listen to this episode to learn:

1. Why oatmeal is a more preferable starter cereal for babies over rice cereal

2. How iron levels differ in oatmeal types, and why “baby oatmeal” isn’t necessary

3. Which type of instant oatmeal has surprisingly more iron than other oats

Shownotes for this episode can be found here:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.babyledweaning.co/podcast/47

Links from this episode:

• ⁠Baby-Led Weaning with Katie Ferraro program with the 100 First Foods™ Daily Meal Plan, join here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Baby-Led Weaning for Beginners free online workshop with 100 First Foods™ list to all attendees, register here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://babyledweaning.co/baby-led-weaning-for-beginners