To make oatmeal for a 4-month-old, start by grinding rolled oats into a fine powder in a blender, then cook 1 part fine oats with 2-3 parts liquid (water, breast milk, or formula) in a saucepan until soft, and blend again to a smooth puree, adding fruit puree or spices for flavor, ensuring it's cooled to a safe, warm temperature before serving. Always check with your pediatrician before starting solids and ensure the texture is completely smooth to prevent choking.
Add Oat powder to a pot on high heat. Add boiling water and cook until boiling. Reduce heat and stir until cereal is cooked through. To serve, add a liquid (water/formula/Breastmilk) if you need a smoother texture.
Babies can eat oatmeal as soon as they show signs that they're ready for solids (read about the signs here). This generally occurs between the ages of 4-6 months.
When Can Children Eat Oatmeal? You can introduce oats to your baby at six months of age. However, it's possible to offer this food as early as four months after consulting a pediatrician. The doctor will assess signs of readiness and decide if the baby is ready to start weaning.
Infants can start eating baby oatmeal cereal as early as 4 months old. Although it's recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to start introducing solid foods at 6 months, there are a few indicators that prove infants might be ready for baby oatmeal cereal a few months earlier.
Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months. Introducing foods before 4 months is not recommended. Every child is different. You can look for these signs that your child is developmentally ready to begin eating food.
Start to introduce solid foods when your baby shows signs of being ready – around 6 months but not before 4 months. First foods can be pureed or finely mashed. Then food can be roughly mashed, minced or chopped. First foods should include iron-rich foods and foods that might trigger allergies.
Earth's Best Organic Rice Cereal - A classic choice that's easily digestible while being packed full of iron. Happy Baby Oatmeal Cereal - Rich in fiber thanks to whole grain oats; it's also great mixed into purees! Gerber Single Grain Oatmeal - Fortified but simple enough for beginners transitioning into solids.
Signs your baby is ready for solid foods
They'll be able to: stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady. co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth by themselves. swallow food (rather than spit it back out)
The latest research by the World Health Organization shows that babies can get all the nutrients they need from breast milk or infant formula until they are around 6 months old. This gives a baby's digestive system time to develop so that they can cope fully with solid foods.
Let's Get Cooking
If you wean your baby before they're six months old, avoid the following, as they can cause an allergic reaction or contain harmful bacteria:
Most babies grow beautifully on breast milk or formula for the first 6 months, and do not need any solid food before this age. Also, before 6 months of age, most infants have a reflex that causes them to push their tongue against a spoon, making it difficult for them to swallow solid food properly.
Because of the possible arsenic exposure with rice cereal, experts believe oatmeal is the safer choice. It's also wheat-free, so won't irritate your baby's stomach if she is sensitive or allergic to gluten.
Method
Offer foods that are high in iron and zinc — like meat, poultry, eggs, and beans — especially if your baby is breastfeeding. Be patient. Try one food at a time and wait several days before trying something else new. This will let you identify any foods that your baby may be allergic to.
Ideal age to start feeding Cerelac to your baby
This is because babies should be exclusively breastfed until they are 6 months of age. In some cases, breastfeeding may not be possible for new mothers, due to which formula feed can be given to newborns.
Iron-fortified infant cereal (rice, oatmeal, barley). Mix 2-3 teaspoons with formula or breast milk. Feed with spoon.
Inside: Flavor training is a new trend in which parents allow their baby to taste foods before 4 and 6 months of age to help them learn to like new flavors. Most parents want their children to eat a variety of foods, including vegetables!
When can babies have carrots? Carrots may be introduced as soon as a baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Carrots are often orange and sweet, but they weren't always that way.
Some parents may be tempted to start solids early to help their baby grow, sleep or settle better. However, introducing solids too early may lead to problems such as: Poor growth – especially where solid food replaces breast milk or formula.
Bite-Sized Milestones: Signs of Solid Food Readiness
Give the cereal with a small spoon once or twice a day after a bottle feeding or breastfeeding. Start by serving 1 or 2 teaspoons. Once your baby can swallow runny cereal, mix it with less liquid and increase the serving size little by little.
Eggs can be introduced at approximately 6 months of age when your baby is ready to start solid foods. Along with other iron-rich foods like meat, tofu, legumes, and iron-fortified cereals, eggs are a great first food option. Because of their versatility, you can continue to offer eggs regularly as your baby grows.