thread: Can my 6mo have normal porridge oats?

  1. #1
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    May 2007
    Brisbane
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    Question Can my 6mo have normal porridge oats?

    Was talking to my mum and she said that my bro (now 8) used to eat finely ground normal porridge oats instead of rice cereal at 6 months. Would it be ok to give Jazz normal porridge oats? Its not the lumps or anything I'm worried about, but just the oats. Are oats ok?

    TIA

  2. #2
    Registered User

    May 2007
    Warrnambool Vic
    1,476

    By the time babies are 6mnths they are sufficiently mature that they can eat just about anything. Pureed foods are completely unnecessary. Baby foods are obsolete - they can just eat any normal food you have in the house

  3. #3
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    May 2007
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    Oh beauty, I have quick oats so I don't even have to grind it up? YAY!

    When are they allowed to start eating meat? I've heard so many different things I'm so confused!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    1,794

    Hi Leasha,

    We started our DD on meat about 7 months. Our reason was that we wanted her to have veges and fruit first, and were introducing things one by one. I just cooked casserol style in water (without all the normal casserole flavours to start with), then minced in the food processor. I never pureed meat..

    Oh - and we gave oats (porridge from 5&1/2) months mixed with formula, then when yoghurt introduced, replaced formula with yoghurt.
    Last edited by Doing my best; February 5th, 2009 at 07:02 AM.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Sep 2005
    In the middle of nowhere
    9,362

    Darcy wouldn't eat the baby porridges/cereals...she loved oats - so that's what she had. That's what she still has. Some of the 'rules' say to steer clear of oats and wheat based cereals for the first 12 months, but I agree with Barb.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
    2,450

    sorry for crashing leasha but what about dairy? my DD is always trying to steal my yoghurt

  7. #7
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

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    Hi pixie, apparently yoghurt is safe from 6 months. I've also heard that the baby yoghurt is only less lumpy than our yoghurt so no need to go buy special yoghurt just make sure there aren't overly huge lumps in whatever you give them.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
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    cool! that'll make her happy!

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    Leasha, my eldest two only ever ate oats/porridge for brekkie as toddlers - still love it in winter. It is really really filling and low GI too, so it's a perfect food choice for her.

    The Pixie, just buy the normal yoghurt, there's no need to worry about the 'baby' ones as they are usually loads more expensive too. The baby ones often have more sugar as well, and make sure you don't buy low fat.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
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    No Trill, I wouldn't buy those baby yoghurts and I don't believe in low fat dairy so I definitely wouldn't give it to her! I just gave her some of ours which is plain gippsland dairy yoghurt (very yum btw) with some banana and she absolutely LOVED IT! Never seen her enjoy something so much!

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Victoria
    7,260

    Charlotte wont eat anything for breakfast except Daddy's oats, or mummy's weetbix! lol
    Apparently I cant make oats properly and DH CANNOT make weetbix properly!

    I think she first had some of daryl oats when she was about 5.5 months...when we started her on cereals she would eat some farex some days if i was there, but she still would rather wait for Daryl to make her breakfast

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    1,163

    Try bircher museli for a summer style oat brekkie, my DD loves it!

    I usually soak it in pureed fruit overnight and sometimes mix it with yoghurt to serve.
    mmmm

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Taking a ride on my grdonkey :D
    2,716

    Yeah, I'd say oats would be absolutely fine at this age... meat too, if you want.
    DH and I had DD trying out solids from about four months, we were really relaxed with 'allergy' foods (dairy, eggs, peanuts etc, just handed them over and had the phone nearby in case we needed an ambulance, she was fine) and she lapped them up. 'Grown-up' foods like oats, weetbix etc really seemed to help fill her up too so she was much happier and started sleeping through a lot quicker than a lot of other bubs her age (although that could just have been our good luck, but it's something to consider if you value your shut-eye!!).
    Just one tip when giving cereals like weetbix and oats, make sure she's getting a bit extra water/milk on the side because they can get a bit gluggy and clog up their little systems, which can then be mistaken for a gluten intolerance etc... so just give her a bottle or sippy cup of water when she's having cereals to make sure it all keeps moving along

    With meat, we didn't worry much about mincing or pureeing, when she was about 5 months DH just cut off a chunk of his steak one night and handed it to her to play with in her high chair, she sucked all the juices out and gummed it to mush and absolutely loved it!! She still adores her meat, and at 17 months can sit at the table and use a fork to stab little pieces and chew them up herself. So I wouldn't worry too much about ages etc, if you think your bub is ready to give things a go (or just feel like a laugh, watching them try new foods is hilarious), just give her a big chunk of whatever you're eating and let her play with it, they don't eat much to start with and it does get messy, but it gives them a bit of practice and they feel included when they're sharing your food
    HTH

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    Leash, have you read the ABA's booklet on 'Introducing Solids'? It's $5 but well worth it. It's only short, but it was our bible for DD's family foods introduction.

    DD had what we had basically, I would just make sure she could pick up the pieces and feed herself. She especially loved having a gnaw of a chop bone, with most of the meat cut off on the side.

    Babies are remarkably good at eating if they are able to go at their own pace. Give Jasmine a spoon to 'help' feed herself the oats and you'll probably find she gets good at it very quickly. (My DD got very good with a spoon when it came to yoghurt - she loved it so much I guess she didn't want to waste it!).

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
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    With the spoon - we have two, I put food on the first one, give it to her, she puts it in her mouth and sucks the food off it, while I put food on the next one... then we swap.

  16. #16
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

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    pixie thats what we are doing, two spoons in rotation LOL

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,900

    Aha! Knew someone would have asked what I was thinking before. Wanting something to give DD for brekky when it's a bit cold. I just have the normal rolled oats in the cupboard, so they're ok for her? Are baby cereals not so good??

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Country Victoria
    5,945

    we give M the uncle tobies Quick oats. Baby cereals are fine, there are just other options. Not sure if the normal rolled oats would be ok as they seem bigger then the quick oats.