Oatmeal (plain oats) for babies, by age.

6–8 months

Plain oats cooked soft with water, breast milk, or formula; start thinner, thicken over time. No honey before 12 months, no added sugar.

Texture thin → thick porridge

9–11 months

Thicker porridge with mashed fruit stirred in — still no honey or added sugar.

Texture porridge

12 months+

Regular cooked oatmeal; still skip added sugar.

Texture porridge

Sources

Every recommendation shows its source. We cite our sources so you can check them.

• — CDC — When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods
• — CDC — Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit

Keep reading

• — The Starting Solids program (Beta) — the whole first-year arc, one calm step at a time.
• — Iron deficiency in toddlers
• — Baby feeding schedule, 6–12 months