Yes, we all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We’ve all heard it over and over again. But breakfast is really important for the little ones. It determines how everything will flow for the rest of the day. However, our mornings are often rushed.
Parents preparing for work, children preparing for school or daycare, everyone needs to be out at a specific time, and breakfast can be a real problem. We’ve put together some quick and healthy baby breakfast ideas, from puree to small dishes that are easy to put together or prepare meals in advance.
Purees (usually 6 – 9 months)
If the pediatrician gives you permission, then six months is the start of solid foods. There are three types of purees for healthy baby breakfast ideas:
- Level 1 – pureed, in which the food is liquid and smooth
- Level 2 – Food has a slightly thicker consistency
- Level 3 – food has chunks
Depending on how well your baby is sitting, you will determine which level you should use. All of these stages can be achieved in a food processor. The benefits of making your own baby food are numerous, but also time-saving. You can make a large patch and freeze it or just puree everything you have. Here are some ideas for breakfast with puree babies:
- Fruit of your choice
- Ingredients: any 2 fruits, ½ cup formula or breast milk
- Manual:
- Add the fruits you want (this can be frozen fruits) and cook until tender for 7-10 minutes
- Put in a food processor, add formula / breast milk and puree to the desired consistency
Cinnamon pear oatmeal
- Ingredients: 2 pears, ¼ cup old-fashioned oats, a pinch of cinnamon, 1 cup of water
Cinnamon Pear Oatmeal Instructions:
- Peel, core and chop the pears
- Mix all ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat on medium heat for 10 minutes until the pears are soft. Stir occasionally
- Put in a food processor and puree to the desired consistency
- Replace various oatmeal flavors with apple or banana
Peach, Mango & Carrot
- Ingredients:
- 2 peaches
- 2 mangoes
- 4 carrots
- ½ cup formula or breast milk
Manual:
- Peel and chop the carrots
- Put the carrots and formula or milk in a medium saucepan
- Cover and heat on medium heat for 10 minutes
- Add peach and mangoes (this can be frozen fruit) and cook for another 3-5 minutes until tender
- Put in a food processor and puree to the desired consistency
You can substitute any fruit and vegetable. Make sure to cook it before pureeing. Some ideas to consider:
- Apple, blackberry and kale
- Strawberry, apple and banana
- Banana and avocado
- Apple, blueberries, spinach
- Strawberry, peach, rice muesli
Click here for homemade baby food recipes for baby breakfast ideas!
Finger food (usually 7-12 months)
As your baby grows, you may notice signs that they are ready for finger food. You will become more and more interested in your food. Almost anything healthy with a soft texture is great finger food.
Small chunks of cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and round granola or granola puffs are good options. Remember that your eating habits should be able to be easily rubberized as your baby is unlikely to have all of the teeth yet. Here are a few finger food baby breakfast ideas:
Whole grain, protein and fruit platters
Puffs, or O-shaped granola, are a great base and will easily dissolve in your baby’s mouth. As your baby grows and can chew, you can turn to bites of bread like waffles and muffins.
Protein: Can be a form of cheese, avocado, or eggs. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends introducing allergenic foods early to help prevent food allergies.
Berry fruits like bananas, pears, peaches, watermelon, melon and berries.
Some ideas to consider:
- Puffs, eggs and bananas
- Cheerios, eggs and pears
- Pancake bites, eggs and peaches
- Muffin bites, avocado and berries
Applesauce pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ cup of applesauce
- 2 beaten eggs
- ½ cup milk (whole milk or breast milk)
Manual:
- Mix all the ingredients
- Heat a non-stick pan or griddle over medium heat
- Spray the frying pan with non-stick spray
- Pour the batter into a small circle
- Let it cook until the edges are firm and bubbles appear.
- Turn and cook another 2-3 minutes.
Blueberry Banana Zucchini Muffins
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of banana puree
- 1 cup of grated zucchini (wrapped and dry pressed)
- ½ cup of whole milk or breast milk
- ½ cup butter (melted)
- 2 eggs
- 1½ cups of flour
- ¼ cup of brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Manual:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
- Grease mini muffin pan
- Combine banana, zucchini, milk, butter, and eggs, and add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add blueberries;
- Pour the muffin pan
- Bake for 22-28 minutes
- Let cool on wire mesh.
Eggs and cheese breakfast quesadillas
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- 2 eggs
- Small (8 inch) tortillas
- ¼ cup of grated cheddar cheese
Manual:
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium-low heat
- Add oil
- Beat the eggs and put them on the plate
- Put the tortilla in a pan
- Sprinkle cheese on top
- Lay boiled eggs over cheese
- Top with the rest of the cheese
- Cook until the bottom of the tortilla is brown and the cheese begins to melt
- Cover with another tortilla and turn over, cook until the other side is brown.
If your baby can eat smaller bites, consider adding beans, spinach, avocado, or ham to the quesadillas.
Spoon (usually 12+ months)
Most babies cannot fully feed themselves with a spoon until after their first birthday. However, some babies reach for spoons after around 10 months. So when you think you’re ready to try, start with thicker foods like yogurt, overnight oats, nut butters, or cottage cheese.
Fruit overnight oats
- ingredients
- ½ cup of oatmeal
- 4 ounces of fruit puree of your choice
- 1-3 tbsp whole milk or breast milk
- Pinch of cinnamon
manual
- Combine all the ingredients
- Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate overnight.
Whole grain, protein and fruit platters
- Whole grains: granola, overnight oats, pancakes, waffles, or muffins
- Protein: cottage cheese, yogurt, or nut butter
- Berry fruits like bananas, pears, peaches, watermelon, melon and berries.
- Some ideas to consider:
- Puffs, cottage cheese and strawberries
- Cheerios, peanut butter, and banana
- Banana overnight oats and yogurt
- Muffin bites, almond butter and berries
Small meal (12 – 18+ months)
Once your baby has mastered chewing skills, the sky is the limit for breakfast.
Sweet potato toast
- Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp cooked
- Sweet potato puree (mashed on request)
- 1 slice of whole grain bread
- Brown sugar optional
manual
- Toast bread lightly (you can also cook it on a skillet if you prefer toast that way)
- Warm sweet potato
- Spread on toast
- Sprinkle with brown sugar.
PB & J waffle sandwiches
Waffles with peanut butter, banana and strawberry jam
- Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp fruit puree of your choice (strawberry apple is popular option)
- 2 waffles (frozen or homemade)
- banana
manual
- Heat waffles
- Spread the peanut butter on top
- Put the banana on top
- Spread the jelly among others, mash it.
- Bonus Points: Use a cookie cutter to create fun shapes.
Mixed berries and muesli rind
- Ingredients:
- 3 cups mixed berries (cut)
- 2 cups of natural yogurt
- 3 tbsp honey
- ½ cup of granola
manual
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a food processor, add 2 cups of the berry mixture, yogurt, and honey
- Mix until everything is smooth
- Pour the mixture over the baking sheet and distribute it evenly
- Scatter the remaining berries and muesli on top
- Put in the freezer for 4 hours
- Remove and break into pieces.
Baby breakfast ideas to help build a balanced meal
Once your baby has reached self-service lunch, brainstorming breakfast ideas can be a challenge. However, babies of this age can eat anything you eat. You don’t need extra food just for your baby. Planning ahead can save you time and stress. Like adults, babies need balanced meals. For a balanced meal, follow these instructions:
- Carbohydrates – Your baby needs whole grains, fruits, or starchy vegetables
- Protein – meat, eggs, or dairy products to help your baby grow up longer and feel full
- Healthy fats – avocado, nut butters, eggs, and whole milk for good brain development
- Produce – fruits and vegetables of all shapes and colors for vitamins
Check out the articles below for more information on baby breakfast ideas!
Homemade baby food recipes
Best Baby Food Maker – 7 of the best models available
7 healthy abbreviations for homemade baby food