Breakfast for Babies
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Breakfast is an important meal of the day at any age, and starting off the day with a nutrient-rich, balanced breakfast is a great habit to get into early on in life. It provides key nutrients that are essential in any diet, and babies and kids who get these nutrients first thing in the morning are more likely to eat better throughout the day.
Breakfast meals that are nutrient-rich and well-balanced with dairy products, cereals, fruits, and other energy-dense foods have been associated with healthier dietary patterns, and overall, eating these foods in the morning has a positive impact on diet quality.
When your baby is ready for solids, breakfast can also be a great time to start feeding your baby new foods using a baby-led weaning technique, which can encourage self-feeding and exploration of various textures and flavors right from the start.
From soft fruits and vegetables to purees for spoon-feeding to some of the best first foods for baby-led weaning, I have included many baby-friendly breakfast ideas in this post that can help foster independence and a love for wholesome meals. If you are stuck on what to offer your baby, this blog post will hopefully get you started with some ideas and recipes for balanced baby breakfasts that work well, whether your baby is new to solid foods or a food-devouring toddler.
Baby Breakfast Foods
When introducing solids to a baby, it's important to give age-appropriate options, avoid choke hazards, and incorporate a variety of nutritious foods from the various food groups. Many of the foods listed below also work well as first foods for babies. Whether you choose to do baby-led weaning or traditional spoon-feeding of purees, here are a few ideas for baby breakfast foods:
Oatmeal Cereal - Offer single-grain baby cereals* mixed with breast milk or formula (If you’ve heard about the higher risk of arsenic in infant rice cereal, be sure to check out this post for more information about why rice cereal is not an optimal early food for babies)
Pureed Fruits - Applesauce, mashed bananas, or pureed pears are a few nutritious options
Yogurt - Choose plain, whole-milk yogurt without added sugars and mix in pureed fruits for added flavor
Eggs - Scrambled or hard-boiled eggs are a great source of protein, just be sure they are well-cooked and cut into small, age-appropriate pieces
Avocado - Mashed avocado is rich in healthy fats and can be spread on small pieces of toast or served as a standalone food
Whole Grain Toast - Offer strips of whole grain toast; you can spread a thin layer of nut butter* (if allergies are not a concern) or cream cheese for added flavor exposure
Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Butternut Squash - Cooked and mashed sweet potatoes or squash varieties are a nutritious option that babies usually love
Small Pieces of Soft Fruit - Offer strips of soft fruits like melon, mango, strawberries, or peach slices
Cottage Cheese - Choose small-curd, full-fat cottage cheese for a good source of protein and calcium
Always ensure the food is cut into age-appropriate, manageable pieces to reduce the risk of choking. If you prefer to use purees, try allowing your baby to self-feed using a preloaded spoon. (Check out this post for tips on transitioning your baby from purees to finger foods.) Additionally, be mindful of any potential allergies, introducing top allergens one at a time, and observing your baby for reactions.
If you want a roadmap for starting solids and introducing allergens, here’s a link to my 12-Week Starting Solids Meal Plan that walks you through the first three months of your baby’s journey into the world of solid foods (with over 30 recipes).
Baby Breakfast Ideas
If you’re stuck in a breakfast rut and need more breakfast ideas for your baby to eat, try adding these balanced breakfasts for babies to your meal rotation. As a pediatric dietitian specializing in infant feeding, these are some of my favorite baby-led weaning breakfast recipes for babies. They also work well as toddler foods and meal ideas for the entire family.
Egg muffins are a great breakfast choice that can be easily customized by adding a mixture of different chopped vegetables you have in your refrigerator (bell peppers or tomatoes work well). These Egg Muffins are protein-packed and a rich source of choline, an important nutrient for growing brains.
Consider reducing or omitting the salt when preparing these muffins for an infant under 12 months to help keep excess sodium levels low. Balance the breakfast meal with a soft, ripe peach sprinkled with ground flax seeds and cinnamon.
2. Peanut Apple Fritters
These peanut apple fritters are an excellent breakfast choice for babies, as they are tender, tasty, and made with no added sugar or salt. They also provide an easy and nutrient-dense way to serve peanuts to babies, which can help prevent the development of peanut allergy. Serve with a side of yogurt or soft cheese for a balanced baby meal.
TOP TIP: Cut fritters into strips for babies using a palmar grasp or small chickpea-sized bites for babies using a pincer grasp.
3. Eggless Vegan Frittata
This eggless vegan frittata is made with tofu, which contributes to its protein and fiber content. It’s also packed with vegetables, making it even richer in micronutrients and fiber.
If you enjoy prep-ahead options, this one is perfect for busy weekdays! Serve with a strip of buttered whole grain toast and a side of half-peeled banana.
These breakfast bars are a perfect finger food for babies. They are nutrient-dense, soft in texture, contain no added sugar or salt, and are made with unsweetened applesauce.
For an added calorie and nutrient boost, drizzle a thin layer of nut butter of your choosing (I like to use almond butter) or yogurt on top and serve with some wedges of soft, ripe avocado on the side.
5. Baby-friendly Pumpkin Muffins
These pumpkin muffins are perfect for little eaters - they are soft in texture and moist and contain no added sugar or salt.
They’re also rich in beta-carotene, a nutrient that supports a baby’s developing eyesight and immune system, as well as overall growth. Serve with a side of scrambled eggs and some smashed berries for a balanced baby meal.
6. Baby-Led Weaning Blueberry Muffins
These muffins contain 4 of the top 8 allergens. Once all of these allergens (wheat, tree nuts, eggs, cow’s milk) have been introduced and tolerated on their own, this recipe offers a convenient way to keep them in your baby’s diet regularly and frequently, which can help reduce the risk of developing food allergies down the road.
Consider omitting the salt if preparing for a baby, and serve cut in half for easy baby gripping - this works well for babies using either a palmar or pincer grasp. I love topping these muffins with some crème fraiche and serving with a side of applesauce for a balanced, nutrient-dense baby breakfast.
7. Veggie Egg Bites
Veggie Egg Bites are a great way to pack a lot of nutrients and flavor into one easy muffin. They are the perfect breakfast for babies using a palmar grasp who can easily self-feed them when cut them in half.
Omit the salt if preparing for an infant and choose a low-sodium cheese to help keep your baby’s sodium intake low. These muffins pair well with some strips of whole grain buttered toast and some soft ripe fingers of cantaloupe.
These Easy Pumpkin Pancakes are a great year-round option for babies and kids. I love cooking up a large batch to freeze and take on the go or reheat for easy weekday breakfasts. Try topping them with a thin layer of almond butter and serving with a side of soft, ripe pears.
If your baby uses a palmar grasp, try cutting the pumpkin pancakes into strips so they can easily self-feed. If your baby uses a pincer grasp, you can still cut them into strips or cut them into smaller bite-sized pieces instead.
9. Mascarpone Peanut Butter Melts
Mascarpone Peanut Butter Melts are an easy way to introduce your baby to an interesting texture and cold temperature. They also offer early exposure to two of the top allergenic foods (peanut and cow’s milk), which can help reduce the risk of food allergy. They’re also packed with protein, fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Serve with a side of whole-grain buttered waffles and some smashed berries.
These melts are safe to serve to babies using either a palmar or pincer grasp; however, babies who are using a pincer grasp will have an easier time picking up the melts, while babies who are still raking foods toward themselves and palming foods up to the mouth might get frustrated.
This simple pancake recipe is made with just 5 ingredients and offers the opportunity to give your baby minimally processed, whole, fresh foods. The texture is infant-safe and is easy for babies to grip and self-feed. Try topping these pancakes with a thin layer of peanut butter and serving with soft, ripe kiwi wedges.
Cheers to your good health!
Xo, Malina
P.S. If the thought of starting solids feels overwhelming, and you want someone you trust to do all the thinking and meal planning, check out my Safe & Simple 12-Week Meal Plan! This complete roadmap walks you through the first 90 days of your baby’s solid food-feeding journey. It explains exactly how to introduce each food (with photos), provides multiple daily options for balanced baby meals, lays out the timing of top allergen introduction, provides over 30 family and baby-friendly recipes complete with weekly shopping lists, and provides a plan for keeping top allergens (once introduced) in your baby’s diet early and often.
For more tips on feeding kids, grab my FREE guide to reducing picky eating, and if you are looking for help navigating picky eating behaviors in your toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age kiddos, check out my pediatrician-endorsed online course Solve Picky Eating, a self-paced set of 12 modules that are delivered quickly in 5-15 minute videos.
And if you're looking for personalized nutrition support for yourself, your babies, and/or your kids, I am currently accepting new clients in my virtual private practice. Looking forward to meeting you online!
This cruciferous vegetable is a nutritious food for baby-led weaning. Here are some tips from a pediatric dietitian on why and how to serve broccoli to a baby.