Soft Porridge with Mashed Banana
By the GreenSpoon Kids kitchen
Creamy oat porridge cooked until very soft, topped with mashed banana. A warming, filling breakfast with natural sweetness.
Soft porridge with mashed banana is a classic first breakfast for good reason: it is warm, filling, naturally sweet, and gentle on little tummies. Oats cook down with milk until creamy, then a little mashed banana stirs through for sweetness with no added sugar. For an 8 to 10 month old, it is an easy, comforting start to the day that you can have on the table in about ten minutes.
Ingredients(4)
- 3 tablespoons porridge oats (not instant)
- 1/2 cup whole milk or water
- 1/2 ripe banana
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
Instructions(7 steps)
- 1
Combine oats and milk in a small saucepan.
- 2
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for 5-6 minutes until thick and creamy.
- 3
The porridge should be very soft with no chewy oat pieces.
- 4
Stir in butter until melted.
- 5
Mash half a banana with a fork until no large lumps remain.
- 6
Spoon porridge into a bowl, top with mashed banana.
- 7
Stir together and cool to lukewarm before serving.
Nutritional Highlights
- -Oats provide slow-release energy and fiber
- -Banana adds potassium and natural sweetness
- -Whole milk offers calcium and healthy fats
- -Iron and B vitamins from oats
Age Appropriateness
Good for 8-10 month olds who can handle slightly lumpy textures. Cook oats until very soft for easy chewing.
Introduction Tip
If baby struggles with the texture, blend the cooked oats briefly before adding banana.
Why this works
Around 8 to 10 months, babies are ready for soft, slightly textured foods, and well-cooked porridge is exactly that: creamy and easy to gum, with no chewy oat bits if you cook it long enough. Mashed banana sweetens it naturally, so there is no need for any added sugar, and a little butter or milk makes it rich and satisfying. It is warm and filling, which helps a baby start the day well, and it is endlessly adaptable, so the same base carries you through months of breakfasts as your baby grows.
Variations and swaps
- Use breast milk, formula, water, or whole milk as the cooking liquid to suit your baby.
- Swap the banana for mashed pear, grated apple, or a few crushed soft berries.
- Stir in a spoonful of plain yogurt or smooth nut or seed butter for extra richness once introduced.
- Add a tiny pinch of cinnamon for gentle warmth.
- Leave it lumpier for an older baby, or blend briefly for a smoother texture for a younger one.
Make ahead and storage
Porridge keeps covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. It thickens as it sits, so reheat gently with an extra splash of milk or water, stir well, and cool to lukewarm before serving. You can also freeze plain cooked porridge in small portions for up to 1 month and add fresh banana after reheating. Always check the temperature before it reaches your baby.
What to serve with it
Serve it lukewarm in a bowl with a soft spoon, and let an older baby try self-feeding with a chunky spoon even if it is messy. A few soft fruit pieces on the side make a nice addition. Offer a few spoonfuls and let your baby set the pace.
Common questions
Can babies have oats?
Yes. Oats are a great early food, gentle on the tummy and easy to cook soft. Use plain porridge oats and cook them until very soft and creamy with no chewy bits, then sweeten naturally with fruit rather than sugar.
What milk should I use?
For cooking the porridge, you can use breast milk, formula, or whole cow's milk (cow's milk is fine in cooking from 6 months, though not as a main drink until 12 months). Use whatever suits your baby, and adjust the amount for a thicker or thinner porridge.
My baby does not like the lumpy texture. What can I do?
Blend the cooked oats briefly before stirring in the banana for a smoother texture, then gradually leave it a little lumpier over the following weeks as your baby gets used to it. Cooking the oats longer also makes them softer and less noticeable.
Is there really no added sugar?
Correct. All the sweetness comes from ripe banana, with no sugar, honey, or syrup added. That makes it a great everyday breakfast, and a good habit early on, since babies do not need added sugar.
Parent guide
Read our toddler feeding guides
