Simple Overnight Oats for Babies and Kids

Overnight oats are super easy to make and are a nutritious, convenient breakfast that takes no extra prep time in the morning. This overnight oats recipe for babies and kids has no added sugar, but it still tastes delicious. We like to make this recipe in a quart size mason jar to share between the kids or to have breakfast ready for the next few days in a row.

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Simple Overnight Oats for Babies and Kids

Breakfast time can be crazy, especially with babies and kids when you’re trying to get moving for the day. These easy overnight oats are not only really simple, but they’re incredibly healthy, too. They’re an ideal nutritious meal that’s perfect for busy mornings!

This recipe takes about 5 minutes to prepare the night before, and it doesn’t take a lot of dishes to make, either. Mash everything up in a bowl with a fork, transfer it to a glass jar (or just keep it in the covered bowl), and you have a healthy breakfast all prepared for the next morning. 

This recipe is packed with healthy fats, probiotics, and fresh fruit for natural sweetness. This makes it perfect for feeding to babies and toddlers without having to add any type of sweetener at all. It’s also super easy to mix in other ingredients and adapt this recipe to create different flavors and textures. 

What Are Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats are simply oats that are soaked overnight instead of cooked. Overnight oats give you all the benefits of regular oatmeal recipes – like fiber and protein, and many vitamins and minerals – but they also have the added benefit of being easier to digest and therefore easier on the gut. They’re super nutrient rich and also super easy! 

Overnight oats are commonly hydrated using milk or yogurt. This recipe uses yogurt, which is even easier for babies to digest than milk. Although it’s not recommended to give children milk until 12 months of age, they can have yogurt around 6 months. Just check the label to make sure it doesn’t have any added sugar if you’re giving it to babies. The live bacteria in yogurt is excellent for gut health at any age! 

Ingredients

• Whole milk yogurt. You can buy plain Greek yogurt from the store or make your own yogurt with whole milk and yogurt starter. We usually make at least a gallon of yogurt at a time, so there’s always plenty in the fridge for making overnight oatmeal, pairing with granola and fresh fruit, or eating plain.
• Raw oats. Rolled oats work well for overnight oats. They soak up the liquid well so they’re not too hard still the next day (like steel-cut oats) or too mushy (like quick oats). We like to use organic sprouted rolled oats from Costco, especially for little ones.
• Banana. Bananas are totally underrated when it comes to natural sweetness! A ripe banana is a great way to add sweetness to your yogurt mix and create a nutritious breakfast that the whole family can enjoy. 
• Vanilla. Vanilla is the perfect way to add depth to the taste of these simple ingredients.   

Other optional ingredients:

One of the best things about overnight oats is that you can switch up the recipe and add pretty much whatever you want to create different textures and tastes. Just make sure to choose carefully if you’re feeling a baby under 1 year. Here are some common ingredients that taste great in this recipe.

• Chia seeds
• Peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter
• Maple syrup (if you’re making a serving for older children or adults)
• Milk of choice – Feel free to use whole cow’s milk for toddlers or plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk if you’re dairy free. You could even add breast milk for babies if you wanted.
• Other fruits

Instructions

1. Start by mashing the banana. It’s easiest to do this in a bowl rather than starting out in the mason jar. You can always transfer it later for storage if you’d like!
2. Stir together. 
3. Add the yogurt, raw oats, and vanilla. You can add the oats whole or grind them in a blender or food processor if you want smaller pieces that are even easier for little ones to eat. The ingredient amounts are flexible, but having a little bit more liquid or yogurt than oats helps ensure that they get thoroughly soaked.
4. Cover, or move to a mason jar. 
5. Serve and enjoy!
6. Store in the refrigerator overnight.