Baby Chia Pudding is a great beginning solid for your little one—packed with protein and healthy fats for growing babies!
***This post is all about babies, but skip on down if you just want the recipe—it’s adult friendly!***
My ravenous Jonathan will be 9 months old next week so it’s time for an update on the foods we’re serving him, and a new recipe for you to try with your little ones.
Jonathan is tipping in around 24 pounds, wearing size 18 month clothing—he’s just giant. And with his giant self come giant smiles, laughs, and fun. He is a sweet sweet boy, who adores his big brother. He is a decent sleeper, but still doesn’t sleep through the night consistently. Most nights seem like a blur to me and I sometimes can’t remember in the morning whether I got up with him or not.
No crawling yet, but he is rocking up on his knees so I know it’s coming soon. He’s trying to tug at things to pull himself up, but again, he’s so big so it’s a little tough for him! I am equally excited and terrified for him to become mobile. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have a mobile baby around the house and I’m afraid it’s going to cramp David’s Lego style big time!
I still nurse Jonathan about four times a day, sometimes just 3, but sometimes more. To supplement his nursing, Jonathan usually eats 2 solid meals most days. He enjoys smoothies with us most mornings. (Readers have been asking—we use the Zoli Bot cup and so far it’s been working really well for us.) Some days he has lunch with us—it depends on whether he naps right through or not. I find that his need to sleep supersedes his need to eat during the day (sadly not the case at night). He always has a full dinner with the whole family. We just play it by ear and adjust as needed. I don’t normally prepare separate foods for him—I just smash up whatever we’re eating into easier to swallow bits. Sometimes I just put a serving on the cutting board and mince it up with a knife.
^^^ Tofu and Broccoli, minced up, baby style
^^^ Chompers!
Jonathan has 4 ½ teeth right now, but hasn’t quite figured out the chewing motion despite my obvious and exaggerated chewing faces I make at him while feeding him. We’ve pretty much abandoned the idea of baby led weaning—too much coughing and sputtering while eating freaked me out. We watch his cues to know when he wants more or is full. He basically growls at us the entire time he is eating (you have to WATCH THIS VIDEO of him eating!), demanding more, until he just stops and suddenly won’t make eye contact. Forget baby sign language—this guy’s cues are as obvious as reading a book! We never force food—if he’s not hungry, he’s not hungry. No crazy spoon airplanes either. We have yet to find a food he won’t eat. He eats everything. Obviously.
He also drinks some pear juice (diluted with water), per his pediatrician’s recommendation to help with constipation. Maybe an ounce or two a day. We haven’t tried any other beverages yet, but I will be asking about it at his next check up.
Baby Chia Pudding
So, on to the recipe! I was looking for a yogurt that wasn’t sweetened with sugar, and relatively unprocessed. As I was thinking about it I thought that maybe I could make something at home instead. I revisited my Hippie Breakfast Bowl and simplified it a little bit to make it more baby friendly. Chia seeds are especially good for babies, as the seeds don’t need to be ground for the nutrients to be absorbed. The coconut milk adds healthy fats good for brain development.
I hope you have a chance to give this one a try! Take a pic of your cutie pies enjoy their Baby Chia Pudding and share on social media. Don’t forget to tag me so that I can see! {#frieddandelions // @frieddandelions}
Baby Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil melted
- ½ cup chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1-2 Tablespoon liquid sweetener to taste maple syrup or coconut nectar are both great!
- 2 cup coconut milk beverage can also use canned light coconut milk for a creamier pudding
Instructions
- Melt the coconut oil in a glass container (one with a lid that will fit all of the other ingredients later).
- Once melted, add the chia seeds and stir very well.
- Add the cinnamon, vanilla and sweetener and mix again.
- Finally add the milk and mix again with a spoon. Don’t just put the lid on and shake it. If the milk is cold it will cause the coconut oil to firm up, and you want to make sure you don’t have big clumps of chia.
- Refrigerate overnight.
You can serve it plain or mix in any other kind of fruit that you’d like—applesauce, berries, or bananas would all be great! And bonus points that this is delicious for big kids and adults too—your whole family can enjoy it.
Fair warning—chia seeds stick to everything, so be careful not to get it all over. I often find chia seeds stuck in Jonathan’s wrist rolls—fat baby problems!
*** I am not a doctor or a nutritionist. I am a mom committed to making healthy choices for my kids. Please consult your pediatrician with specific concerns regarding your little ones!
