Chia Pudding For Babies and Toddlers

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Chia pudding is a great option for babies and toddlers! This recipe is super quick and easy to make, and is full of supportive nutrients from the chia seeds.

Image of banana chia pudding in a blue bowl with a pink spoon.

Toddler Tip!

This recipe is a great dairy-free option and incredibly versatile. It’s high in fibre from both the chia seeds and banana and is particularly rich in soluble fibre from the chia seeds, which can help relieve constipation. If you’re just beginning to introduce chia seeds to your little one, start with a small amount.

This banana chia pudding was my daughter’s favourite thing to eat when we were first introducing foods! She took a while to get going when introducing solids, and I was quite anxious with introducing foods, but this pudding was perfect! I loved the soft but slightly lumpy texture and she loved the taste! But be warned, chia puddings can be very messy!

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Ingredients
Instructions
Variations
Storage
FAQ
Recipe
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Ingredients

banana
chia seeds
coconut milk
vanilla
cinnamon (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Mash the banana in a small bowl.

Add the chia seeds, coconut milk, vanilla and cinnamon and stir to combine.

Let the pudding sit for at least 30 minute in the fridge to allow the chia seeds to thicken up the pudding.

Hint: It is important to let the pudding sit for a little while so that the chia seeds can soak up the liquid and form a thicker, pudding like consistency. If your pudding is still runny, it may need to sit longer. I love storing this pudding in a glass container in the fridge as I find it gets slightly colder and makes even a thicker, creamier consistency!

Variations

Strawberries – I love adding in small pieces of fresh strawberries or microwaving frozen strawberries and chopping them up and adding in!
Other milks – Coconut milk is our favourite choice with this recipe, but you could use some regular milk or plant-based alternative beverage. However, I find it isn’t as creamy and doesn’t thicken up the same way as the coconut milk.
Baby friendly – This is such a great first food option to introduce! Nutrient packed and a nice texture for babies to try. This recipe was a huge hit for my daughter when she was starting solids – and still is today at age 2!

Storage

Store the pudding in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Give it a good stir each time as the banana may go a little brown in the pudding, but is still fine to eat.

FAQ

Why Chia Pudding for Babies and Toddlers?

Chia seeds are a wonderful source of plant-based protein, packing 5g of protein in just 2 tablespoons. They are also an excellent source of fibre with 10g of fibre per 2 tablespoons. But one of the best features of chia seeds is that they are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, along with many other great vitamins and minerals.

Do You Need to Grind the Chia Seeds?

There is some research to support that if you grind the chia seeds, you absorb more of the nutrients. This study showed significant increases in ALA and EPA (which are types of omega-3 fatty acids!) when people consumed ground chia compared to when they consumed whole chia seeds. So perhaps not a bad idea to grind up the chia seeds to maximize absorption of those wonderful anti-inflammatory fats!

Can Babies Eat Chia Seeds?

Yes! Once a baby is showing signs of readiness to start solids, they can have chia seeds. Chia seeds are such a nutrient powerhouse food and are a great option for babies starting solids. It is important to mix the chia seeds into some liquid and let the chia seeds soak up the liquid for at least 30 minutes. Always give the mixture a good stir to ensure there are no clumps. Chia seeds are high in fibre, so start off with a small amount when introducing to a baby. For more information on introducing chia seeds to babies, check out this post here.

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