First foods database
🥣 Congee for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat congee? Yes, from about 6 months. Congee is a soft, savoury rice porridge cooked with plenty of water until silky, which makes it a gentle first food and an easy way to carry vegetables, egg, fish or meat.
Good source of: Carbohydrate, Protein
How to serve congee by age
6 to 9 months
Simmer 1 part rice to 8 to 10 parts water for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring, until thick and silky. Blend smooth for early eaters and stir in puréed spinach, ginger-scented chicken or well-cooked egg. Thicker congee can be offered on a preloaded spoon.
9 to 12 months
Serve thicker congee with small soft pieces of chicken, flaked fish, mashed egg or finely chopped greens. A little grated fresh ginger or spring onion adds flavour without salt.
12 months and up
Offer congee with family toppings such as shredded chicken, egg and soft vegetables, using only a splash of reduced-salt soy sauce if any.
Choking safety
Congee is soft and low choking risk. Shred or flake add-ins finely, check fish for bones, and avoid crunchy toppings like fried dough sticks or peanuts for babies.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Make it with water or unsalted homemade stock, not stock cubes.
- Leave out soy sauce, century eggs and salted fish for babies.
- Cool and refrigerate leftover rice quickly and reheat only once.
Easy ideas
- Chicken and ginger congee
- Spinach and egg congee
- Salmon and pea congee
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat congee?
Can babies eat congee? Yes, from about 6 months. Congee is a soft, savoury rice porridge cooked with plenty of water until silky, which makes it a gentle first food and an easy way to carry vegetables, egg, fish or meat.
Is congee good for babies?
Yes. It is soft, warming and easy to swallow, and you can add iron-rich foods like meat, fish, egg or greens to make it more nourishing.
Can I make congee in a slow cooker?
Yes. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours with plenty of water, stirring now and then.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).