Veggie-loaded Ramen Noodles for Baby and Toddler

There’s a lot of unnecessary fear about making ramen noodles for baby.

I’ve heard some parents say it’s cheap food and not safe for babies. I’ve also heard others claim it shouldn’t be given to babies until 1 year of age.

Well, let me tell you that ramen noodles are safe to feed your baby when done right. 

In this recipe post, I’ll show you how to make veggie-loaded ramen noodles for babies and toddlers. 

It’s a simple and nutritious recipe that babies can start eating from 6 months of age.

Let’s get started! 

Love Ramen noodles? You may also like these noodle recipes for babies and toddlers

Why I Love Ramen Noodles for Baby

Ramen is a traditional noodle eaten in Japanese culture. It’s a staple in a lot of Asian diets.

This ramen noodles for babies and toddlers is loaded with lots of vegetables that are great for your baby.

I used whatever old veggies I had in my fridge to make this. That’s my favorite thing about this recipe.

It works with any vegetable.

To make ramen noodles safely for babies, I suggest you don’t use the seasoning packet that comes with it. 

Making a baby-friendly seasoning will make your ramen healthier for your baby.

The seasoning packet tends to be very salty. Salt is not recommended for babies younger than 1 year of age.

Even after 1, you should limit the salt your toddler consumes.

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Important Recipe Notes on Ramen Noodles for Baby-led Weaning 

Don’t use the salty seasoning packet 

As stated before, don’t use the seasoning packet that comes with the ramen noodles. Those tend to contain a lot of sodium. 

Instead, use my seasoning suggestions to make a flavorful ramen for your baby that doesn’t contain salt.

Use any vegetable of your choice 

One of my favorite things about making ramen for babies is that you can use any vegetable of your choice.

Today I’m using carrots, celery, and mushrooms. In the past, I’ve also used spinach, bell peppers, and beetroot.

Ramen is a great way to use old veggies that you don’t know what to do with.

I added eggs for protein 

I like adding some eggs to make this meal a balanced diet. You can decide to soft-boil or hard-boil your eggs. 

I’m soft-boiling the eggs for this recipe because that’s how I like them. 

Eggs are entirely optional. You don’t need to use them if your baby is allergic or doesn’t like them.

I cooked the ramen in pork broth

To make these ramen noodles for baby, I cooked them in pork broth. 

Whenever I have leftover pork bones from another meal, I like to make broth out of them for use in ramen.

You can do this with chicken or beef bones as well. Just cook the bones for about 15 minutes and save the water to cook with later.

Alternatively, you can use store-bought vegetable, chicken, or beef stock. 

Use any meat of your choice 

This ramen noodles for baby doesn’t require meat if you’re vegan. 

You can just use vegetables. If you prefer though, you can add some meat for more protein. 

I like to add pork or chicken because they’re cheap and readily available.

Shred the meat for your baby based on their age

If you do choose to use meat for these ramen noodles for your baby, make sure you shred the meat for safety.

Babies just starting baby-led weaning can’t eat large chunks of meat due to the risk of choking. 

FAQs About Ramen Noodles For Babies

Can babies have ramen noodles?

Babies can have ramen noodles when it’s prepared correctly. To make ramen noodles safe for babies, cut the noodles into smaller pieces, and limit the use of the salty seasoning packet it comes with.

Can babies eat instant ramen?

Yes, babies can eat instant ramen when it’s prepared correctly. 

To make it safe for your baby, limit the use of any peppery or salty seasoning packet. Cut the ramen to make it shorter and cook the ramen until it’s soft enough to squish between your fingers. 

You also add vegetables and proteins to add more nutrients to the instant ramen. 

At what age can babies eat ramen noodles?

I’ve been feeding instant ramen to my baby since they started solids at 6 months old. 

As long as your baby shows all signs of readiness to start solids (usually around 6 months) they can have ramen noodles when it’s cooked correctly.

What kind of noodles can babies eat?

Babies can have ramen noodles, udon noodles, spaghetti, and other types of pasta. 

Avoid giving flat noodles to babies who are just starting solids because flat noodles are hard for babies to chew and swallow. It tends to stick to the roof of their mouths. 

Nutritional value of veggie-loaded ramen noodles for babies and toddlers 

It contains proteins from meat and eggs

The addition of meat and eggs gives these ramen noodles for babies and toddlers much-needed protein.

Without these, the ramen will just be plain. Protein is essential to building muscles and bones in babies and toddlers (source)

The veggies give it vitamins and minerals 

Adding veggies helps give this ramen for babies a lot of vitamins. The carrots provide vitamin A which is essential for proper eye development. 

How to serve ramen noodles to babies and toddlers

6 – 9 months old

To serve ramen noodles to babies ages 6,7,8, or 9 months old, chop the ramen into smaller pieces. 

You can then serve it in a bowl for them to scoop and feed themselves.

10-12 months old

To serve ramen noodles to babies 10, 11, and 12 months old, pre-load a fork for them to bring to their mouths. Make sure you chop the noodles into smaller pieces so that it’s easier to swallow.

12 months plus

Toddlers over 12 months old can be fed ramen noodles independently. You can provide them with a fork so they can scoop up the noodles independently.

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying. 

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating. 

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Ingredient For Veggie-loaded ramen noodles for baby 

• 1 packet of instant ramen noodles (with seasoning removed)
• 1-2 cups of chopped vegetables (use whatever veggies you have on hand)
• 1 egg (hard or soft-boiled)
• 3-4 cups of broth (I used pork broth, but you can use chicken, turkey, beef broth or water instead)
• 1 tsp powdered garlic or 1 fresh clove
• 1 tsp parsley 
• 1/4 tsp black pepper 

Cooking Directions For Ramen Noodles For Baby

• Pour the broth into a pot and bring to a boil. If using meat, add the meat and cook until thoroughly done.
• Add the vegetables and cook until they’re halfway cooked.
• Add the plain ramen noodles into the pot along with the garlic, parsley, and pepper.
• Cook the noodles and veggies until they’re fully cooked and can be easily squished between your fingers.
• Remove from the heat and serve in a bowl. Add the soft-boiled or hard-boiled egg on top.

Storage Tips for Baby-led Weaning Ramen Noodles 

Ramen Noodles are best when eaten fresh after cooking. I don’t recommend you store it because it will become very mushy. 

Did you make this baby-led weaning recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!