Ramen

How to serve ramen by age

6 months+

Soft noodles in finger-length bundles

Cook plain wheat noodles, or egg noodles as on our egg noodles page, in unsalted water until very soft. Instant ramen noodle blocks aren't for babies under 12 months. Drain the noodles and offer a small bundle, or toss them with a spoonful of homemade unsalted broth so they aren't dripping. Strips of soft-cooked carrot or sweet potato work well alongside. Offer ramen once your baby has had wheat on its own.

Size

A small bundle of soft noodles cut to about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in), or cut short and mashed into soft vegetables.

Check before serving

Squash a noodle between your thumb and finger. It should flatten easily, with no firm center. Check the noodles are only just warm.

US and UK advice differ here. The AAP suggests mashed food or soft pieces no larger than ½ inch; the NHS suggests soft finger-sized pieces your baby can hold in their fist. Both agree the food must squash easily.

9 months+

Short soft noodles with soft toppings

Cut soft noodles into short pieces and mix them with small soft pieces of vegetable, finely shredded cooked chicken or pork, or flaked fish once your baby has had fish on its own. Keep the broth to a spoonful, cooled and unsalted, so the bowl isn't slippery soup. Chop egg finely, and see the US vs. UK note below on runny yolks.

Size

Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).

Check before serving

Each piece should squash flat. Stir and check the temperature in the middle of the bowl.

12 months+

Your toddler's share of the family bowl

Take your toddler's noodles, vegetables and egg out before the soy sauce, miso or other seasoning goes into the broth, and serve them with a little water or unsalted broth. Restaurant and instant ramen broth is salty, so skip it or offer only a spoonful. Cut long noodles short, mash any corn, cook bean sprouts until soft, and snip nori into tiny pieces.

Size

Short noodles and soft pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).

Check before serving

No long noodles, no whole corn kernels, and broth that's only just warm.

18 months+

Ramen bowl, cut up

Offer ramen the way your family eats it, with noodles cut short and toppings in small pieces. Slice pork or other meat thinly and cut it small, cook bean sprouts until steaming hot, and keep cutting eggs into small pieces. Slurping long noodles can wait: snip them with kitchen scissors in the bowl.

Size

Short noodles and bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).

Check before serving

Noodles cut short, meat in small soft pieces, eggs cooked as in the US vs. UK note, and broth only just warm.

Always have your child sit upright in a high chair or at the table, and stay with them the whole time they eat. Keep to the size and texture for their stage. Every baby develops on their own timeline.

How to prepare ramen

1. 1

   Wash your hands, and rinse vegetables under running water before you peel and cook them.

2. 2

   Boil plain wheat noodles or egg noodles in unsalted water for a little longer than the package says, until very soft. Instant ramen noodle blocks aren't for babies under 12 months. From 12 months, use them only now and then: throw the flavor packet away and check the label's sodium per serving.

3. 3

   For the broth, simmer vegetables, and chicken or pork if you like, in water or homemade unsalted broth until everything is very soft and any chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). Don't add salt, stock cubes, soy sauce or miso to your baby's portion: take it out first, then season the rest of the pot.

4. 4

   Cook eggs until the white and yolk are firm (see the US vs. UK note). Cut the noodles short, spread your baby's portion in a shallow bowl and stir: broth holds heat.

5. 5

   Offer ramen only once your baby has had wheat, and egg if you add it, each on its own. First time? Pick a day your baby is well, at home, when you can watch them for a couple of hours afterward.

How much to offer

Start with a small bundle of noodles or a few spoonfuls. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Instant and restaurant ramen are very salty, so the broth is the part to keep small.

Common mistakes

Questions parents ask

If your baby refuses ramen

• Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
• Offer the parts separately: a bundle of soft noodles, a few soft vegetable pieces and some chopped egg.
• Eat some yourself at the same meal. Babies copy what they see.
• Funny faces don't mean they dislike it. They're getting used to a new taste and texture.

Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.

Buying and storing ramen

• Cool leftover broth quickly in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking. Keep noodles and broth in separate covered containers if you can.
• Cooked noodles, broth and toppings keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Hard-boiled eggs keep for up to 1 week.
• Broth can be frozen for 2 to 3 months. Don't freeze hard-boiled eggs. Reheat broth only once, to a rolling boil or 165°F (74°C), then add the noodles and let it cool before serving.
• Throw away any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).