Home Made Banana and Oat Teething Rusks

Ingredients

• 2 cups of oats
• 1/8 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp of vanilla essence (check it is alcohol free!)
• 1 large ripe banana
• 1 tbs of water
• 3 tbs olive oil

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius
• You'll need a high powered food processor for this recipe. Put your oats into the food processor and blitz for 1-3 minutes until you have a very fine oat flour.
• Add the rest of your ingredients in and blend until combined. If it isn't sticking together you'll likely need another 1/2 tbs of water.
• Roll out the dough between two pieces of baking paper. You want the dough to be roughly 1 finger thick.
• Now, cut the dough into pieces roughly 2 fingers wide. We then rolled/smoothed them by hand.
• Cook for 35-40 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 120 degrees and cook for another 60 minutes.
• Cool completely before storing (otherwise they will soften) or offering to bub.

Storage Instructions

Store in an airtight container and use within 3-4 days. These are not suitable to freeze and defrost as they will soften. If they start to go soft, pop them back in the oven to dry them out before offering to your bub.

Nutrition Notes

Made simply from oats and banana, these rusks are a wholesome, top-9-allergen-free alternative to commercial teething biscuits. They're designed as a firm teether to soothe little gums rather than as a source of nutrition.

Parent Tip

You can also use lots of everyday foods as simple teethers with minimal effort — a mango pit, watermelon rind with most of the flesh removed, a corn cob with most of the kernels removed, or a pineapple core all work well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do the rusks need to be so hard?

It is important that rusks are really hard and dense so they don't break off into pieces and become a choking hazard. Always check the texture before offering, and supervise your baby closely while eating.

From what age are these suitable?

From around 6 months, always with close supervision. Different banana sizes and ovens can affect the texture, so check they are firm before serving.

Can I freeze them?

No — they will soften when defrosted. Make them fresh and use within 3-4 days; re-crisp in the oven if they soften.

Are these allergy friendly?

Yes, these are free from the top 9 allergens, unlike many commercial options. The only consideration is coeliac disease, as oats can contain gluten.