The Best Fats for Babies & Toddlers: Building Brain, Gut Healing, and Supporting Development Naturally
As a mama, you're likely hyper-aware of every single bite that goes into your little one’s mouth. And if you’re here, you already know that real, nourishing food is key—but what you might not know is just how critical healthy fats are, especially in the early years of life.
Let’s walk through the science, the ancestral wisdom, and the practical ways to use fat as one of your most powerful tools for healing and development—whether you're focused on gut repair, eczema relief, immunity building, or simply raising a deeply nourished child.
Why Healthy Fats Are So Important for Babies and Toddlers
Did you know that your baby’s brain TRIPLES in size between birth and age 2?
That incredible growth doesn’t happen on protein and carbs alone. It requires fat. In fact, the human brain is made up of nearly 60% fat—and it needs a constant supply of healthy dietary fats to build neurons, myelin sheaths, and neurotransmitters for learning, focus, and emotional regulation.
But fats aren’t just for the brain. They also:
✔️ Help build a strong gut lining
✔️ Fuel the immune system
✔️ Stabilize blood sugar and moods
✔️ Promote hormone balance
✔️ Carry fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) into tissues where they’re needed
And this isn’t just theory—breast milk itself is over 50% fat, filled with saturated fat, cholesterol, and omega-3 fatty acids to fuel all of the above. Nature doesn’t make mistakes. Fat is foundational.
The Best Cooking Fats for Babies & Toddlers
These are the three safest, most nourishing cooking fats you can use from the start of solids and well into toddlerhood. They’re gentle, ancestral, and healing—just what a growing gut and brain need.
🥥 1. Coconut Oil
Antimicrobial & anti-inflammatory, thanks to lauric acid (also found in breast milk!)
Supports gut healing and may help manage yeast or eczema flares
Easy to digest for little bellies still developing enzymes
Perfect for sautéing veggies, blending into smoothies, or stirring into oatmeal or soups
How to use: ½ tsp for infants, 1 tsp+ for toddlers daily
🧈 2. Cultured or Grass-Fed Ghee
Rich in butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that strengthens the gut lining
High in vitamins A, D, E, and K2—critical for tooth development, bone strength, and immunity
Lactose- and casein-free, making it a great option for dairy-sensitive little ones
Adds amazing flavor and healthy fats to purees, scrambled eggs, veggies, and soups
How to use: ½ tsp for infants, 1–2 tsp for toddlers daily
🐄 3. Beef Tallow (from grass-fed cows)
High in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) for immune support, fat metabolism, and inflammation control
Strengthens the gut lining and supports the skin barrier—perfect for eczema-prone babies
Mimics the types of fats found in traditional diets (and breast milk!)
Use for roasting veggies, making baby-friendly meatballs, or frying tiny pancakes
How to use: ½ tsp for infants, 1–2 tsp for toddlers 2–3x/week
Whole Food Fats for Brain + Body Development
Beyond cooking oils, there are powerful real food sources of fat that support cognitive, physical, and emotional development.
🥚 1. Pastured Egg Yolks
Choline powerhouse – essential for brain development and focus
Rich in vitamin A, DHA, and B12
Gentle when soft-boiled or mixed into meat stock-based soups or veggie purees
How to use: Start with ½ tsp soft yolk at 6+ months, work up to 1 full yolk 4–5x/week
🥑 2. Avocados
Full of monounsaturated fats for brain function and skin health
Also provides fiber for gut health and stable blood sugar
Great as a finger food, mashed with meat stock, or mixed with egg yolk
How to use: 2–4 tbsp mashed avocado 3–5x/week
🐟 3. Wild Salmon or Sardines
Rich in DHA and EPA, two forms of omega-3s needed for cognitive and vision development
Also a source of iodine and selenium, which support thyroid and immune health
Blend into soups, mash into veggie patties, or flake into mashed potatoes
How to use: 1–2 oz 2–3x/week for toddlers
Healing the Gut with Healthy Fats
If you’re a mama working on gut healing, food sensitivities, or eczema, fats are your friend.
They help to seal the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and calm immune responses that trigger skin flares, reflux, or food intolerance. This is the exact method I used to support my own daughter’s dairy sensitivity—by flooding her diet with meat stock, ghee, tallow, and egg yolks, I helped her build a strong foundation before trying to reintroduce any tricky foods.
The Essential Healthy Fats Guide for Moms, Babies, and Dogs
On Sale Now for Just $5.99!
This must-have guide breaks down:
✔️ Safe cooking fats + superfood foods by age
✔️ How much fat to serve infants, toddlers, and dogs
✔️ Creative ways to rotate and use fats for optimal brain, gut, and immune health
✔️ The truth about saturated fats, cholesterol, and what Weston A. Price & GAPS diets really teach us
🎉 Perfect for:
Moms healing eczema, allergies, or sensitivities
Families wanting to ditch seed oils & processed foods
Dog parents nourishing their furry family naturally
Transform your family’s health with the wisdom of traditional nutrition—all simplified for real life.
💛 Let’s nourish our babies the way nature intended.