Registered dietitian Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, notes that organic means food is grown without synthetic pesticides, but it can still contain organic pesticides. However, research suggests that environmental contamination is likely present for both organic and conventional methods. Both organic and traditional baby foods on the market are regulated for safety and contain ingredients that are GRAS, or “Generally Recognized as Safe,” to consume by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When selecting the best organic brands, we considered USDA certification status, taste, packaging, variety, and overall nutritional value of the brand’s offerings. Our list of organic baby foods includes USDA certified organic products, meaning the ingredients are grown and processed according to federal guidelines that monitor soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, use of additives, and other measures. Additionally, unless stated otherwise, these brands offer organic baby food options that are BPA-free and free of artificial colors and flavors. Here are the best organic baby food brands. Once Upon a Farm stands out from the baby food category for its cold-pressed technology. The brand uses high-pressure cold instead of heat to destroy harmful bacteria, such as E.coli and salmonella, while maintaining the food’s nutrients, natural taste, and texture. Because of this, their products need to be refrigerated or frozen until eaten. The brand creates convenience for families by offering a subscription and delivery service that allows you to select specific food blends and frequency of orders. Their pouches include fruit and veggie blends, dairy-free yogurt and smoothies, and overnight oats. They also offer frozen baby meal blends with fruits, vegetables, chia seeds, and cranberry seed oil that can be heated on the stove and served as baby-led weaning finger food or mashed up. Certain varieties of their stage 1 products are WIC-approved for eligible families. An important note, especially for baby food, is Once Upon a Farm is third-party tested for heavy metals, contaminants, and toxins by the Clean Label Project. Cerebelly was uniquely developed by a practicing neurosurgeon who wanted to create baby food focusing on nutrient-dense ingredients for optimal brain development. As a result, the products follow the basic principles of the Mediterranean diet, focusing on natural sources of plant-based proteins, fibers, specific minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids to support neurodevelopment. Additionally, Cerebelly does third-party testing for heavy metals and contaminants and has won a clean label purity award. While their product line is smaller compared to other companies, their options are thoughtfully and intentionally created. With products targeted from 5 months to 25 months and up, Cerebelly supports their customers in choosing suitable products for their little ones by offering a short questionnaire that surveys their children’s age, developmental stage, and eating habits. Customers can choose products based on the recommendations or make customized bundles depending on the family’s needs. Cerebelly is also committed to supporting a healthier environment through its recycling program, which encourages customers to recycle their used plastic pouches. Through the Brain-Building Box, the company is committed to donating a portion of its proceeds to the Baby2Baby Initiative—a nonprofit organization that provides the basic necessities to babies and children living in vulnerable conditions. We like that Happy Family has traditional flavors and more daring blends, so you can be adventurous while still having your tried-and-true options. For example, they offer savory blends of free range meats with stewed vegetables and quinoa for babies over 7 months. They also have advancing texture bowls suited for babies over 9 months in flavors like pumpkin tomato paella and sweet potato coconut curry. Introducing allergenic foods to babies early on may help reduce the risk of allergies. Because of this, Happy Family developed Nutty Blends—an easy way to introduce and include peanuts and other tree nuts in the diet. The company states that the four products available in this line are produced at a separate facility from their other products to keep the rest of the products allergen-friendly. Introducing allergenic foods can be intimidating; it’s best to consult your pediatrician before introducing allergenic foods at home if you have a family history of allergies or other concerns about adding them to your baby’s diet. A unique benefit of Happy Baby Organics is that some of their jars and pouches are approved for WIC, depending on the state. Organic products are very limited in the WIC program, so we appreciate Happy Baby making the extra effort to make these products accessible to all families.  The organic brand has stage 1, 2, and 3 fruit and vegetable-based purees in simple and delicious flavors, including sweet potato, apricot purée, and apple cinnamon oatmeal. They also offer unique savory purees for babies over 9 months, such as cheesy pasta with vegetables or chicken pot pie. The products come in a variety of packages, including BPA-free resealable glass jars and pouches. Their toddler breakfast line includes frozen pancakes, which can even double as teething support for your little one’s sore gums. While we love their toddler organic options, keep in mind some toddler foods do have added sugars or sodium. If you’re looking for a trusted brand, Earth’s Best Organic has been around since 1985 and continues to provide an accessible organic option to families. They also offer gluten-free organic options for bigger kids as well as Kosher options for babies, toddlers, and kids. This document referred to specific pureed and prepared baby foods brands, including Happy Baby, Earth’s Best, Gerber, Beech Nut, Plum Organics, Parent’s Choice, and Sprout Organic Foods. Various concentrations of heavy metals were found in these products, some with high levels that were concerning. It is important to note that the data reported was collected between 2017 and 2019, prior to August 2020, when the FDA finalized guidelines around heavy metals in infant foods. These companies state that they are now compliant with the new FDA guidelines, making efforts to reduce potentially harmful heavy metals in their products. Some companies participate in third-party testing, while others rely on internal testing, which we have noted in the pros and cons section for each product in this article. Most pediatric experts agree that when it comes to baby food, variety is the best approach. Having a variety of foods from various sources and manufacturers ensures that children are not constantly exposed to any single ingredient that may contain high levels of heavy metals, therefore lowering the chances of exposure to dangerous concentrations. Their products are broken down into three categories: BabyBlends, Plates, and Boosters. Starting with their BabyBlend purees, you can find 47 blends (stages 1 to 6) for your infant and toddler, including single-ingredient products suitable for 6 months of age and up. There are also more advanced textures and food combinations for those 9 months and older, such as black bean and farro Cubano bowl. Their toddler plates are also impressive—all 29 products are free of preservatives and are served on sectional plates with appropriate portions. Food served on different sections of the plate makes them easily identified by toddlers, promoting self-feeding and reducing the risk of feeling overwhelmed and fussy at mealtimes.  In addition to the BabyBlend and Plates, Little Spoon offers 11 varieties of cold-pressed organic smoothies, providing convenience for on-the-go options for all ages. They are also third-party tested for heavy metals, contaminants, and toxins by the Clean Label Project. Finally, their Booster products include a powdered food-based multivitamin and a probiotic option, which can be added to other foods or beverages if desired. You can register for a regular subscription based on the foods you want, which can help make feeding your little one easier. The flavors of Yumi products can be both simple and advanced. So, if you think your little one might be craving something unique like dragon fruit chia pudding or sweet potato cheesecake, then Yumi has you covered. For added convenience, Yumi uses a subscription plan that sends a menu out weekly to families interested in regular delivery options. Yumi is also third-party tested for contaminants, heavy metals, and toxins. Due to infants’ iron stores depleting around 6 months, Manaker recommends parents and caregivers introduce iron-rich foods as some of baby’s first food options. Serenity Kids’ meat purees fit perfectly into your little one’s diet to fill the gap. The brand boasts of using only ingredients without any antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides, fillers, GMOs, and common allergens.  The brand uses herbs instead of salt and sugar to entice its savory offerings and offers non-traditional pureed meats that no other brands offer. For example, their wild-caught salmon with organic butternut squash and beet option allows caregivers the opportunity to easily provide fish at 6 months of age. They also offer a specialized picky eater prevention bundle to help expose young ones to different herbs and flavors in hopes to lower the risk for picky eating.   Like other organic baby food brands, Serenity Kids offers a subscription program to make feeding and ordering easy. Tiny Organics focuses on using different flavors and textures to ideally expose babies to over 100 different flavors throughout their baby food journey. Popular flavor options based on organic produce include coconut curry, ratatouille, baby burrito bowl, or bananas foster. Tiny Organics is dedicated to making organic baby food that is free of the top nine allergens, is plant-based, and created with a team of in-house neonatal nutritionists and pediatric experts. The dehydration process Amara uses is unique compared to other baby food brands that usually use high heat for production. Dehydration may offer improved texture, taste, and possibly higher value of some nutrients compared to using high heat. Amara claims their price point per baby meal is under $2 per serving, which is lower than some other organic baby food brands. With Amara, you also have the freedom to customize the consistency of the baby food when you mix it with your desired liquid. You can use more or less depending on your baby’s needs. Besides powdered baby food, something else they uniquely offer is toddler yogurt melts that are sugar-free and use coconut milk to keep them plant-based.

Ingredients

Single-ingredient baby foods are some of the most common first foods for babies and tend to be pureed versions of whole food. Most brands, whether conventional or organic, start with either cereal options or fruit/vegetable-based purees. As you move to the advanced stages of baby foods, you will notice that more ingredients are added to the product. Sometimes, brands may add salt, sugar, fillers, and more to make the product palatable. Always read the ingredient list to ensure that the ingredients included in the product meet your goals for feeding your baby.

Price

The price of baby food can vary depending on what the food product is, what ingredients are used, and if it’s organic or conventional. In general, organic food can be priced a little higher than conventional baby food. Depending on your budget, you may want to factor in whether it is best for your needs to purchase conventional, organic, or make your own baby food. Generally speaking, single-ingredient baby food is cheaper than those with multiple ingredients.  Remember, whether you choose organic or conventional foods to feed your baby, it is important to feed a variety of foods as your baby grows. In general, a pouch or jar serving of organic baby food can cost between $1.50 and $3. Some brands that are more expensive may offer subscription services with potential discounts with repeating orders to help make their options more affordable.

Storage

Not all pouches are created equal—some are shelf-stable while others must be kept refrigerated or frozen before opening. Some products also require reheating. Not all pouches and packaging are microwave safe either. It is best to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer for how to prepare and serve the product.

USDA Certified Organic Label

Using some organic foods does not mean the product is entirely organic. If providing organic baby foods to your little one is important to you, look for the official USDA organic symbol on the packaging. This seal of approval ensures that the product includes ingredients grown and processed according to federal guidelines that monitor soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, use of additives, and other measures. For animal-based foods, this official label means food is produced without antibiotics or growth hormones. For plant-based foods, this means foods are grown free of conventional pesticides, fertilizers with synthetic ingredients, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Ultimately, it is a personal preference to choose organic or conventional baby foods, as healthy options can be found from both sources. Keep in mind the American Dietary Guidelines recommend that eating a variety of nutrient-dense food is always the priority, whether organic or conventionally sourced. Some research suggests organic food can be lower in cadmium but not necessarily lower in all heavy metals. Organic baby foods do not necessarily reduce the risk or presence of all heavy metals in your food. As always, the recommendation remains to provide your family with a variety of foods from various sources and purchase from companies that are committed to testing their foods to ensure safe levels of these metals. Once babies are interested in solid foods or show signs that they are developmentally ready to begin solids, it is time for families to think about how they want to present those “first foods.” Most babies are developmentally ready for solid foods around 6 months of age. Before starting the transition, it’s important to ensure the baby can do the following: · Sit up without assistance · Have good head and neck control · Open their mouth when food is presented · Use their tongue to move food into their mouth and throat for swallowing Between 6 and 12 months of age, babies will have an increasing need for complementary foods to help them meet their nutritional needs for growth and development, in addition to the breast milk and/or infant formula they receive. When a baby shows that they’re ready for solid foods, it’s up to the family to decide if they want to start with baby food or with soft, whole foods. Exposing babies to various flavors, textures, and foods supports building a long-term positive relationship with food. Whether introducing babies to puree-textured foods or following the baby-led weaning method is a personal preference. Families should decide what will work best for them, whether offering baby food, practicing baby-led weaning, or doing both. Manaker says that every baby is different, so there is no best way—the goal is to ensure the baby is adequately nourished with breast milk and/or infant formula and is offered a wide range of foods appropriate for their development stage. Manaker and Hicks suggest following up with your baby’s doctor as needed. Manaker says, “Lean beef can be pureed or offered in a baby-led weaning style by leaning on softer varieties to prevent choking.” She adds, “Lean beef is one of the most important foods to offer babies, as this food is a natural source of zinc and iron—two essential nutrients for this population.”