When choosing your baby’s first foods for , there are so many options. If you’re looking for high-quality organic baby food, you’ll want to read this article.
We’ll go over what makes a product organic and why you might want to choose organic products.
I’ll also share the best organic baby foods I’ve found in my hunt for healthier options for my little one. These picks are based on taste, organic quality, cost, and convenience. These products have great reviews by thousands of other parents and babies who use them regularly.
Keep chemicals and pesticides out of your little one’s diet, and be a part of promoting good environmental practices by feeding your baby these tasty organic baby foods.
- Gentle on immature stomachs
- Works well with other foods
- No added salt or sweeteners
- Lots of flavor options
- Gluten-free and kosher
- Convenient pouches
- Various temperature serving options
- Easy to consume
- BPA-free packaging
- Dissolves quickly
- Helps with teething pain
- Encourages self-feeding
- Pediatrician recommended
- Ideal first solid starter
- Easily digestible
- Four flavor options
- Organic
- Clear packaging description
- Exciting flavor combinations
- Easy to squeeze onto a spoon
- Unsweetened, unsalted, kosher, non-GMO
- Similar formula to breast milk
- Sourced from organic-compliant farmers
- Includes both lutein & prebiotics
- Promotes digestive health & learning ability
- No artificial flavors or sweeteners
- Non-GMO
- Certified USDA organic
- Made with U.S.-grown pumpkins
- Fully resealable
Review Methodology: At Mom Loves Best, we understand the importance of choosing the best organic baby foods for your little one. Our thorough research, hands-on experience, and data analysis allow us to evaluate products from a user’s perspective and demonstrate our expertise in the reviewed products. We compare and rank organic baby food options based on key decision-making factors such as ingredients, taste, nutritional value, and safety standards. Our assessment includes quantitative measurements of a product’s performance, design choices, and their effect on users. By identifying what sets a product apart from its competitors, we provide first-hand supporting evidence when recommending the best organic baby foods. Trust Mom Loves Best to guide you in making an informed decision for your child’s health and well-being.
The Best Organic Baby Foods of 2024
Here are 10 great organic baby foods to consider.
Baby Cereals
Earth’s Best Organic Rice Cereal
Best First Cereal
Earth’s Best has been in the baby food industry for over 30 years. The company is a trusted name in baby food and has an established organic line. I love that the ingredients in this cereal are all natural and created to support the growth of a developing baby.
This rice cereal is made with whole grains and fortified with iron. Iron is great for developing babies, and it can be hard to get from other sources. Rice cereal is often recommended as a first cereal option, as it’s easy for a baby to digest.
There are no artificial dyes, preservatives, or flavors. This cereal is certified organic and GMO-free and has a smooth consistency and texture, mixing well with both purees and liquids.
Pros
- This rice cereal is gentle on immature stomachs.
- It’s easy to introduce and works well when added to other foods.
- No added salt or sweetener.
Cons
- The lack of preservatives means a short shelf life — plan to consume within 30 days of opening.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Gerber Organic Single-Grain Oatmeal Cereal
Best Fortified Cereal
Gerber is possibly one of the best-known brands in the baby business. Gerber produces organic and non-organic foods, but this single-grain oatmeal comes from the company’s organic line.
This cereal is fortified with additional vitamins that are great for your growing baby’s needs. The included iron helps learning development, while vitamin A supports vision and a healthy immune system. It’s also fortified with six different B vitamins, plus vitamin E, calcium, and zinc.
It’s great that there are no GMO ingredients in this, either. It’s oatmeal-based, so it’s an excellent second cereal to introduce to an established eater.
This is also a good option for adding to pureed food. It provides a nice texture while thickening the food, and children love its taste.
Pros
- Heavy enough to satiate your baby for longer periods.
- Digests well for an oatmeal cereal.
Cons
- The pour spout is large, which can make accurate dispensing difficult during food preparation.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Gerber Baby Cereal Probiotic
Best Probiotic Cereal
This oatmeal and banana probiotic cereal is a non-GMO recipe made with real fruit, 11 grams of whole grain per serving, and iron to help support learning.
It’s the #1 pediatrician-recommended brand of baby cereals. As your little one grows and changes every day, adding probiotic cereal to their diet is a great choice. It aids their developing brains and bellies.
As your little one grows, real fruit, veggies, and grains can provide invaluable nourishment. Plus, parents love how tasty this cereal is for their babies.
Lastly, this cereal is a great way to introduce spoons and self-feeding to your child. This cereal can expand their taste palate and teach them how to control their hands with less mess than regular cereal.
Pros
- Supports growing babies.
- Promotes digestive health and learning ability.
- No artificial flavors or sweeteners.
- Non-GMO.
Cons
- May discolor cups and plastic serving dishes.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Purees
Mama Bear Organic Baby Food
Best Kosher Food
This food is USDA organic, made with non-GMO ingredients, gluten free, kosher, and made without artificial flavors or coloring. Most importantly, it’s a tasty stage two puree! Perfect for babies over 6 months old, this pumpkin, apple, peach, and buckwheat food is guaranteed to satisfy your little one. There are also plenty of other flavors to choose from.
Mama Bear baby food is packed with goodness. The company is committed to ensuring your little one gets all the good stuff and none of the bad. This helps your baby grow and stay healthy during this critical stage of their life.
Many parents who made their own baby food switched to this when they returned to work. They still felt good about giving it to their little one, but it also saved them time, as they didn’t have to make the food from scratch anymore.
Pros
- Lots of flavor options.
- Kosher and gluten-free formula.
- Convenient pouches.
- No added salt.
Cons
- Very watery consistency.
- Pouches leak easily.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Happy Baby Organic Variety Pack
Best Stage Two Baby Puree
This variety pack is great for stage two eaters. There are four flavors of organic fruit and veggie purees, so your little one can get to know different foods. This pack includes the following:
- Pear, squash, and blackberry.
- Apple, kale, and avocado.
- Apple, guava, and beet.
- Pear, kale, and spinach.
These healthy packs are perfect for seeing babies through a shopping trip, your friend date at a coffee shop, or that afternoon lull.
Happy Baby crafts and packages their purees mindfully, ensuring that these are suitable for stage two eaters. The food is healthy, organic, and easy to consume. On the back of the pack, you can see exactly how much of each ingredient is inside. Plus, they have a transparent part of the bottle, so you can see the vibrant colors for yourself.
Customers rave about how happy their babies are when eating these. They’re delicious blends that will introduce your child to fruits and veggies so they will love them later in life too.
Pros
- Four flavor options.
- Easy to self-feed.
- Clear packaging description.
Cons
- Nutritional value is not listed on the product.
- Plastic packaging is not eco-friendly.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Food Pouches
Peter Rabbit Organics
Best Pouch for Sneaking in Extra Greens
This apple, pea, and spinach medley can be an excellent option for getting in those extra nutrient-rich greens. The apple provides the medley with appealing sweetness your baby will love.
What I like about the Peter Rabbit Organics line is that it’s certified 100% organic, and the packaging is BPA-free. Nothing is hidden in the ingredients — it’s all natural and made from whole foods.
The sealing process for these pouches enables them to be kept at room temperature before opening. Once opened, they may be refrigerated but won’t keep for long.
Peter Rabbit Organics doesn’t add any water to its products. Every pouch counts as a single, complete serving of fruits and vegetables. At 4.4 ounces, it’s the perfect size for an on-the-go snack.
Pros
- Can be served at room temperature, chilled, or warmed.
- Easy to consume directly from the pouch.
Cons
- No added water means the puree is thicker, which may not appeal to some children.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Plum Organic Baby Food
Best Fruit and Vegetable Medley Variety Pack
These fun fruit and veggie medleys will appeal to a wide variety of taste preferences. This company uses fruits and vegetables frequently passed over, offering a refreshing change of pace.
All the ingredients in Plum Organic products are organic. They’re also unsweetened, unsalted, kosher, and produced without GMOs.
The cap is recyclable, and the pouches are resealable when you don’t make it through the entire serving. Just make sure to toss it after it’s been open for 24 hours.
This product’s packaging is entirely BPA-free. While some of the tropical ingredients are sourced outside the United States, the puree is made stateside. Ingredients are sourced locally from United States farms when possible.
These are the perfect addition to your diaper bag snack stash. They also roll well from the bottom up, preventing unnecessary food waste.
Pros
- Exciting flavor combinations.
- Easy to squeeze onto a spoon.
Cons
- Contents may separate in the packaging, so dispensing the food can be challenging.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Happy Baby Organic Baby Food
Best Resealable Pouch
Pumpkin is frequently overlooked when it comes to baby foods. In this Happy Baby pouch, it’s the star of the show. The carrot and apple complement the pumpkin and bring the flavors into perfect balance.
This product is certified USDA organic and is made without added sugars or artificial flavors and preservatives. It’s also made without GMOs and is kosher and gluten free.
I love that the pouch is fully resealable. For those times when my toddler suddenly loses interest in their snack, I can easily store it in the refrigerator.
Pumpkin is an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin A, and vitamin C. These pouches make getting in those extra nutrients less of a battle.
However, when serving, don’t microwave or boil the pouch, and all opened pouches should be consumed or tossed within 24 hours.
Pros
- The packaging is clear, so you can see exactly what your baby is eating.
- Made with U.S.-grown pumpkins sourced from family-owned farms.
Cons
- Happy Baby Organic pouches only come in single-flavor packages.
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Baby Formulas
Happy Baby Teething Wafers
Best Organic Snack
This is a great first snack for your baby. These Happy Baby Blueberry and Purple Carrot teething wafers are made with jasmine rice flour, organic fruit, and vegetables. No artificial flavors mean that both you and your baby are happy.
The wafers are great for developing gums as they’re soft and mess free, and they dissolve easily. It also helps babies learn to feed themselves.
Specifically designed for stage one eaters, this is ideal for a sensitive baby. The blueberry and purple carrot flavors introduce them to new tastes at their own pace. Parents love them too, as they aren’t a choking hazard because they dissolve very quickly. Plus, they help ease teething pain.
Pros
- Dissolve quickly.
- Basically mess free.
- Helps with teething pain.
- Encourages self-feeding.
Cons
- They break easily, so some babies struggle to eat them properly.
- Salt is listed in the ingredients.
Our Ratings
User Experience
Earth’s Best Organic Dairy Formula
Best Organic Dairy Formula
If you’re looking for a dairy-based formula that closely mimics breast milk, you may want to consider this option. The formula has no added corn syrup solids. But it does have DHA and ARA — fatty acids that naturally occur in breast milk — to support brain and eye development.
There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, and it’s USDA organic certified and kosher. Earth’s Best includes both lutein (for eye development) and prebiotics (to boost immunity). You won’t find any growth hormones, genetically engineered ingredients, antibiotics, or steroids either.
This formula is iron-fortified, which is appropriate for babies younger than one year. Children can continue to have formula beyond a year, but you may want to consider switching to one designed specifically for toddlers.
Pros
- This formula’s similarity to breast milk makes it a great option for nursing women looking to supplement with formula.
- Earth’s Best has sourced its dairy from organic-compliant farmers.
Cons
- The formula may cause some tummy upset, especially if dairy exposure has been previously limited.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
What Makes a Product Organic?
Farms that have organic certification go through a rigorous licensing process (1). Organic produce that’s used in any product must be grown without synthetic fertilizers. While some natural bug deterrents may be used, chemically-based pesticides are also not allowed (2).
There are three categories used for organic products. Each category reflects the amount of organic material in the final product.
- 100% organic: If your item is labeled “100% organic,” every ingredient in the product was cultivated organically.
- Organic: If your product is labeled “organic,” at least 95% of the ingredients have been organically grown.
- Made with organic ingredients: If your item sports this designation, 70% of the ingredients must be classified as organic. The remaining 30% are highly regulated, including a stipulation that there be no GMOs used.
While we’ll look at vegetarian and vegan-friendly options in this article, meat can also be organic. When raising organic meat, all provided feed must be organic, living conditions are highly monitored, and antibiotics cannot be used preventatively (3).
Why Choose Organic Baby Foods?
These are the most common reasons people choose organic baby foods.
Taste
Many people feel organic products taste better. Studies show that organic foods have more antioxidants in them than their conventionally sourced alternatives, which may be why they seem to taste better (4).
In most cases, organically grown produce comes from smaller yields. These smaller harvests also maximize the use of nutrients in the soil. The end result is a more intensely flavored product.
Organic Is Better for the Environment
Growing organic produce is better for the environment for several reasons (5).
- Fewer hazardous chemicals are introduced into the environment: This is one of the big reasons people reach for organically sourced items. Using non-synthetic pest control and fertilizing options leaves less of a footprint on the environment.
- Soil health: Not relying on synthetic fertilizers means traditional methods of maintaining soil health are used. Crop rotation and crop choice help keep the soil full of nutrients to put back into future crops.
- Long-term sustainability: Crop-growing systems, where the health of water systems is protected, and the soil is enriched, help keep future healthy harvests possible.
- Preventing superbugs: The excessive use of pesticides can produce mutations that make pests more challenging to control. The same is true for the excessive use of antibiotics in animals.
Some people may argue that organic foods tasting better than conventionally sourced foods is subjective. The same is not true when it comes to organic farming and the environment — the positive environmental aspects are well-documented and entirely objective (6).
Reducing Your Vulnerable Baby’s Exposure to Chemicals
Babies are more sensitive to the additives and chemicals that make their way into conventionally produced foods. Whether you’re cutting out artificial dyes, unnecessary pesticides, or growth chemicals, you’ll be exposing your baby to fewer manufactured substances.
Developing babies and young children experience a tremendous amount of neuron growth. Providing them with organic foods can help protect those new cells and get your little one off to the best possible start (7).
What to Consider When Buying Organic Baby Foods
If you’re like most parents, you’re paying attention to your budget. It’s true that buying organic products for your child is usually more expensive. Many organic farms are smaller and produce less per harvest, and production costs are higher.
If you can only make some of your purchases organic, consider the following information. These fruits and vegetables are notorious for the number of pesticides and chemicals they harbor. They’re even referred to as “the dirty dozen” (8).
- Apples.
- Kale.
- Lettuce.
- Imported grapes.
- Carrots.
- Pears.
- Bell peppers.
- Celery.
- Nectarines.
- Peaches.
- Strawberries.
- Cherries.
If you’re looking for places to save money with your organic purchases, consider skipping pre-packaged and processed organic foods. These usually contain other additives, like salt, sugar, and fat. The organic label won’t make these foods any healthier for you.
You may also choose to use conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with peels that aren’t eaten since they’re consistently lower in pesticides. Avocados, oranges, and watermelons are all examples of produce with inedible outer skins.
If you’re looking for the produce with the lowest amounts of pesticides, look to these — “the clean 15” (9).
- Avocados.
- Corn.
- Pineapple.
- Mangoes.
- Onions.
- Sweet potatoes.
- Asparagus.
- Sweet peas.
- Kiwis.
- Cantaloupes.
- Tomatoes.
- Cabbage.
- Eggplants.
- Grapefruit.
- Watermelon.
Whether you go with organic or conventionally grown produce, make sure you prepare your food properly before eating or cooking with it. Always wash your produce thoroughly, and consider a fruit or vegetable soak to remove any dirt and contaminants.
FAQs
What is the Difference Between Organic and Natural Baby Food?
Organic baby food is created using ingredients grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs and is certified by regulatory bodies like the USDA.
Natural baby food, while it sounds wholesome, is a less regulated term that generally means the food doesn’t contain added colors, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances. However, “natural” isn’t a guarantee of organic practices or certification.
Is Organic Really Worth the Extra Money?
Whether organic is worth the extra money depends on individual values and concerns. Some parents choose organic to avoid potential exposure to pesticides and to support environmentally friendly farming practices.
Studies on the long-term health benefits are varied, so consider your budget, the specific products you’re choosing, and if the organic version aligns with your health and environmental priorities.
What are Healthy, Non-Toxic Snacks for Babies?
Healthy, non-toxic snacks for babies include organic fruits and vegetables, small pieces of soft-cooked vegetables, whole-grain cereals or puffs, and unsweetened yogurts.
Always look for snacks with no added sugars or artificial ingredients, and consider making homemade snacks where you control the ingredients.
What Baby Foods Should You Avoid For Heavy Metals?
To avoid heavy metals in baby food, be cautious with rice products (like rice cereal). Rice absorbs more arsenic from the environment.
Also, be mindful of certain root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, which can accumulate more lead and cadmium. A varied diet helps minimize risks. Always check for recent reports or guidelines from reliable sources for specific advice on brands or products.
What Do Pediatricians Recommend As a Baby’s First Solid Food?
Pediatricians often recommend starting with single-grain cereals, like iron-fortified rice or oat cereal, pureed vegetables, fruits, and meats.
Iron-fortified cereals are a common first food because of the need for increased iron at about six months of age. However, recommendations can vary, and some suggest starting with soft vegetables or fruits.
Why Does Organic Food Spoil Faster?
Organic food often spoils faster because it doesn’t contain the same preservatives and chemicals that prolong the shelf life of conventional products.
Organic foods are also less likely to undergo irradiation, a process that extends shelf life by reducing spoilage organisms. This natural state can lead to quicker spoilage but also means you’re getting a product closer to its natural form.
Is Organic Cotton Necessary for Baby?
Organic cotton isn’t necessary for every baby, but it can be a good choice for parents looking to reduce the baby’s exposure to pesticides and chemicals used in conventional cotton farming.
Organic cotton is also often softer and might be less likely to irritate sensitive skin. Consider organic cotton if you prioritize environmentally friendly and chemical-free products for your child.
