Buying guide for best organic baby food
Is your little one ready to transition from milk and formula to baby food? It’s an exciting developmental phase to enter, as it means your baby can explore different tastes and textures.
If you’re considering organic baby food, you’ll be impressed with the abundance of choices on today’s shelves. There are flavorful blends of fruits and vegetables, sometimes even together, that are delicious and nutritious.
Organic baby food is made from organically grown products and must meet stringent guidelines to receive the USDA organic certification. Organic baby food can also be certified by the Non-GMO Project. The baby food may have additional awards or certifications for ethical sourcing, transparent supply chains, or eco-friendly packaging.
With so many organic baby foods on the market, you may be wondering which one is right for your baby. We put together this definitive buying guide to help you find the best products. Keep reading to explore what the world of organic baby food has to offer — we promise you’ll be nothing short of impressed.
Top qualities of organic baby food
USDA-certified organic produce
It’s easy to spot organic baby food once you become familiar with the green and white USDA-certified organic badge. Baby food with this certification means 95% or more of its ingredients have been sourced from farmers whose crops, livestock, and poultry are USDA-certified organic.
Produce: For fruits and vegetables to receive organic certification, the soil quality, fertilization process, and crop-handling process must meet a long list of stringent cultivation standards. In fact, the land must be free of prohibited substances for a minimum of three years to even qualify for organic consideration.
Livestock and poultry: If you’re considering organic meat-, poultry-, or dairy-based baby food, you should know that these farms and ranches have strict standards on the rearing, raising, and handling of animals. Feed is required to be 100% organic, and dairy animals must be managed organically for no less than one year before byproducts like milk, eggs, or poultry can be labeled as organic.
“Made with organic” label
You’ll also find some baby food labeled as “made with organic” ingredients. This is not the same as USDA certification. Instead, it means the baby food has been made with at least 70% certified organic contents.
Non-GMO Project certified
It’s also common to find organic baby food with the Non-GMO Project badge, which features a butterfly. Companies volunteer to undergo rigorous testing by the organization to certify that their products meet specific standards, in which products comprise 0.9% or less GMO organisms.
Other popular qualities
Organic baby food is known for using natural ingredients and steering clear of artificial additives, dyes, and other synthetic ingredients. Some formulas adhere to food restrictions related to religious observances or allergies.
Many organic baby foods are certified kosher with a badge issued by a recognized certification organization. You'll also find gluten-free, sugar-free, low-sodium, and vegan varieties of organic baby food. These qualities may not be explicitly listed on the jars or packaging, so you'll need to read the ingredients list closely.
Features
Flavors
The flavor selection is unbelievable in this realm of baby food. You can buy foods with a single flavor or with a blend of as many as five different food sources. It’s not unusual to find excellent flavors like chicken and rice, pear-cranberry-potato, and others. We think you’d definitely be tempted to taste these combinations.
Packaging
Organic baby food often comes with top-notch packaging. Many containers are BPA-free, recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable. There are glass jars, squeeze pouches, and BPA-free plastic tubs available.
- Glass jars are easy to recycle, but due to their weight, you may find it difficult to tote them around in your diaper bag.
- Squeeze pouches are resealable, which makes them ideal for on-the-go, mess-free meals.
- BPA-free plastic tubs are lightweight and easy to pack in a diaper bag or store in a pantry.
Stages
Organic or not, there are four stages of baby food from which to choose. Select a stage based on your baby’s age and level of development. The intended stage should be explicitly displayed on the packaging.
The four baby food stages are universal. Here’s a brief description of each.
Stage One: This baby food is intended for babies between four and six months. The consistency is runny and soupy — only slightly thicker than milk or formula.
Stage Two: This baby food is intended for babies between seven and eight months. It is still pureed but with a slightly thicker texture.
Stage Three: This baby food is intended for babies between nine and 12 months. The food builds upon Stage Two’s textures and includes some tiny chunks of food that require chewing.
Stage Four: This baby food is intended for babies one year and older. By now, babies are able to eat “table food” in the form of diced produce, as well as other soft, bite-size chewable foods including pasta and rice. Stage Four also includes some dissolvable puff snacks.
"Many parents like reusable squeeze pouches for older babies who are ready to transition into self-feeding. Pouches are often shaped in a way that is easy for little hands to hold. "
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BestReviews
Accessories
Baby spoons: Olababy Soft-Tip Training Spoon
Help your little eater enjoy mealtime with the perfect baby spoon. We like these spoons from Olababy that are made from 100% food-grade, BPA-free silicone. They’re dishwasher safe and plenty durable for gnawing and nibbling.
Baby bib: Bumkins Starter Bib
Mealtime can be messy, so a baby bib is essential. We like this one from Bumkins, which is made without BPA, PVC, vinyl, phthalates, and lead. It’s available in a dozen designs and features a convenient, easy-to-clean pocket to catch spills.
Organic baby food prices
Organic baby food costs a little more than regular baby food, but the price difference isn’t as significant as you think. Granted, some brands cost more than others, but we think you’ll be pleased to find there are varieties of organic baby food for every budget.
Inexpensive: Budget-friendly organic baby food costs between $0.80 and $1.00 per serving. These foods are mass-produced by major manufacturers.
Mid-range: Mid-range organic baby food costs between $1.00 and $1.25 per serving and often features less common — yet still delicious — flavor varieties.
Expensive: Expensive organic baby food costs $1.30 or more per serving. These varieties include premium ingredients and packaging. Many smaller, newer companies manufacturing organic baby food sell in this range.
Tips
- Read ingredients carefully. Even if they have certified badges and impressive descriptions, always read the ingredients label carefully. Only by reading each ingredient (and seeing it ranked on a list) can you gauge the true quality of a baby food.
- Carry spares in your baby bag. Keep at least one or two packs of organic baby food in your baby bag to make sure you have enough should you find yourself out longer than expected.
- Experiment with the same flavor in different brands. If it seems that your baby doesn’t like a certain food, try the same one in another brand. You might find that your child likes the food in a slightly different recipe from a different brand.
- Inspect pouches. Pouches are durable, but they can sometimes be pierced or burst open. Inspect all baby food pouches prior to opening them. The food in a pouch that has been opened or pierced will be spoiled.
FAQ
Q. Should I refrigerate organic baby food?
A. Some parents choose to refrigerate it for babies who enjoy eating cold food. However, most organic baby foods are perfectly fine to serve at room temperature. If your little one has sensitive gums, cold baby food might be somewhat soothing. Note: babies should not eat food from a previously opened package that has not been properly refrigerated!
Q. What is the shelf life of organic baby food?
A. Refer to the expiration date on the package for a definitive answer. Most baby food is shelf-stable for up to two years. That said, you might find that preservative-free organic baby food has a shorter shelf life than regular baby food.
Q. My jar of organic baby food smells off, but it hasn’t expired. Am I overreacting?
A. Not at all. Dispose of the container and try a new one. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you notice another jar from the same batch has the same smell, you should call the manufacturer directly and inquire.
