Best store to buy baby food
Jars, Pouches, Organic, and More
Share on PinterestWe include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
After months of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it can be surprising to realize that your still-tiny baby is actually ready for “real” food. This exciting (albeit messy!) transition may be a little bittersweet and can feel overwhelming, especially considering the numerous baby food options available in 2022.
We’ve rounded up some of this year’s best baby foods to help you get started on the right foot — er, spoon.
Both the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend exclusively breastfeeding babies for the first 6 months of life. Formula-fed infants are ready to start solid foods when they start showing signs that they’re ready.
In some cases, you may start solids around 4 or 5 months, but it’s best to discuss this with your pediatrician. If your doctor doesn’t have a different recommendation, most babies are ready to start soft or pureed foods by the time they’re about 6 months old.
If you’re picking commercially prepared baby food (versus making your own), it’s wise to start with simple, one-ingredient baby food. Most commercial baby food is labeled stage 1, 2, or 3 based on the texture and number of ingredients.
For instance, stage 1 baby food has the smoothest texture and typically has one ingredient, such as pureed pears. So, for your 4- to 6-month-old, you’ll want to start with stage 1 baby food.
Starting with one food at a time helps you monitor for any adverse reactions or food allergies. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends monitoring each food for 3 to 5 days.
There isn’t really a perfect first food — the choice is yours! Some good foods to start: infant cereal (preferably oat or whole grain), meat purees such as chicken or turkey, or single-ingredient purees of fruits or veggies.
If you’re debating whether to start with fruits or veggies first, the AAP suggests that an infant’s preferences for sweets won’t budge even if veggies are introduced first. Mashed peas just don’t taste as good once you’ve had applesauce.
We chatted with pediatricians, read the research, polled real-life parents, read reviews, and used our own babies as taste testers (although we can’t say their opinions on nutritional value are very authoritative) to bring you some of the top baby food brands available. In addition:
- We looked for foods that are certified USDA organic and have non-GMO verified ingredients.
- We focused on baby food that’s free of added sugar (but have called out one or two products that contain it).
- The baby foods on our list are free of harmful preservatives.
- We called out the brands that market their products as gluten-free and allergen-free.
All products are also vetted by our medical standards team, which evaluates brand integrity and product safety.
Reducing Exposure to Toxic Elements in Baby Foods
Three brands in this article — Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Happy Baby — were mentioned in a February 2021 Congressional Report for products containing significantly high levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. The FDA has since launched the Closer to Zero: Action Plan for Baby Foods to address exposure to toxic elements from eating baby foods.
- Best overall baby food: Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 1
- Best organic baby food pouches: Plum Organics Stage 1
- Best budget-friendly baby food: Gerber Organic 1st Foods
- Best baby food for constipation: Gerber Natural 1st Foods (Pear)
- Best organic jarred baby food: Happy Baby Organics Clearly Crafted Stage 1
- Best personalized subscription service: Cerebelly
- Best fresh baby food: Once Upon a Farm Cold-Pressed Organic Baby Food
- Best first baby cereal: Gerber Organic 1st Foods Single Grain Cereal
- Best, most interesting baby food blends: Little Spoon Complex Solids
- Best all-around clean baby food: Baby Gourmet
Best overall baby food
Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 1
This affordable baby food is an all-around fan favorite.
Beech-Nut baby foods come in recyclable glass jars and are available in both natural and organic varieties. Blends are available in every stage, from single-ingredient foods for brand-new eaters (like butternut squash and plum) to multi-food blends with chunkier textures for older babies.
The ingredients in Beech-Nut baby foods are simple, with no artificial additives. Plus, these little glass jars are available at most grocery stores, so they’re easy to find. However, while it’s great for recycling purposes, glass can be dangerous — always supervise your little one around glass.
Beech-Nut Naturals are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) but not certified organic (unless you shop their organics line). They contain no added sugar.
Shop now at Walmart
Best organic baby food pouches
Plum Organics Stage 1
If sustainability, organic foods, and non-GMO ingredients are important to you, Plum Organics has a great line of baby food options to try.
Their BPA-free pouches are super convenient and available in a variety of fruits, veggies, and grains for each stage of eating. These foods have no added salts or sugars, so they’re nutritious and simple for baby’s maturing digestive system. They’re also widely available and can be purchased in bulk for greater savings.
And while feeding experts definitely discourage using pouches exclusively, there’s no denying that pouches are very convenient for occasional on-the-go feedings. To make sure your baby is still progressing in their journey through solid foods, try squeezing the pouch contents into a spoon. And be sure to watch out for the small plastic caps, as they’re a choking hazard.
Plum Organics is certified organic and non-GMO, and their baby food doesn’t contain added sugar.
Shop now at Amazon
Best budget-friendly baby food
Gerber Organic 1st Foods
Gerber is the classic baby food brand, and they’ve made changes over the last few years to make their food more health-conscious (e.
g., starting an organic line). Yet they have maintained their status as one of the most affordable prepared baby food brands on the market.
They offer benefits like glass jars, organic ingredients, and a wide variety of food choices at a lower cost than some other brands on our list.
Gerber Organic is USDA organic, non-GMO, and free of added sugar.
Shop now at Walmart
Best baby food for constipation
Gerber Natural 1st Foods (Pear)
Sometimes babies get a little constipated when they’re beginning their solid food journey, especially if they’re eating a lot of dairy or iron-fortified cereal. In addition to continuing breast milk, some foods may help relieve your little one’s digestive discomfort, including all the “P” fruits.
So prunes, pears, plums, and peaches are some options to help keep tiny bowels on the move. You can find great fruit purees in any brand on our list, but one of the more cost-effective is the Gerber brand. The good news is that many babies love fruit, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get your little one to down some prunes or pears.
This product is made with non-GMO ingredients and pears grown with Clean Field Farming practices. It doesn’t contain added sugars.
Shop now at Walmart
Best organic jarred baby food
Happy Baby Organics Clearly Crafted Stage 1
Another great organic baby food option, the Happy Baby company offers their organic baby food jars at most stores — although not quite as widely as Beech-Nut and Plum Organics.
Happy Baby jars offer a wide variety of foods, from kale and mango to spinach and peaches and chia seeds. You can start with their single-ingredient jars (this is important for ruling out allergies, as well as to help baby learn to like spinach even when it’s not disguised by pears). Then, you can move on to their fruit and veggie blends as your little one grows.
High quality ingredients, creative flavors, and no artificial ingredients all make Happy Baby a solid (no pun intended) choice.
Happy Baby is USDA organic and doesn’t contain added sugars.
Shop now at Walmart
Best personalized subscription service
Cerebelly
Cerebelly allows you to personalize your subscription of baby food pouches based on your child’s age, leaning on science to determine what foods will benefit them at their stage of development.
You’ll take a quiz that asks about the current development and language cues your baby is showing (responding to their name, grasping toys, using noises to show emotion, etc.). It also asks about motor, social, and visual skills.
The results will clue you in on key nutrients that may benefit your little one and customize your baby food pouches based on this.
To boot, the brand has earned the Clean Label Project Purity Award (which evaluates products for toxins and contaminants), is certified USDA organic, and contains no added sugars.
Shop now at Cerebelly
Best fresh baby food
Once Upon a Farm Cold-Pressed Organic Baby Food
These organic, cold-pressed baby food pouches and cups are found in the refrigerated section at your grocery store (and yes, they have to be refrigerated at home).
The company also has a subscription delivery option to make baby food even more convenient for your busy schedule.
Creative names like Wild Rumpus Avocado and Magic Velvet Mango will have you smiling, and the variety of flavors will (hopefully!) appeal to your little one. Once Upon a Farm offers a variety of food stages, so you can start with their purees and move on up to their finger and toddler foods as your baby grows.
Once Upon a Farm is certified organic and non-GMO. Their products contain no added sugars and are Clean Label Project certified.
Shop now at Target
Best first baby cereal
Gerber Organic 1st Foods Single Grain Cereal
This simple cereal is a great first food for baby. You can mix this one-ingredient whole grain cereal with breast milk, formula, or water to provide your little one with some crucial nutrients (such as iron) and experience with spoons and textures.
The AAP recommends oatmeal or multigrain cereals over rice cereals, as they have a lower risk of exposure to chemicals such as arsenic (which is sometimes a concern with rice products).
As your baby gets used to other foods, you can also mix this cereal with fruit or yogurt to provide a heartier meal.
Gerber Organic is certified USDA organic and non-GMO, but this product does contain some added sugars.
Shop now at Walmart
Best, most interesting baby food blends
Little Spoon Complex Solids
Once your baby is ready for more advanced blends, Little Spoon has a unique line of complex blends that contain multiple purees as well as other seeds and grains for texture.
For example, one blend contains quinoa, butternut squash, and apple. Another contains kale, white bean, pear, basil, quinoa, and avocado oil.
Little Spoon purees use certified organic and non-GMO ingredients. They’re free of added sugar.
Shop now at Little Spoon
Best all-around clean baby food
Baby Gourmet
Baby Gourmet is another Clean Label Project Purity Award winner, which means they go above and beyond to ensure their baby food is free of harmful toxins that naturally occur in the environment.
This Canadian company is also set to donate 1 million meals to vulnerable populations by 2025. It’s founded and run by moms, which can be reassuring.
Baby Gourmet is certified organic and non-GMO by both U.S. and Canadian standards. All packaging is BPA-free. Products contain no added sugar.
Shop now at Baby Gourmet
As a general guideline, it’s a good idea to start with iron-fortified baby cereals or pureed meats if your infant is breastfed. Breastfed babies are more likely to need extra iron than formula-fed babies.
It’s also advisable to start with simple, single-ingredient purees of meat, vegetables, and fruits.
Choosing brands that are certified organic, use BPA-free materials, and are conscious of using whole food ingredients (e.g., they don’t add “extras” like salt, sugar, or corn syrup) helps ensure a healthy start for your little one.
According to the AAP, you shouldn’t give babies under age 1 cow’s milk, honey, unpasteurized dairy, or undercooked meat, as these can be an infection risk for a baby’s developing immune system.
You’ll also want to avoid foods that are hard or sharp or present a choking risk (for instance, chips, nuts, popcorn, raisins, raw apples, raw carrots, whole grapes, hot dogs). For a more comprehensive guide to which foods to give and what to avoid, check out our article on infant nutrition and starting solids.
While experts used to advise waiting to introduce highly allergenic foods (such as dairy, wheat, nuts, and eggs) until after the first year, the experts now say that delayed introduction of these foods may increase a child’s risk of food allergies. So, with the guidance of your pediatrician, go ahead and introduce those foods within the first year.
Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you notice swelling of the tongue and mouth, wheezing, or trouble breathing after your child eats certain foods
Some babies are raring to go when it comes to trying food, while others may take a little more convincing. Either way, definitely get your camera on video mode, as there are bound to be some hilarious faces and some impressive food spillage along the way.
Here are some pro tips to help make the process as smooth as possible:
- Wait until your baby shows signs of readiness for solid food.
- Keep trying. It can take 5 to 10 exposures for a baby to accept a new food.
- Make it fun and silly.
- Cook and eat as a family as much as possible.
- Let your baby play with the spoon and even the food! While incredibly messy, this helps them get comfortable with the textures, smells, and tastes of new foods.
- Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns. They’re a great resource and want to help you grow a happy, healthy baby.
What’s the best baby food for growth and weight gain?
If your baby is under 6 months and breastfeeding, it’s recommended that you stick to that exclusively for 6 months. When you’re ready to introduce solids after 6 months, it should be in addition to breastfeeding and formula, not as a replacement.
If your baby is formula-fed, they may begin eating solids sooner than 6 months.
While no one specific food is recommended, a variety of foods and colors is best, including meats, vegetables, and fruits. One of the key foods that can help with growth and weight gain is avocados (high in healthy fats and fiber but low in sugar).
Always discuss your baby’s dietary changes with your pediatrician and attend regular checkups to monitor growth.
What’s the easiest food for babies to digest?
Just like adults, babies do best with regular bowel movements. If they’re having a hard time with this, oatmeal is one food known to be easy to digest and promote regularity, as it contains higher amounts of dietary fiber.
It may also help to focus on quantity. Try feeding your baby smaller meals more often, rather than fewer larger meals. This may be easier on their system and allow them to digest foods more easily.
What’s the best baby food to start with?
Mashed banana and avocado are some of the most popular solids to start with. Soft, ground oatmeal is also great.
When it comes to fruit and vegetable purees, focus on variety, but don’t overdo it with those that are naturally high in sugar (such as berry purees).
Most importantly, at 6 months old, all foods should still be pureed and cooked. Once your baby is 9 months old and older, you can start to introduce vegetables cut into pieces. The only other no-no is honey, which they shouldn’t have until they’re over a year old.
It can feel like a lot of pressure to choose the best nutrition for your child, especially when trying to capitalize on the years before they start demanding chicken nuggets and ice cream. But there are a lot of great, healthy options available in 2022.
Whether you choose to make your own baby food, buy jars or pouches, or use a baby food subscription service, there are a number of resources to help you feed your baby.
Jars, Pouches, Organic, and More
Share on PinterestWe include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.
Here’s our process.
After months of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it can be surprising to realize that your still-tiny baby is actually ready for “real” food. This exciting (albeit messy!) transition may be a little bittersweet and can feel overwhelming, especially considering the numerous baby food options available in 2022.
We’ve rounded up some of this year’s best baby foods to help you get started on the right foot — er, spoon.
Both the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend exclusively breastfeeding babies for the first 6 months of life. Formula-fed infants are ready to start solid foods when they start showing signs that they’re ready.
In some cases, you may start solids around 4 or 5 months, but it’s best to discuss this with your pediatrician. If your doctor doesn’t have a different recommendation, most babies are ready to start soft or pureed foods by the time they’re about 6 months old.
If you’re picking commercially prepared baby food (versus making your own), it’s wise to start with simple, one-ingredient baby food.
Most commercial baby food is labeled stage 1, 2, or 3 based on the texture and number of ingredients.
For instance, stage 1 baby food has the smoothest texture and typically has one ingredient, such as pureed pears. So, for your 4- to 6-month-old, you’ll want to start with stage 1 baby food.
Starting with one food at a time helps you monitor for any adverse reactions or food allergies. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends monitoring each food for 3 to 5 days.
There isn’t really a perfect first food — the choice is yours! Some good foods to start: infant cereal (preferably oat or whole grain), meat purees such as chicken or turkey, or single-ingredient purees of fruits or veggies.
If you’re debating whether to start with fruits or veggies first, the AAP suggests that an infant’s preferences for sweets won’t budge even if veggies are introduced first. Mashed peas just don’t taste as good once you’ve had applesauce.
We chatted with pediatricians, read the research, polled real-life parents, read reviews, and used our own babies as taste testers (although we can’t say their opinions on nutritional value are very authoritative) to bring you some of the top baby food brands available.
In addition:
- We looked for foods that are certified USDA organic and have non-GMO verified ingredients.
- We focused on baby food that’s free of added sugar (but have called out one or two products that contain it).
- The baby foods on our list are free of harmful preservatives.
- We called out the brands that market their products as gluten-free and allergen-free.
All products are also vetted by our medical standards team, which evaluates brand integrity and product safety.
Reducing Exposure to Toxic Elements in Baby Foods
Three brands in this article — Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Happy Baby — were mentioned in a February 2021 Congressional Report for products containing significantly high levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. The FDA has since launched the Closer to Zero: Action Plan for Baby Foods to address exposure to toxic elements from eating baby foods.
- Best overall baby food: Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 1
- Best organic baby food pouches: Plum Organics Stage 1
- Best budget-friendly baby food: Gerber Organic 1st Foods
- Best baby food for constipation: Gerber Natural 1st Foods (Pear)
- Best organic jarred baby food: Happy Baby Organics Clearly Crafted Stage 1
- Best personalized subscription service: Cerebelly
- Best fresh baby food: Once Upon a Farm Cold-Pressed Organic Baby Food
- Best first baby cereal: Gerber Organic 1st Foods Single Grain Cereal
- Best, most interesting baby food blends: Little Spoon Complex Solids
- Best all-around clean baby food: Baby Gourmet
Best overall baby food
Beech-Nut Naturals Stage 1
This affordable baby food is an all-around fan favorite.
Beech-Nut baby foods come in recyclable glass jars and are available in both natural and organic varieties. Blends are available in every stage, from single-ingredient foods for brand-new eaters (like butternut squash and plum) to multi-food blends with chunkier textures for older babies.
The ingredients in Beech-Nut baby foods are simple, with no artificial additives. Plus, these little glass jars are available at most grocery stores, so they’re easy to find. However, while it’s great for recycling purposes, glass can be dangerous — always supervise your little one around glass.
Beech-Nut Naturals are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) but not certified organic (unless you shop their organics line). They contain no added sugar.
Shop now at Walmart
Best organic baby food pouches
Plum Organics Stage 1
If sustainability, organic foods, and non-GMO ingredients are important to you, Plum Organics has a great line of baby food options to try.
Their BPA-free pouches are super convenient and available in a variety of fruits, veggies, and grains for each stage of eating. These foods have no added salts or sugars, so they’re nutritious and simple for baby’s maturing digestive system. They’re also widely available and can be purchased in bulk for greater savings.
And while feeding experts definitely discourage using pouches exclusively, there’s no denying that pouches are very convenient for occasional on-the-go feedings. To make sure your baby is still progressing in their journey through solid foods, try squeezing the pouch contents into a spoon. And be sure to watch out for the small plastic caps, as they’re a choking hazard.
Plum Organics is certified organic and non-GMO, and their baby food doesn’t contain added sugar.
Shop now at Amazon
Best budget-friendly baby food
Gerber Organic 1st Foods
Gerber is the classic baby food brand, and they’ve made changes over the last few years to make their food more health-conscious (e.
g., starting an organic line). Yet they have maintained their status as one of the most affordable prepared baby food brands on the market.
They offer benefits like glass jars, organic ingredients, and a wide variety of food choices at a lower cost than some other brands on our list.
Gerber Organic is USDA organic, non-GMO, and free of added sugar.
Shop now at Walmart
Best baby food for constipation
Gerber Natural 1st Foods (Pear)
Sometimes babies get a little constipated when they’re beginning their solid food journey, especially if they’re eating a lot of dairy or iron-fortified cereal. In addition to continuing breast milk, some foods may help relieve your little one’s digestive discomfort, including all the “P” fruits.
So prunes, pears, plums, and peaches are some options to help keep tiny bowels on the move. You can find great fruit purees in any brand on our list, but one of the more cost-effective is the Gerber brand. The good news is that many babies love fruit, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get your little one to down some prunes or pears.
This product is made with non-GMO ingredients and pears grown with Clean Field Farming practices. It doesn’t contain added sugars.
Shop now at Walmart
Best organic jarred baby food
Happy Baby Organics Clearly Crafted Stage 1
Another great organic baby food option, the Happy Baby company offers their organic baby food jars at most stores — although not quite as widely as Beech-Nut and Plum Organics.
Happy Baby jars offer a wide variety of foods, from kale and mango to spinach and peaches and chia seeds. You can start with their single-ingredient jars (this is important for ruling out allergies, as well as to help baby learn to like spinach even when it’s not disguised by pears). Then, you can move on to their fruit and veggie blends as your little one grows.
High quality ingredients, creative flavors, and no artificial ingredients all make Happy Baby a solid (no pun intended) choice.
Happy Baby is USDA organic and doesn’t contain added sugars.
Shop now at Walmart
Best personalized subscription service
Cerebelly
Cerebelly allows you to personalize your subscription of baby food pouches based on your child’s age, leaning on science to determine what foods will benefit them at their stage of development.
You’ll take a quiz that asks about the current development and language cues your baby is showing (responding to their name, grasping toys, using noises to show emotion, etc.). It also asks about motor, social, and visual skills.
The results will clue you in on key nutrients that may benefit your little one and customize your baby food pouches based on this.
To boot, the brand has earned the Clean Label Project Purity Award (which evaluates products for toxins and contaminants), is certified USDA organic, and contains no added sugars.
Shop now at Cerebelly
Best fresh baby food
Once Upon a Farm Cold-Pressed Organic Baby Food
These organic, cold-pressed baby food pouches and cups are found in the refrigerated section at your grocery store (and yes, they have to be refrigerated at home).
The company also has a subscription delivery option to make baby food even more convenient for your busy schedule.
Creative names like Wild Rumpus Avocado and Magic Velvet Mango will have you smiling, and the variety of flavors will (hopefully!) appeal to your little one. Once Upon a Farm offers a variety of food stages, so you can start with their purees and move on up to their finger and toddler foods as your baby grows.
Once Upon a Farm is certified organic and non-GMO. Their products contain no added sugars and are Clean Label Project certified.
Shop now at Target
Best first baby cereal
Gerber Organic 1st Foods Single Grain Cereal
This simple cereal is a great first food for baby. You can mix this one-ingredient whole grain cereal with breast milk, formula, or water to provide your little one with some crucial nutrients (such as iron) and experience with spoons and textures.
The AAP recommends oatmeal or multigrain cereals over rice cereals, as they have a lower risk of exposure to chemicals such as arsenic (which is sometimes a concern with rice products).
As your baby gets used to other foods, you can also mix this cereal with fruit or yogurt to provide a heartier meal.
Gerber Organic is certified USDA organic and non-GMO, but this product does contain some added sugars.
Shop now at Walmart
Best, most interesting baby food blends
Little Spoon Complex Solids
Once your baby is ready for more advanced blends, Little Spoon has a unique line of complex blends that contain multiple purees as well as other seeds and grains for texture.
For example, one blend contains quinoa, butternut squash, and apple. Another contains kale, white bean, pear, basil, quinoa, and avocado oil.
Little Spoon purees use certified organic and non-GMO ingredients. They’re free of added sugar.
Shop now at Little Spoon
Best all-around clean baby food
Baby Gourmet
Baby Gourmet is another Clean Label Project Purity Award winner, which means they go above and beyond to ensure their baby food is free of harmful toxins that naturally occur in the environment.
This Canadian company is also set to donate 1 million meals to vulnerable populations by 2025. It’s founded and run by moms, which can be reassuring.
Baby Gourmet is certified organic and non-GMO by both U.S. and Canadian standards. All packaging is BPA-free. Products contain no added sugar.
Shop now at Baby Gourmet
As a general guideline, it’s a good idea to start with iron-fortified baby cereals or pureed meats if your infant is breastfed. Breastfed babies are more likely to need extra iron than formula-fed babies.
It’s also advisable to start with simple, single-ingredient purees of meat, vegetables, and fruits.
Choosing brands that are certified organic, use BPA-free materials, and are conscious of using whole food ingredients (e.g., they don’t add “extras” like salt, sugar, or corn syrup) helps ensure a healthy start for your little one.
According to the AAP, you shouldn’t give babies under age 1 cow’s milk, honey, unpasteurized dairy, or undercooked meat, as these can be an infection risk for a baby’s developing immune system.
You’ll also want to avoid foods that are hard or sharp or present a choking risk (for instance, chips, nuts, popcorn, raisins, raw apples, raw carrots, whole grapes, hot dogs). For a more comprehensive guide to which foods to give and what to avoid, check out our article on infant nutrition and starting solids.
While experts used to advise waiting to introduce highly allergenic foods (such as dairy, wheat, nuts, and eggs) until after the first year, the experts now say that delayed introduction of these foods may increase a child’s risk of food allergies. So, with the guidance of your pediatrician, go ahead and introduce those foods within the first year.
Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you notice swelling of the tongue and mouth, wheezing, or trouble breathing after your child eats certain foods
Some babies are raring to go when it comes to trying food, while others may take a little more convincing. Either way, definitely get your camera on video mode, as there are bound to be some hilarious faces and some impressive food spillage along the way.
Here are some pro tips to help make the process as smooth as possible:
- Wait until your baby shows signs of readiness for solid food.
- Keep trying. It can take 5 to 10 exposures for a baby to accept a new food.
- Make it fun and silly.
- Cook and eat as a family as much as possible.
- Let your baby play with the spoon and even the food! While incredibly messy, this helps them get comfortable with the textures, smells, and tastes of new foods.
- Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns. They’re a great resource and want to help you grow a happy, healthy baby.
What’s the best baby food for growth and weight gain?
If your baby is under 6 months and breastfeeding, it’s recommended that you stick to that exclusively for 6 months. When you’re ready to introduce solids after 6 months, it should be in addition to breastfeeding and formula, not as a replacement.
If your baby is formula-fed, they may begin eating solids sooner than 6 months.
While no one specific food is recommended, a variety of foods and colors is best, including meats, vegetables, and fruits. One of the key foods that can help with growth and weight gain is avocados (high in healthy fats and fiber but low in sugar).
Always discuss your baby’s dietary changes with your pediatrician and attend regular checkups to monitor growth.
What’s the easiest food for babies to digest?
Just like adults, babies do best with regular bowel movements. If they’re having a hard time with this, oatmeal is one food known to be easy to digest and promote regularity, as it contains higher amounts of dietary fiber.
It may also help to focus on quantity. Try feeding your baby smaller meals more often, rather than fewer larger meals. This may be easier on their system and allow them to digest foods more easily.
What’s the best baby food to start with?
Mashed banana and avocado are some of the most popular solids to start with. Soft, ground oatmeal is also great.
When it comes to fruit and vegetable purees, focus on variety, but don’t overdo it with those that are naturally high in sugar (such as berry purees).
Most importantly, at 6 months old, all foods should still be pureed and cooked. Once your baby is 9 months old and older, you can start to introduce vegetables cut into pieces. The only other no-no is honey, which they shouldn’t have until they’re over a year old.
It can feel like a lot of pressure to choose the best nutrition for your child, especially when trying to capitalize on the years before they start demanding chicken nuggets and ice cream. But there are a lot of great, healthy options available in 2022.
Whether you choose to make your own baby food, buy jars or pouches, or use a baby food subscription service, there are a number of resources to help you feed your baby.
Made for babies - worldwide shipping
Carefully selected best quality baby products
As a demanding mom or a proud dad, whether you want an online baby store that offers you a carefully curated selection, high quality branded products and personalized customer service ? Then kidsroom.
de is the right site for you.
For more than 20 years, we have been running our Kidsroom online store with great love - with ever-increasing enthusiasm and the highest quality standards. We are aware of our responsibility and therefore we rely on high-quality, safe and durable products that will give you and your child pleasure for a long time. The safety of your child is our top priority. But of course, when choosing our products, we also pay attention to modern design and attractive features that make everyday life with your little one much easier.
Child car seats and strollers from kidsroom.de
We offer you a very large selection of child car seats and strollers. These are perhaps the most important purchases for your baby, because they accompany you for a long time. All our baby carriers and child car seats are made by well-known manufacturers and impress with their high quality, everyday functionality and ease of use. Many of them have the Isofix function and thus provide even more security and protection.
You can choose from many different models, designs and types of strollers - from the classic combination stroller to the sports stroller, sibling stroller or travel system.
Order a wide range of baby products online for your baby's well-being
Baby's physical well-being depends not only on safe transportation, but also on selected baby food and hygienic food preparation. That's why in our Baby Online Shop you'll find a wide range of innovative household items from well-known brands, such as sanitizers and bottle warmers, for the healthy preparation of baby food. Of course, we also offer a complete range of breastfeeding products. As a well-stocked baby store, we naturally stock a large selection of baby care products, from bathing supplies, brushes, to dental care for the first years of life. With our multifunctional baby loungers and baby swings, your little one will feel completely at ease, and educationally valuable toys from our online store will help him develop wonderfully and experience a lot of joy with you.
Our wide range of toys includes bath toys, wooden toys, educational toys, baby vehicles, plush toys, puzzles, mazes, building blocks and play sets. Your little sun will not be bored and you can be sure that your child plays with absolutely safe and harmless toys.
Our friendly, multilingual and competent customer service is always ready to help you.
The safety and well-being of your child is our top priority. That is why we pay special attention to providing our clients with high quality and individual advice. Whether it's a stroller, a child car seat or a toy - we will provide you with comprehensive advice on all products, answer all your questions and make recommendations on suitable products. Our qualified service team is highly trained and will be happy to assist you with your product selection. Since many international customers order from us and we ship across borders, our support team is fluent in multiple languages. This means that we can help all our customers and support them in choosing the right product.
Our baby products are supplied in close cooperation with trusted logistics partners.
Trusted brands for even more safety and quality
Safety and workmanship are critical to products such as car seats, baby carriers and prams. For this reason, we at kidsroom.de carefully select only high-quality products and care products for babies and children for our children's online store. Therefore, we can guarantee the highest level of safety and comfort for your child. Explore our branded products sections and find the brand that suits you! We offer products from well-known children's brands such as BABYZEN, Britax Römer, Chicco, Concord, Cybex, HABA, Hartan, Inglesina, Maxi-Cosi, NUK, Peg-Perego, PHILIPS AVENT, Puky, Recaro and many more. As major brand manufacturers continually improve their baby products to make them even safer and more child-friendly, we consciously rely on trusted partnerships with our manufacturers. This is the only way we can offer you and your child the highest standards of quality and safety.
Your kidsroom.de team
TOP-10 best baby food manufacturers
How to choose a baby food manufacturer
Quality nutrition is the key to your child's health and the formation of proper eating habits. Therefore, when choosing a manufacturer, pay attention to the following criteria:
- Price category. In pursuit of quality, parents choose the most expensive products for their baby, forgetting that the demand for them will only grow every month. Therefore, it is important to choose the best price for you, which you are willing to pay daily.
- Country of manufacture. The quality of the goods produced depends on the country in which the products for the preparation of baby food are grown. And also in different countries there are different quality control and acceptable standards for the content of a particular substance. Technical capabilities also play an important role in production, for example, not all domestic manufacturers are able to produce medical nutrition and formula.
- Assortment. It is important that the brand's product line contains as many products as possible. Since the positive reaction of the child's body to a certain product indicates that it will be the same for all the others. And a large selection will not force you to look for another good manufacturer, because baby food is designed for children from birth to three years.
- Foundation time. The duration of a company's existence on the market testifies to the quality of its products. Consumer loyalty is earned over the years. Therefore, brands with a worldwide reputation are more trusted.
In order to help you make the right choice, we have prepared for you a review of the best baby food brands, both foreign and domestic. And to make a comparison and choose the best one from them, everyone should be on their own.
Useful selections
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it obligatory to feed the child with products of the same brand?
No, not necessarily.
But choosing products from the range of the same manufacturer, you reduce the risk of allergies and other side effects. If your baby has come up with the nutrition of a certain brand, then you should not experiment with others.
Why is industrial food better than homemade food?
The quality of the original products is strictly controlled in production, and you can be sure of the quality of homemade only if you have grown it yourself. Also, the production complies with the norms of the content of useful substances in the product. For example, pure milk is not used, it is split into components, removing excess fat and some proteins.
Another advantage of factory-made products is that regardless of the time of year, your child's diet will be varied. And many of the goods that the baby needs cannot be prepared at home.
What raw materials do manufacturers use?
Most brands of baby food work with suppliers of various raw materials, and do not grow themselves.
Some companies claim to control the process of planting and growing fruits and vegetables at suppliers. They also request a soil sample for self-checking.
But be that as it may, the products entering the production undergo a thorough control for GMOs, antibiotics and other impurities. The quality of products is monitored not only by the company itself, but also by Rospotrebnadzor. Goods entering Russia from abroad are also controlled for compliance with the standards for the content of individual components adopted in the country.
Ask your question
Rating of baby food manufacturers
10. Kabrita
- Goat milk products
- Country: Holland
- Rating (2021): 8
Kabrita products belong to the premium segment. It appeared on the Russian market recently, only 8 years ago, but is already among the top brands. The range of the company is small. All products are made on the basis of an adapted milk formula from goat's milk and are presented in three categories: mixtures, cereals and purees.
Suitable for children from birth, as well as for newborns allergic to cow's milk protein. Buyers note a soft creamy taste that kids really like.
- Advantages
- Goat milk
- Natural ingredients
- Hypoallergenic
- Suitable for children from birth
- Flaws
- Price
- Assortment
- No fermented milk products
9. Gerber
- Best snacks for kids (bars and snacks)
- USA
- Rank (2021): 8
American manufacturer, on the market for almost 100 years. Deservedly has good reviews from moms around the world. The company's products are represented on the Russian market by more than 80 items. These include cereals, various purees, juices, cookies, bars and snacks. The company does not produce mixtures, which means that the products are only suitable for children who are ready for the first feeding. The main assortment of this brand is canned mashed potatoes, there are no problems with the choice, but you will have to look for other products.
This is especially true for wheat-oat snacks and rice-wheat stars, which are a feature of the brand.
- Advantages
- Snacks
- "clean" composition
- Vitamins and minerals in the composition
- Hypoallergenic products
- Flaws
- Price
- No fermented milk products and formula
- Not always available in the store
8. Tyoma
- The best baby milk food manufacturer in Russia
- Country: Russia
- Rating (2021): 8.5
Since 1999, the Russian manufacturer has been producing baby food for babies from six months. The main specialization of the company is dairy products: cottage cheese, biolact, milk porridge, baby milk and yogurt. The range also includes juices, fruit and vegetable purees, meat and vegetable purees. The company does not use glass jars. Meat purees are packed in cans, which extends their shelf life, and the rest of the purees are sold in pouches, which are convenient to take with you.
- Advantages
- Price
- Assortment of fermented milk products
- Packaging
- Quality raw materials
- Flaws
- No formula and cereals
- Small range
- Not suitable for children from birth
7. Heinz
- The best assortment of cereals
- Country: USA
- Rating (2021): 8.5
The Heinz brand is represented on the Russian market by the following products: cereals, puree, vermicelli, biscuits, tea, puddings. Among all manufacturers, the brand has the most diverse range of cereals: dairy, whole grain, low-allergenic, dairy-free, vegetable, drinkable, multicomponent and for grown-up children. The latter are distinguished by a larger grinding that needs to be boiled, which helps the child move from baby food to the general table. The product line also includes meat and fish dishes.
- Advantages
- Budget brand
- Assortment
- Ready meals
- Products for older babies
- Flaws
- No mixture
- No fermented milk products
- Sugar often found in the composition
6.
Nutricia - Best baby formula manufacturer
- Country: Holland
- Rating (2021): 8.5
Multi-brand manufacturer includes such brands as: Nutrilon, Malyutka, Malysh and Nutricia. The company specializes in the production of canned milk formulas of various price categories and a wide range of applications. For example, hypoallergenic, sour-milk, lactose-free, anti-reflux and many others. The company also produces cereals, vegetable and fruit purees.
- Advantages
- Variety
- Assortment
- Suitable for babies from birth
- Hypoallergenic
- Flaws
- Small product line
- No ready meals
- No dairy products
5. Agusha
- The widest range
- Country: Russia
- Rating (2021): 9
A Russian manufacturer that has been presenting its products on the market for almost 40 years.
Under the Agusha brand, the widest range of baby food is produced, with the exception of powdered milk mixtures and ready meals. Not so long ago, mini breads and fruit bars appeared on the market, intended for a snack for children older than a year. There is also a new triangular packaging with a tube for fruit and berry purees. Among fermented milk products, fermented baked milk can be distinguished, which is not available from other manufacturers.
- Advantages
- Inexpensive
- Assortment
- Baby products
- Packaging
- Flaws
- No mix
- No ready meals
- Ingredients not always perfect
4. Frutonyanya
- The best Russian manufacturer, price/quality ratio
- Country: Russia
- Rating (2021): 9
The company is the leader of the domestic baby food market. A wide range of products includes more than 250 items, with the exception of milk formula.
All taste components included in the nutrition are familiar to the Russian consumer. From ready meals, the manufacturer offers soups and liquid cereals, and from fermented milk products - baby milk, biolact, cocktails, yogurt and cottage cheese. Among the line of meat products stand out meat purees "Halal" that meet the standards of Islam. There is dry food, but not much, mostly porridge.
- Advantages
- Wide assortment
- Price/quality ratio
- Ready meals
- Dairy products available
- Flaws
- No mix
- Not always ideal
- Not suitable for children from birth
3. Fleur Alpine
- Producer of cereals based on goat and cow milk
- Country: Germany
- Rating (2021): 9.5
The company has been presenting its products on the market since 2008. The natural composition of products involves the preservation of the natural content of vitamins and trace elements in the product.
The company's product selection, in addition to cereals and purees, includes cookies, bars, crackers, drinks, pasta and, notably, butter. I would also like to note that cereals are made on cow, goat and with no milk. Many products are suitable for children only from the age of three, for example, pomegranate juice and chocolate chip cookies.
- Advantages
- Natural ingredients
- Assortment
- Producer of cereals based on goat and cow milk
- Baby oil
- Flaws
- Price
- No dairy products
- No formulas
2. Semper
- "Adult" dishes for baby food
- Country: Sweden
- Rating (2021): 10
The Swedish premium manufacturer Semper has been present on the Russian market for 20 years. During this time, the brand has earned loyalty and trust from customers. The company is included in the list of the most popular manufacturers of baby food in the world.
Products are presented for both newborns and older children. The manufacturer does not offer the most diverse menu that is familiar to the Russian consumer.
On the other hand, the assortment contains components and even individual dishes that you will not find in other companies. For example, among the individual components - orange, strawberry, mango, and among the dishes - spaghetti bolognese, Italian pasta with trout and all kinds of stews. Also presented is an exclusively Swedish product - walling.
- Advantages
- Ready Meals
- Best Ingredients
- Rare Ingredients
- All Ages
- Flaws
- Price
- There are no fermented milk products in the assortment
- Not available everywhere
1. Hipp
- Best foreign brand, strict quality control from soil to finished product
- Country: Germany
- Ranking (2021): 10
The German company, founded in 1899, first introduced the concept of "organic" in relation to baby food.
