More and more parents are choosing to feed their baby using organic foods. Feeding organic is great for babies of all ages, from those who have just started their weaning journey to older babies who eat 3 meals a day. Here, we will take a look at some FAQs about organic feeding, and then review some of the best organic food brands to meet your baby’s nutritional requirements.
Remember, if you are beginning to wean your baby before the age of 6 months, you’ll need to sterilize your bowls and spoons before use. After 6 months, a thorough wash with hot, soapy water will be sufficient. You should sterilize bottles and feeding equipment until baby is at least a year old, however.
Why Choose Organic Over Conventional?
Organic crops are grown without the use of fertilizers and pesticides used by conventional farmers. This means your baby’s exposure to such chemicals is limited by choosing organic products. Organic food is often seen as more environmentally friendly, too. Organic farmers aim to conserve water, and produce less harmful waste by not using so many chemicals. Some say organic produce also tastes better and more natural than food which has been grown using fertilizers and pesticides. All of the above are great reasons to choose organic food for infants.
What Should I Look for When Choosing an Organic Baby Food?
When shopping for any infant food, it is important to note which stage it is suitable for. Stage 1 food is completely pureed, making it suitable from when weaning begins, at between 4-6 months of age. If weaning at 4 months, it is recommended that babies have foods which are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, meaning simple fruit and vegetable purees are best. Babies can start eating yogurt made with cow’s milk, but it’s not recommended to use it as a drink until at least 12 months of age. The food should also be completely smooth and soft, with no lumps or textures. Also check the ingredients to make sure there are no hidden surprises. Fruit or veggie purees should contain little else, expect from vitamins, water and perhaps some rice flour to thicken it.
Best Organic Baby Food Brands
There are so many different brands of natural food for babies, it’s difficult to know what’s best for your family. All commercially available products have to meet certain standards, meaning none are ‘bad’ for babies. However, some are better than others, as each uses different ingredients in varying quantities. Some high-quality brands worth considering are Earth’s Best, Happy Baby and Ella’s Kitchen.
The Reviews: Best Baby Organic Foods
In this section, you will find reviews of the best brands, including Stages 1, 2 and 3 pouches, as well as organic baby and toddler snacks. There is sure to be something to appeal to your baby’s tastes here!
Plum Organics Baby’s First Food
These plain fruit and vegetable purees are a great starting place for babies aged 4-6 months old who are just starting to try their first foods. They are soft and smooth, and are unsweetened too, which is just what a baby needs in a first food. There are four different flavors in this variety pack – prunes, peaches, sweet potatoes and mangoes. The purees contain no genetically modified ingredients- they are the perfect, natural food for babies.
This stage 1 puree is a convenient and healthy way to feed a young baby. The pouches are also a great snack for older babies and toddlers, as they are easy to pack in the diaper bag for a day out.
Happy Baby Organic Yogis Snacks
These organic snacks are a great finger food for slightly older babies. The freeze-dried yogurt snacks are made from high-quality ingredients – they are non-GMO, contain no high fructose corn syrup and no trans fats. The Happy Baby snacks are ideal for helping babies develop fine motor skills – they require baby to use a fine, pincer motion to pick the food up and place it in their mouth.
The baby snacks come in a range of different flavors, so your baby will be able to find their favorite! The packets are easy to reseal, making them ideal for keeping in the car or diaper bag for a quick snack when out and about. The soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture is perfect for babies who haven’t got many teeth yet, but they should still be able to mash food with their gums before being allowed to eat these snacks.
Happy Baby Organic Puff Snacks
These certified organic baby snacks come in a range of fruit and veggie flavors, getting babies used to a variety of tastes from a young age. They are made from wholegrain rice flours, and are gluten and dairy free, making them perfect for those who are worried about allergies. The snacks contain a range of vitamins and minerals to help a baby’s development, such as Vitamin B12, C and E, as well as Chlorine for brain and eye development.
The puff snacks are a great healthy choice for young babies – they don’t contain any added sugars, only fruit juices. The puffs come in a handy storage container which keeps them fresh. They are ideal for babies who are learning to feed themselves, and can be used as a fun tool to help develop your baby’s motor skills.
Earth’s Best Organic Stage 2 Food
These baby organic pouches are ideal for babies aged 6 months old and above. They come in a variety of fruit and vegetable flavors, making them perfect for any meal or snack time. Parents can rest assured when feeding their infant with these pouches – they are made from safe, non-BPA materials. The ingredients are certified organic and GMO-free, meaning this is a great product for environmentally-conscious parents.
The Earth’s Best baby food is made without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Each portion contains at least 2g of fiber, which is ideal for preventing constipation in babies who are still adapting to eating more solids. Each of the flavors provide different amounts of the Daily Value of vitamins, so parents can be sure their infants are getting a range of nutrients from this wholesome infant food.
Once Upon a Farm Stage 3 Cold Pressed Baby Food
These organic food pouches are ideal for older babies, over the age of 9 months. These purees are unique in that they are cold-pressed rather than heat treated, which means flavors and nutrients are locked in. The food must be stored chilled, however it does still keep for several weeks before opening. The food is made from high-quality organic, non-GMO, kosher and gluten free ingredients. There are very few ingredients apart from fresh fruits and vegetables – this is a great, natural infant food.
The healthy food is made without preservatives, and is also made without the use of concentrates. The pouches are able to be recycled after use too, making them ideal for parents who are worried about their carbon footprint.
Gerber Organic Fruit & Veggie Variety Box
These Gerber Organic baby food pouches come in mixed fruit and vegetable flavors, which is great as it can be difficult to get babies to eat vegetables if they are used to sweet fruity flavors. The Gerber Organic pouches use a unique ‘smart flow’ spout, which helps control the flow of the puree, meaning more gets onto the spoon rather than everywhere else!
The healthy food for babies is made without artificial flavors or colors, and doesn’t contain any salt. The ingredients used are certified organic and non-GMO, and the packaging does not contain BPA. Gerber even make it possible to trace the farm, field, and sometimes even the row, where the ingredients were grown.
Our Pick: Best Organic Food for Babies
Because we have reviewed a range of different types of foods, it’s difficult to say what’s the best overall – it depends what you are looking for. If you are looking for a nutritional, organic product, Once Upon a Farm’s cold-pressed food pouches are one of the best. They contain loads of fresh fruit and vegetables, and the cold-pressed production method means they remain full of nutrients.
