As a busy parent, time isn’t always on your side. Making baby food from scratch can be stressful and time-consuming, especially when it comes to comforting picky eaters. Fortunately, there are several pre-made organic baby food options that can take the guesswork out of feeding your baby.
Because the USDA’s National Organic Program has established strict rules and regulations governing USDA-certified organic foods, those that carry the USDA organic seal cannot contain GMOs or any artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. Certain studies have shown that organic fruits and vegetables contain more antioxidant polyphenols than conventionally grown produce. Encouraging a rich variety of fruits and vegetables for all ages is key, but organically grown produce can offer some added benefits without GMOs or preservatives.
When it comes to age, our nutrition experts point out that baby food stages are not standardized, but there are general guidelines used by many brands. Remember that every baby develops differently, and some babies are ready for stage 2 before they are 7 months old, while others may not be ready until closer to 10 months old. Talk to your pediatrician to guide you throughout the process, and remember that it’s important that babies go through the stages on their own time.
As a general rule of thumb, Stage 1 foods usually consist of a single-ingredient puree and are perfect for babies 4-6 months old. Stage 2 foods are best for babies 6-9 months old and start with more than one ingredient. Stage 3 foods are for babies 9-12 months old and they come in many different textures and new flavors. Stage 4 foods are for infants who are at least one year old and are usually indicated for introduction of table foods.
To make sure you’re offering your child the best product, we’ve tested multiple brands with a panel of kids, moms and editors to see which organic baby food is best for your baby. We also provide information on the steps each brand is taking to minimize heavy metals in their products. Here are the best organic baby foods for 2022:
This line of baby food bags and cups was co-founded by Jennifer Garner. Every ingredient is USDA certified organic and sustainably grown. Our nutrition experts say Once Upon A Farm sets itself apart from the other brands we reviewed because the blend utilizes a cold-pressing process to lock in the nutrients, taste and texture of farm-fresh ingredients. Testers said their kids loved the flavor, and one parent said she liked the packaging that required refrigeration, which made her think they were “high quality.”
Once Upon a Time Farm is the first baby and children’s food brand to receive a Purity Award from the Clean Label Project, a third-party nonprofit that tests for more than 400 environmental and industrial toxins, including heavy metals. Their new Infant Advanced Nutrition Blend also received a 1,000-day commitment from the Clean Label Program, the first certification in the U.S. to require enhanced nutrients and regulation of heavy metals, toxic compounds and melamine in baby food.
Plum Organics carries all USDA organic bags, puffs and teethers. They have items for all stages and their stage 3 pouches help develop baby’s palate of table food by blending organic turkey, chicken and beef. One of our moms gave her 10 month old a bag of Plum Organics Just Prunes every morning and says it keeps him regular. Our other kid loves the Mighty 4 mix of fruits, vegetables, grains and Greek yogurt. Plum also really pays the price by donating their Super Smoothie bags to children in need. Also, they have a page on their website with different recipes on how adults use food. Plum Organics shares with Good Housekeeping that Sun-Maid conducted rigorous due diligence on the Plum Organics brand prior to its recent acquisition. They continue to work with the subcommittee, as well as the industry as a whole, to address these concerns and ensure that Plum Organics is the best food from the very first bite. “We are actively evaluating our processes and products to create the best baby food options,” a Plum Organics spokesperson told us.