There are many options on the market—ranging from single-grain cereals, such as rice, oat, or barley, to multi-grain options that combine two or more varieties. Having single-grain options to start out is important, as the AAP recommends initiating one new food at a time every three to five days. This will allow you to identify any potential allergic reactions. Once you have done this, it is completely fine to have multi-ingredient, multi-grain options that include the ingredients you have already initiated with your baby. When you are ready to pick the best cereal for your baby, it’s important to know what to look for. Hofneister says, “I encourage families to look for cereals with only a few ingredients, organic if able, and to be sure iron is listed as an added mineral.” In general, look for minimally processed options, prioritizing products with whole grains and iron. Try feeding your baby a variety of different cereals to make sure they are getting a balance of different nutrients. Here, are our picks for the best baby cereals on the market: Oatmeal is an excellent gluten-free whole grain option that contains fiber and protein, making it ideal for your growing baby’s needs. Including oatmeal in your baby’s diet helps them get enough of the major building blocks necessary to support their growth and development. “I recommend starting solids when the child is showing signs of interest in eating, such as watching a parent eat or grabbing at food, and once they have adequate head control and sit supported. I personally fed my three boys Happy Baby brand cereals as they only have three ingredients and a good amount of iron per serving,” says Hofmeister. An added bonus: Happy Baby Cereal comes in a resealable bag, which is great to maintain freshness and shelf life. Age: 4-6+ months (Stage One) | Price per ounce: $0.47 | WIC Approved: No | Protein per serving: 2g | Fiber per serving: 1g | Iron per serving: 5mg (45% Daily Value) | Price at time of publication: $20 This cereal is stage 1, suitable for the introducing solids phase. It is important to note that while this cereal is made from oats, the product also contains wheat from the manufacturing process. Because of this, it would not be considered a single-grain cereal and therefore would not be the best option for a first food. Beech Nut Whole Grain Infant Cereal is certified USDA Organic and non-GMO, and also comes at a more affordable price point than other organic products on the market. While there is plastic waste from the container, it does provide a convenient built-in measuring cup. Age: 4-6+ months (Stage One) | Price per ounce: $0.45 | WIC Approved: Yes | Protein per serving: 2g | Fiber per serving: 2g | Iron per serving: 6.8mg (60% Daily Value) | Price at time of publication: $21.80 This is not new information. Low levels of toxic heavy metals have been present in the global food supply forever, as they are naturally present in water and soil. Factors such as growth conditions, industrialization, and farming practices can increase heavy metals concentration in plant-based foods. This document referred to very specific pureed and prepared baby foods across four product lines. The data reported was collected between 2017 and 2019, prior to August 2020, when the FDA provided finalized guidelines for inorganic arsenic levels in infant foods. It is worth noting that these companies have confirmed they are currently compliant with these 2020 guidelines. Ultimately, most pediatric health care providers will agree on the same word—variety. Having a variety of foods from various sources and manufacturers ensures that even if a single ingredient is high in toxic metals, that single ingredient will not be high in your child’s diet. It is important to note, the primary products impacted by these findings are pureed baby foods and rice-containing products. When selecting a rice cereal, organic choices inherently have lower levels of heavy metals. Rice is most at risk of being contaminated with arsenic due to its production method, the soil it is grown in, and the water rinsing process. Both organic and non-organic baby rice cereal will contain some arsenic, though organic picks contain lower levels of the heavy metal. Keep in mind that feeding your baby rice cereal is a good option, but it should be one of a variety of infant cereals your baby consumes. Earth’s Best Organic Rice Cereal is a trusted product that is non-GMO and iron-fortified. Age: 4-6+ months (Stage 1) |Price per ounce: $0.59 | WIC Approved: Yes | Protein per serving: 1g | Fiber per serving: 0g | Iron per serving: 5mg (45% Daily Value) | Price at time of publication: $52 Keep in mind that it is not iron-fortified, so you may want to accompany it with a supplement or an iron-fortified option. Talk to your healthcare provider to come up with the best plan for ensuring your baby meets their iron requirements. Old Fashioned Quaker Oats is a budget-friendly option that the whole family can enjoy. You can simply modify the consistency when serving it to your baby. It may just take a few additional steps compared to other baby cereal options. Age: 4+ months (blended to desired consistency) | Price per ounce: $0.18 | WIC Approved: Yes | Protein per serving: 2g | Fiber per serving: 2g | Iron per serving: 2mg (10% Daily Value) | Price at time of publication: $10 Earlier, we mentioned that the simpler the ingredient list, the better. Gerber is extensively fortified when compared to some others on this list. The Gerber Whole Wheat cereal is fortified with iron, vitamins C and E, zinc, calcium, and six different B vitamins on its ingredient list. When considering a baby food that is a single ingredient product, it is important to remember that supplemental iron should be prioritized and vitamin C is an added bonus to aid in iron absorption. Fortifications on top of those two are helpful to some but not necessary as your baby will also be consuming either breast milk or formula as their main nutrition source. Oftentimes, additives are supplemented in food products to extend their shelf life. Some experts feel that certain additives, such as potassium phosphate, should be avoided when it comes to infant foods. If you are comfortable with this additive, Gerber Whole Wheat makes for a great whole grain option when choosing infant cereals. Age: 4-6+ months (Stage One) | Price per ounce: $0.33 | WIC Approved: Yes | Protein per serving: 1g | Fiber per serving: 1g | Iron per serving: 5mg (45% Daily Value) | Price at time of publication: $16 As discussed, providing various single whole grains, followed by multigrain products, is the safest and smartest way to introduce complementary foods to your little one. The Gerber variety pack contains four products: rice, oatmeal, whole wheat, and a multigrain option. One drawback to this variety pack is that it does not come in an organic version. Organic vs. non-organic is no different from a nutrition perspective, but there is a risk of pesticide residue exposure and higher arsenic levels in non-organic rice cereals specifically. If you are alternating different cereals to ensure variety, according to the AAP, you do not need to worry about arsenic levels in your baby’s rice cereal. Age: 0-6+ months | Price per ounce: $1.33 | WIC Approved: Yes | Protein per serving: 1-2g | Fiber per serving: 0-1g | Iron per serving: 6.75mg (60% Daily Value) | Price at time of publication: $20
What to Look for in a Baby Cereal
Variety
Once you know your baby tolerates a variety of different grains, be sure to mix it up! Rotate through various whole grains and even rotate through product lines. Each brand of baby cereal is made with different grains (oats, rice, quinoa, barley, etc.). Each grain has different nutrient ratios, making it even more important to introduce variety. Not only will this increase your child’s exposure to different tastes and textures, but it will also provide a variety of nutrients and decrease exposure to various heavy metals.
Simplicity
The fewer ingredients in a product, the better. Babies do not need us to increase food’s palatability with added ingredients and preservatives. They need whole foods in their most natural state. This is an instance where more is not necessarily better. Always change up your grains. Rotate through various whole grains and even rotate through product lines. Not only will this increase your child’s exposure to different tastes and textures, but it will also provide a variety of nutrients and decrease exposure to various heavy metals. Ideally, these products would have only three ingredients—grains, iron, and vitamin C.
Key Nutrients
It is important to look for iron-fortified cereal, as a baby’s iron stores start to deplete at 6 months of age. Other nice-to-have ingredients include vitamin C, to aid in total iron absorption, as well as vitamin D (if exclusively breastfeeding). Formula-fed infants will likely be receiving enough vitamin D from their fortified infant formula.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Lauren Cohen, MS, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with her master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and a specialization in pediatric nutrition. She works as a clinical dietitian at Nemours/A.I duPont Hospital for Children and is a regular contributor to KidsHealth.com and the Nemours Promise Blog through Nemours Children Health System. It is also important to ensure that your child is able to sit supported. You might want to look for your child showing interest in eating, such as watching a parent eat or grabbing at food. Work with a pediatric healthcare provider to decide the best time to start solids based on your baby’s growth, development, and needs. When starting solids, infants are generally consuming less than 3 tablespoons per day. Having a variety of foods from various sources and manufacturers ensures that even if a single ingredient is higher in toxic metals, that single ingredient will not be high in your child’s diet. Additional reporting by Brittany Scanniello. As a Registered Dietitian, Brittany Scanniello uses her clinical expertise to cut through marketing claims and get straight to the science. These are all products that she has researched, vetted, and would recommend to her own clients in private practice as well as include in the diet of her two young daughters.
