Fortified infant cereal is usually the first solid food babies try, and boy does that white gruel look boring! Your baby’s scowl as you spoon that stuff into her mouth makes for hilarious photography–but also a frustrating feeding time. But don’t throw in the towel just yet—or the bowl. Most infant cereals are made from whole grain and are fortified with iron and other key minerals and vitamins, sometimes even probiotics and brain-health supplements like choline. Here are our picks for the best baby cereals—and a few tips for making them more tempting to finicky infants.
HappyBellies Organic Oatmeal
We love this cereal because it contains pre- and probiotics for immune support and choline and DHA for brain development. Babies love this cereal because it tastes good—it’s less grainy than other brands with added probiotics. Feeding tip: prepare with breastmilk or formula for an even smoother texture, then add in pureed avocado.
Ella’s Kitchen Wakey Wakey Baby Cereals
Ella’s Kitchen offers a beginner multigrain baby cereal for babies as young as 4 months and a stage 2 cereal that contains fruits like banana, mango and strawberries in addition to whole grains. Babies love it! One product reviewer on Vitacost.com actually said that her 7 month old cries when there’s no more cereal left. From a practical-mommy-on-the-go perspective, though, the best thing about these cereals is that they come in easy-to-pour, resealable pouches so you can feed your baby solids while you’re traveling. Feeding tip: when your child is old enough for chunkier blends, mix soft pieces of banana into this cereal to get your baby used to thicker textures.
Little Duck Organics Mighty Oats
With their smooth textures and naturally sweet flavors, these cereals are designed for your typical 4-8 month old baby, but they contain the kinds of ingredients fully-grown health nuts pine for—including quinoa, buckwheat, millet, chia and amaranth. Unfortunately, we don’t think your baby will leave you any leftovers to nibble on. Just don’t forget the spoon!
What’s your baby’s favorite cereal? Leave a comment below or tweet us at @vitacost!