Skip to main content

Top 5 Best Baby Cereals

Written by Andrew Le, MD

UpdatedJuly 4, 2024

As a parent, choosing what to feed your baby is one of the significant choices millions of parents make every day. Breast milk or baby formula is the main diet for babies and though introducing solid foods is a major developmental step great attention should be paid to this. Cereals are the first solids that parents give to their babies since it’s a gentle on the tummy and it rich in nutrients. .

We have dedicated significant amount of time to do deep research coupled with performance analysis of different types of baby cereals in the market. As would be outlined in the next sections, there are a variety of other factors that you need to consider when choosing a baby cereal and more so the best baby cereals in the market today.

Top 3 Best Baby Cereals

  1. Gerber Baby Cereal 1st Foods, Rice, 8 Ounce (Pack of 6)
  2. Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Cereal
  3. Else Nutrition High Iron Super Cereal

We have compiled a list of the tastiest and most healthy baby cereals that can guarantee a proper digestion. The baby cereals are organic, made without any additions of gluten, non GMO, without any artificial flavoring agents or preservatives added to them. Hence, whether you prefer a cereal made from a single grain or a mix of many grains, you will find it here.

Gerber Baby Cereal 1st Foods, Rice, 8 Ounce (Pack of 6)

The Editor's Choice
Gerber Rice cereal is cheap and yet equally healthy for the baby. Regardless of a single container of the product, a value pack of six containers is better in the long run. Also, dietary haem iron is beneficial for the brain development. Besides, the mineral contains iron that is essential of healthy brain development.

See price on Amazon

If you are curious for a good and inexpensive choice of baby cereal that you can introduce to your baby, Gerber Rice cereal should fit the bill.

Pros

  • The pack of six small one-piece hold-through containers with volume of 8 fluid ounces is very reasonable in price.
  • There are no additives, artificial sweeteners, and flavors that might be unsafe for children in this product will make many parents happy.
  • The iron content is beneficial for healthy brain development.

Cons

  • May be too thin for some babies
  • The packaging may be inconvenient for on-the-go feeding

In our experience, Gerber Rice cereal is quite appropriate for parents who are looking for easy and healthy cereal for the baby. The six containers’ value pack is advantageous, and the inclusion of iron as an ingredient is important in the development of the brain. We also want to thank that the product is NON-GMO and not containing any artificial stuffs, that seems quite good for parents to make their kids healthy.

Nevertheless, the cereal might be too runny for some babies, which requires stirring to get to the correct consistency. Moreover, the rice flavor might not suit some babies as they might have a preference toward quite a sweet taste. Last but not the least; the packaging of the food might not be suitable for the baby That is, requires a bowl and spoon to feed him or her.

In summary, we suggest Gerber Rice cereal to parents that need an easy, cheap, and healthy food to begin food solids to their little one.

See Price on Amazon

For a nutritious and delicious cereal to introduce to your little one, count on Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Cereal.

Pros

  • This organic whole grain cereal is rich on iron to help your baby get the nutrition as she or he starts on the solid foods.
  • Crafted using only a few basic components such as organic whole grain oat flour to make a delicate cereal that will encourage your child’s development.
  • It can be prepared and given to the baby with formula or breast milk or water depending on the preferred consistency to the dish.

Cons

  • Some parents may find the texture to be too thick or too thin
  • Some babies may not like the taste or texture of this cereal

We've found that Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Cereal is easy to prepare and provides good nutrition for a baby. It is preferred as first food to babies because the cereal is iron-fortified and easily digestible for babies. We like that you can get it in both oat and multi-grain varieties; this way, you can give your baby the flavor he or she likes.

Keep in mind that the level of tackiness in the meal can be altered, depending on how the cereal is prepared, and you might have to test several kinds of textures until you get one that would suit your baby. They had established that adding it to breast milk or formula makes it thicker making it easier for the babies to take.

Overall, it is worth purchasing the Earth’s Best Organic Whole Grain Cereal; especially for parents, who want their children to have a healthy and tasty meal. They are so simple to make, and this recipe is rather beneficial for sensitive stomachs of babies, and provide a lot of nutrients needed by the growing babies.

See price on Amazon

For a healthy and safe cereal for a baby, Else Nutrition High Iron Super Cereal is a nice option to look for.

Pros

  • This cereal is rich in Gluten_Free carbs, plant protein and 20+ minerals and vitamin including calcium and fiber.
  • It does not contain over 400 contaminants that include BPA and other toxins and for this reason it is accredited by the clean label project purity award certification.
  • It is based on whole foods with a content of more than 80%, which will be useful for the baby and environmentally friendly.

Cons

  • Some babies may not like the taste of the cereal.
  • The banana flavor may not be ideal for all babies.

We recently tried Else Nutrition High Iron Super Cereal for our baby, and we found the product to be rich in quality and nutrients. The cereal contains almonds and buckwheat, making it be rich in balanced gluten free carbohydrate sources, high quality plant protein that does contain all the essential amino acids, and good amounts of the unsaturated fat.

The one thing which defines Else Nutrition High Iron Super Cereal from other products is the clean label project purity award certification. It introduces this certification to guarantee that the cereal it contains no more than 0.001ppm of over 400 of dangerous substances such as BPA and toxins which are hazardous to the baby’s health. Besides, the cereal is made 80% with whole foods, which makes this product safe and perfect for the baby’s nutrition.

The baby took the cereal well; however, some babies may not like the taste of bananas as used in preparation of the cereal. However, the cereal had low iron content by comparison with other baby cereals; this may be a worry some parents.

See price on Amazon

For a safe and easy way to introduce allergens to your baby, count on Ready, Set, Food! Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal.

Pros

  • Introduces 9 top allergens in every bite
  • Crafted by an allergist-mom of 2
  • Clean Label Project Purity Award Winner

Cons

  • May need to add flavor for picky eaters
  • It is a bit expensive

We appreciated that Ready, Set, Food made it so simple to allergens can be introduced into the babies’ diet. Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal. I tried it and did not experience any strong taste, while our baby appeared to like it. Also, it is a Clean Label Project Purity Award Winner which tested it on over 100 environmental and industrial impurities.

However, it is not tasty enough to tempt the child with particular eating preferences. But, we noted that putting a little fruit or jelly Sweet made it more pleasing. Besides, it is relatively more expensive than most of the baby cereals available in the market.

Overall, it will be safe to recommend Ready, Set, Food! Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal for the mom who wants an easy feed for her baby that also introduces the necessary allergens.

See price on Amazon

When in need of looking for baby food that is healthy as well as convenient for the baby to take, then Amara Organic Baby Food is an ideal option.

Pros

  • This food is made from fresh organic food with lots of nutrients, non-GMO foods to make sure that the baby has the best food.
  • It is perfectly designed for your baby’s developmental stage, thus using the product, you’ll hardly struggle to select the right texture/homogeneous pancreatic mass for your baby.
  • Amara’s jarred and Pouches do not repeat the high heat process, as traditional baby foods; their products have the fresh looking and delicious taste, smooth texture, and added nutrients, without sugars.

Cons

  • Some babies may not like the taste or smell of the potato and kale flavor.
  • It is a bit expensive

Overall, we recommend Amara Organic Baby Food to all parents to make trustful, easy and tasty choice for their babies. It is prepared from fresh and organic food ingredients and the diets are prepared to ensure that your little one acquires the best nutrient value.

The kale and potato flavor may not be kid’s cup of tea, however, we believe so of most babies. If you are a parent willing to pay slightly more for the absolute best food for babies, Amara is perfect for you.

Buying Guide

There are a few significant factors to look at when deciding on the right kind of baby cereal. Here are some key features to look for when making your selection:

Nutritional Value

First of all, you need to opt for the baby cereal that contains a lot of nutrients essential to the development of the child. Look for products that contain added iron for the labelled products especially for the benefit of infants. Besides, it makes sense to select the cereals containing other useful vitamins and microelements like calcium, vitamin D and zinc.

Texture

Another factor to look at when choosing the cereal is the texture of the cereal. In feeding young babies especially those that are just starting to take baby foods, it is advisable to use finely ground cereals that do not pose a choke hazard to the baby. However with time, your baby grows up and becomes wise and ready to eat thicker foods this is the time you can introduce coarser cereals.

Allergies

If your baby is allergic to any foods, then it is necessary to select a cereal that does not irritate his or her stomach. Even cereals that are marketed for the babies contain some of the products which the children are most allergic to such as wheat, soy, and dairy products.

Organic Options

If you are concerned about exposing your baby to pesticides and other chemicals, you might have to go for an organic baby cereal. These products incorporate food components that are organically grown and therefore are not harmful to the young one.

Price

Lastly, you need to look at the price of the baby cereal that you intend to use for your baby. However, it is not necessary to go for costly products as there is a wide variety within reasonable price that are rich in nutrients and tasty as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of cereal is recommended for breastfed babies?

For the babies that are on breast milk, it provided that the first solid should be single-grain cereals including rice cereal or oatmeal cereal. These are soft cereals that do not cause any distress while at the same time supplying the nutrients your baby needs to develop.

How should cereal be introduced to a 4-month-old infant?

Cereal can be introduced to a 4 months’ baby by diluting it with breast milk or baby formula and the consistency made very watery. It should be added that initially it is better to introduce only one spoon of such amendment into the child’s food and gradually increase this portion based on the child’s reactions.

Are there any risks associated with feeding oatmeal cereal to infants?

Feeding oatmeal cereal to the babies is safe. But in some of the cases, the baby may be allergic to oats or the oats may cause disturbances in the stomach. One must begin with small portions of the food that is new and observe the reactions on the skin or anywhere else on the baby’s body.

At what age is it appropriate to start feeding cereal to a baby?

It is generally recommended that cereal should be introduced into the diets of babies at about 4 – 6 months of age. But before implementing this again, it is wise to seek your pediatrician’s advice and confirm whether the baby is ready for the solids.

Which cereals are best to mix with formula for infants?

Single-grain cereals such as rice cereal or oatmeal cereal are best to mix with formula for infants. Such cereals are non-complicated in their digestive system and supply the right nutrients for your growing baby.

What are the guidelines for choosing the safest baby cereal?

When choosing the cereal for your baby, ensure, it contains iron and no added sugars and artificial flavors. Another thing to consider is the brand of the seat and its reliability and one must also ensure that the seat is not defective or constitutes any safety hazard. Always consult your pediatrician for any advice on this.

Affiliate Disclosure:
The links provided may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you if you choose to purchase the recommended product. This support allows our research and editorial team to continue providing high-quality recommendations. As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising initiative, we are able to earn advertising fees through providing links to products on Amazon.com. Please rest assured that we only recommend high-quality products.