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Introduction
Buying the best baby cereal does not need to be difficult, and we found the ten best options to make the decision easier. Often, you will need to try a variety of cereals mixed with different liquids to find what works for your baby. Start with the cereal with options including oatmeal, rice, multigrain and nutritional additives, and worry about the liquids later.
The 10 Best Baby Cereals
Gerber Single-Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal
You cannot go wrong trying the Gerber Single-Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal for your baby. It’s a classic ready to delight infants.
Benefits
The easy-to-eat oatmeal is ground down to an ultra-fine powder and ready to mix with water, breastmilk, or formula. Added iron supports health and learning. Also, the cereal is made without GMO ingredients for extra high quality.
Downsides
Each box of cereal can come with a slightly different texture, which many babies will find frustrating as babies are notoriously picky.
Why we love it
Gerber is the food that comes to mind when you think of baby food because they offer a large selection and high quality. They even create easy-to-use containers in sizes you can add to your diaper bag easily.
02
Gerber Single-Grain Rice Baby Cereal
Instead of oatmeal, try Gerber Single-Grain Rice Baby Cereal and help encourage a love of rice from a young age.
Benefits
Gerber does not fill their cereals with unnecessary ingredients or with GMOs, so you get high-quality food. No sweeteners, flavors, or colors allows you to modify this cereal your way to find what works for your baby. They do add in extra vitamins and nutrients to help your baby stay healthy.
Downsides
Soy Lecithin is added as an emulsifier, and it can cause an allergy in very sensitive babies. Also, it’s often processed with hexane which is only safe in very small quantities.
Why we love it
Gerber ensures your baby meets their daily iron needs in just two servings of cereal. Added vitamin C and multiple B vitamins encourage proper nutrition too.
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Gerber Baby Cereal Hearty Bits Multigrain Cereal – Banana Apple Strawberry
Give your baby the Gerber Baby Cereal Hearty Bits Multigrain Cereal – Banana Apple Strawberry to delight their tastebuds with tangy fruits.
Benefits
Babies, like adults, often do not want to eat plan grains, which is why Gerber adds healthy fruits like bananas, apples, and strawberries to enhance the flavor of this healthy cereal. You also get several grains, including wheat, oats, rice, barley, and rye, to increase the nutrition and flavor.
Downsides
The added fruit may add flavor but may also add allergens. Try this after you trying plain cereal and all three fruits to avoid issues.
Why we love it
We love cereals that encourage picky eaters to eat, and this option includes a flavor many will love.
04
Earth’s Best Organic Infant Cereal, Whole Grain Oatmeal Cereal
Choose Earth’s Best Organic Infant Cereal, Whole Grain Oatmeal Cereal if you want to avoid non-organic ingredients.
Benefits
Earth’s Best uses organic oatmeal made without genetically modified ingredients. Furthermore, the cereal digests easily, even with added iron, for extra health. They also add several other ingredients without any emulsifiers.
Downsides
A few customers received expired boxes. Please check before using and return if necessary.
Why we love it
Not everyone cares about organic foods, but those who do will find quality infant cereal without breaking the bank. Also, the cereal is very clean as it’s free of flavors, colors, and preservatives.
05
Gerber Baby Cereal Probiotic Rice Banana Apple
Buy the Gerber Baby Cereal Probiotic Rice Banana Apple for babies with sensitive tummies.
Benefits
Gerber takes a basic rice cereal and makes it better by adding flavor with banana and apple flakes. Added probiotics help babies digest food better with healthy bacteria. Added vitamins further increase the nutritional value.
Downsides
The company adds sunflower lecithin as an emulsifier which can cause allergies for some babies.
Why we love it
Every bite counts with babies to bring them nutrition and keep them healthy. This cereal improves gut and brain health, all with a fun flavor baby will love, and it’s non-GMO.
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Gerber Baby Cereal DHA & Probiotic Oatmeal
Add omega fatty acid to your baby’s diet with the Gerber Baby Cereal DHA & Probiotic Oatmeal.
Benefits
For extra brain health, Gerber adds fish oil to oatmeal. Added probiotics help with gut health making this a fabulous cereal for picky babies. Added vitamins encourage health too, and the cereal is free of emulsifiers!
Downsides
Fish oils tend to smell fishy, and not all babies will tolerate the taste. If your baby has tried regular oatmeal, they may not take more than one bite of this version of oatmeal.
Why we love it
Babies love oatmeal and tolerate the flavor quite well. Adding in added oils help to increase brain growth making this a great two-in-one cereal.
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Happy Baby Clearly Crafted Cereal
Go organic by feeding our baby Happy Baby Clearly Crafted Cereal and start them on a strong path to a healthy lifestyle.
Benefits
With your purchase, you get two organic cereals for your baby to try including oatmeal and oats with quinoa. Both are great starter cereals, and it helps you find what your baby likes for very little money.
Downsides
The products do not always ship well and may leak out of the package.
Why we love it
Not everyone wants vitamin-fortified cereal as they worry about the source, and Happy Baby lets the cereal stand alone with just added iron and vitamin C. The non-GMO cereals have only three or four ingredients total!
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Gerber Baby Cereal Organic Rice Cereal
Get the Gerber Baby Cereal Organic Rice Cereal for a name you trust and a product that’s organic.
Benefits
Give your baby organic rice as their first cereal as it’s so easy to digest and often digests easier, and tastes better for babies who do not like oatmeal. Added vitamins help to fortify the cereal for extra nutrition.
Downsides
The cereal contains soy lecithin, which can cause allergies for some babies.
Why we love it
Gerber entered the organic market to stay competitive and offer quality cereal to babies. Also, you can meet your baby’s iron needs in just two servings!
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Gerber Purees 1st Foods & Single Grain Cereal
Save money by purchasing the Gerber Purees 1st Foods & Single Grain Cereal set and get all of your baby’s first foods at once.
Benefits
Get a variety of options for your baby to try with this kit. You get oatmeal cereal, rice cereal, prunes, apples, and bananas. For one low price, you can find what flavors your baby loves.
Downsides
Check the expiration dates as some customers received expired products. Return for a refund if this happens.
Why we love it
We love taking out the guesswork, and new parents will love knowing what are the best first solids to give to their baby.
10
Earth’s Best Organic Infant Rice Cereal
If you prefer organic, you need to try the Earth’s Best Organic Infant Rice Cereal for quality ingredients and a brand you can trust.
Benefits
Earth’s Best offers all of their cereals with organic ingredients, including this rice option for babies who do not like oatmeal. Even better, the cereal only has four ingredients making it a clean option without fortification beyond iron and vitamin E.
Downsides
Some customers received expired boxes. Check the date before opening and return if your purchase is expired.
Why we love it
Cereals without GMOs and with the USDA-Certified organic seal offers the best quality for babies. We love the short ingredient list, too, so babies are still getting their vitamins from breastmilk or formula.
Frequently Asked Questions About Big Kid Strollers
What is the best baby cereal to start with?
Honestly, you can start with any of the baby cereals, but most parents and nutritionists start with oatmeal and rice cereals as they are easy to digest and bland enough most babies will have no problem with the flavor.
Which cereal is healthiest for babies?
All of the grains are equally healthy but in different ways. Oatmeal is more heart-healthy than rice, but most babies will not have to worry about that until they are adults. Overall though, oatmeal tends to have more fiber, protein, and vitamins.
Is rice cereal or oatmeal better for babies?
Both are healthy, but oatmeal tends to have more natural vitamins, protein, and fiber. If you can find brown rice baby cereal, that would be a very nutritious option. However, babies may need the extra carbs from rice for energy. Choose whichever your baby prefers taste-wise.
What cereal is best for a four-month-old baby?
Do not feed a baby younger than six months any cereal without talking to your pediatrician. Most babies can start at four months old on solid foods but should still get the vast majority of calories from formula or breastmilk. If you start at four months on cereal, use this time to find what flavors your baby likes.
Is rice cereal bad for babies?
Parents worry that rice cereal may contain arsenic. If you want to avoid inorganic arsenic in rice, then avoid rice with pesticides. Choose organic or, at the very least, non-GMO.
Can I start rice cereal at three months?
No. It’s best to wait until a baby is four months or older for infant cereal. Babies need to get most of their nutrition from formula or breastmilk before they turn six months old.
What cereal can a nine-month baby eat?
A nine-month-old can eat any infant cereal and can even start to try some thicker versions of cereal, too, such as whole oats.
When can I start putting cereal in my baby’s bottle?
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend adding cereal to a bottle. Babies need to get most of their nutrition from breastmilk and formula and should eat cereal and not drink it to avoid getting over full.
Can you skip rice cereal and go straight to oatmeal?
Absolutely. Babies can start with either cereal, and most only choose rice because they prefer the flavor or because of allergies.
Why can’t I put rice cereal in a bottle?
Babies gain all of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula for the first few months of their life. Adding rice cereal can fill a baby faster and cause them to get less nutrition.
What happens if you give a baby rice cereal too early?
Starting babies on rice cereal too early can lead to obesity and lower nutrition levels from breastmilk or formula.
How many times a day do you feed rice cereal to your baby?
Start feeding your baby infant cereal one to two times per day, making sure they still get most of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you know the best cereals and how to choose, you are ready to buy a box or two. We recommend buying different grain options as every baby has different taste buds. It’s time to watch your baby’s adorable face light up as they try out new tastes and find their new favorite food.
