We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The LA Times editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more

Nutritious and Tasty: The Best Baby Cereal

  1. Happy Baby Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal
  2. Earth's Best Organic Infant Cereal, Whole Multi-Grain Baby Cereal
  3. Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal
  4. Happy Family - Happy Baby Organic Clearly Crafted Baby Cereal Oats & Quinoa with Iron Baby Cereals
  5. Gerber Purees Organic 2nd Foods Baby Food Fruit & Veggie Variety Pack Baby Cereal
  6. Buyer's Guide

Most babies are ready to begin solids between 4 and 6 months of age but it’s always wise to check with your pediatrician before offering your little one her first spoonful. Once you get the go-ahead, cereal is an ideal starter food for you little one and the reason for this is two-fold. First, infant cereals have an easy-to-swallow texture and secondly, they also contain essential nutrients and vitamins like iron for growing infants

The following best baby cereals in 2022 made to our list because they’re organic and formulated without any artificial ingredients or harmful additives, are supplemented with added nutrients for babies growing body, and consistently receive strong reviews on Amazon and manufacturer websites from satisfied parents.

Comparing the Best Baby Cereal for 2022

Happy Baby Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal - Best Baby Cereal Overall

When it comes to baby cereal, great taste is not always the first thing which comes to mind. Happy Baby Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Cereal leads this list not only because it’s completely organic and free of artificial ingredients, but also because it’s flavorful. Online reviewers have tasted this cereal themselves and report their little ones happily accept spoonful after spoonful. Best of all, this cereal is made to be extra gentle on babies’ tummy. This cereal is also fortified with vitamins and minerals (including D2 and B12) to support healthy growth and development.

Earth's Best Organic Infant Cereal, Whole Multi-Grain Baby Cereal - Runner Up

Earth’s Best Whole Grain Multi-Grain Cereal is USDA-certified organic and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, making it a great choice for parents looking for a rice cereal alternative. This easy to digest cereal can be served at room temperature or warmed up according to baby’s preference; it can also be easily mixed with breast milk or formula. Fortified with iron, B-complex vitamins and zinc, this cereal supports healthy growth and development. Since this cereal is free of preservatives it only stays good for 30 days.

Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal - Honorable Mention

Bio Kinetics Buckwheat Baby Cereal is entirely gluten free, making it an ideal choice for babies with food sensitivities. Made with only organic sprouted buckwheat flakes (which are inherently nutrient-rich), this cereal still provides your little one with essential vitamins and minerals despite its super simple formula. For added convenience, this USA-made cereal comes in easy-access serving pouches.

Happy Family - Happy Baby Organic Clearly Crafted Baby Cereal Oats & Quinoa with Iron Baby Cereals - Consider

Developed by a team of moms committed to wholesome, minimally-processed baby foods, this cereal has gotten great reviews because it’s USDA-certified organic and formulated with absolutely no artificial ingredients. DHA and Choline fortified to support brain and eye development, this rice cereal is the only one on our list containing both pre-and-probiotics to help strengthen young digestive systems. Completely soy and dairy free, Happy Bellies Organic Baby Cereals are an ideal choice for little ones with sensitive stomachs.

Gerber Purees Organic 2nd Foods Baby Food Fruit & Veggie Variety Pack Baby Cereal - Best Baby Cereal

This single grain brown rice cereal by Gerber is certified organic and fortified with ten vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium for healthy growth and development. It can be mixed with breast milk or formula for infants along with water, milk, or juice for older babies. A number of online reviewers claim this cereal helps their little ones with acid reflux; unsurprising considering the formula is specifically designed for easy digestion by small stomachs. This affordable baby cereal comes in an easy-to-open canister making serving measurements easy for moms.

Buyer's Guide

Best Baby Cereal Buying Guide

We understand that you like knowing all the key facts before pulling the trigger on the purchase of anything for your baby. So, here is a great buying guide section that will take you through all there is to know about baby cereals and things to consider when you buy one for your little one.

Benefits of Baby Cereal

Baby cereals are not only there to fill the tummy of your little one. You’ll definitely be amazed to know about their hidden wonders but, any idea what they could be? Well, so here’s the thing! Baby cereals secretly work on promoting your child’s metabolism and providing healthier growth. So, let’s know more about how they do so much for your baby!

Iron Supplement

Iron is one of the most important nutrients for newborns as it helps in healthier and quicker brain development. It is especially important for breastfeeding babies since breast milk isn't enough when it comes to providing your little one with sufficient amounts of iron that they need.

Baby cereals come to the rescue here by not only fulfilling the daily iron requirements of your child but also providing them with other nutrients like calcium and vitamins B,C and E.

A Learning Curve

When you observe that your baby is getting used to the soft and lumpy texture of baby cereal, you can start making it thicker by putting in more solid food and less liquid formula. The thicker texture will help teach your baby how to chew and swallow food and ultimately transition to solid foods like fruits, veggies and chicken etc.

Trust us when we say that you won’t have to make any effort when it comes to convincing your baby to eat it since he will still crave it because of its familiar taste.

Things To Consider When Buying Best Baby Cereal

It is important that you consider these two factors before going about buying a new box of cereal for your baby.

Organic or Non-Organic Cereals?

Organic baby cereals are grown without synthetic chemicals and GMOs. So, your child will be safe from the potential harm caused by the pesticides and fertilizers present in non-organic cereals. However, you should also know that most non-organic cereals also include a non-toxic amount of these chemicals due to government policies. So, rest assured that either way, your child would be safe and it all comes down to your preferences.

Type of Grains

There are a variety of grains present in baby cereals and each of them has its own advantages. For instance, wheat has plenty of fibers, oatmeal has high levels of iron and rice is useful in improving the digestive system.

Every baby should be given a cereal based on what their body requires the most and this should be left up to the pediatrician’s recommendation.

Best Baby Cereal Buying Tips

We have come up with two expert tips to ensure that this purchase of yours goes like a breeze.

Variety of Nutrients

Keep trying different cereals with different grains to balance the intake of various nutrients. For instance, all baby cereals have vitamins but every cereal is specialized in a different vitamin. So, you should aim to maintain a balance of all vitamins for best nutrition. This will also help your child learn to adapt to different tastes and reduce their consumption of artificial chemicals.

Safe-to-use ingredients

There must be no GMOs present in the cereal. Always make sure that the cereal is free of any artificial flavors, colors and harmful chemicals. Any fats and excessive sugar should also be avoided. Furthermore, you never know which ingredient might or might not be suitable for your baby so it is always better to consult their pediatrician before giving the cereal to your little one.

Another important aspect to look out for are the ingredients that are organic. Also make sure to read the label for ingredients, there might be an ingredient that your baby can be allergic to.

How We Choose the Best Baby Cereal?

Remember that best of list we talked about? Well, here are the two ingredients that we used when cooking up those top picks.

Allergen Levels

The cereal that you choose for your baby must not cause any allergic reactions, right? So, The best cereals, like the ones in our article, should have no allergens such as gluten, egg, soy and dairy. Rice cereals are gluten-free but they should still be avoided more than once per day because increased exposure of arsenic may be injurious for the baby’s health.

Iron-Fortified Cereal are a Plus

Babies of around six months usually need lots of iron due to the iron deficiency that might have been passed through the mother during pregnancy. So, we prioritized iron-fortified cereals to cover up for this deficit and meet the daily iron requirement of your baby.

Best Baby Cereal FAQ

Let's end things with a brief FAQ section regarding baby cereals.

What age do you start cereal for babies?

You can start feeding your kid cereal when they are 6-7 months old. This age is generally considered adequate for solid foods. Furthermore, it is important that you ensure that your baby can move the food from the front to the back of their mouth before you start feeding them rice-based baby cereal.

Is cereal healthy for babies?

Cereal, depending on the one you go for, can hold great benefits for your little champ. It will not only help them transition to more solid foods but will also ensure that their nutrient requirements are met, depending on the cereal's ingredients. Let's also not forget that it will keep your baby's tummy full and happy.

What are the Best Kinds of Cereal?

If you're just beginning to feed your baby cereal, we recommend that you stick to the basic ones made of barley, oat, and rice. They are rich in nutrients and are super easy to digest. Always start slow and then build up on the ingredients.

bestcovery team.jpg
Our research team searches out the best of everything so that you can confidently pick the perfect products and services for your needs.
RELATED CONTENT
Go to top