Fur Baby Foodie Exploring Organic Options for Dogs
9 Best Organic Baby Food Brands of 2024
Designed to grow with your baby as they progress into toddler and big kid years, this subscription-based baby food service is one you can stick with for a while. They offer a plethora of BabyBlends from freshly made single-ingredient purees to textured multi ingredient options that are all USDA Organic and Clean Label Project verified.
We especially love their convenient smoothies that are USDA organic and are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients like chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seed butter, coconut milk and more. Babyblends start at $2.96 per blend and smoothies start at $2.82 per pouch.
The brand never uses rice, fortifiers or anything artificial in their blends, which our experts appreciate. They also utilize a cold-pressure technology as an alternative to heat pasteurization, killing harmful bacteria without the use of high heat but retaining those important nutrients. Our dietitians were impressed that this process allows the Babyblends and Smoothies to stay fresh in the fridge for up to 14 days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Parent testers were impressed with the ingredient list and fresh flavors. "The packaging and serving size was nice and seemed high quality," one parent said. "What I loved most is that my son loved it! I greatly enjoyed this too," another said. Middleberg serves as the brand's nutrition advisor, sharing that she is truly passionate about Little Spoon's products and loves that the baby food is both nutritious and delicious. "Its a great option for parents to feel good about what they are feeding their kids."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Why Dietitians and Moms Love Little Spoon
Can Dogs Eat Baby Food? Here Is What You Need To Know
Can Dogs Eat Baby Food? Here Is What You Need To Know
Dogs usually love to eat anything and everything.
Their taste buds are not quite as discriminatory as ours are. If you have a newborn at home, chances are they have shared quite a bit of their food with your dog.
Your dog may even participate readily in their feeding times.
If your dog is not feeling well and their appetite is less than what it should be, you may be wondering what you can use to entice your dog to eat.
Baby food has a very strong smell, so dogs love it, but is it safe for them to eat?
Is Baby Food Good For Dogs?
Baby food is okay for dogs if they eat it only sparingly.
Baby food should not be given to dogs as a part of their regular diet.
It is not a sole source of nutrition and if they eat too much, it could make them sick.
Baby food can be given to dogs to entice them to eat if they are not eating their regular food.
Baby food can also be used to help you give medicine to your dog.
It can sometimes be difficult to give medicine that your vet may prescribe to your dog, but hiding it in tasty baby food can sometimes do just the trick.
Also, many veterinary clinics are trying to make veterinary visits easier on pets these days, with a focus on being fear free.
This involves them keeping tasty and smelly treats available to distract your dog while they do their exams or give shots.
Many vets use baby food as a distraction because dogs just love it.
It works really great at calming their nerves and allowing shots to be given without any struggle.
Baby Food Flavors Okay For Dogs To Eat
Flavors of baby food that are okay for you to give to your dog include:
It is best to get the baby foods that only have one specific flavor in each jar, instead of a mixture of flavors.
This is because sometimes the mixtures or dinners have ingredients in them that can be harmful to dogs.
Baby Food Flavors To Avoid
Do not give your dog baby food that has the following ingredients in it:
- Onions or onion powder
- Garlic or garlic powder
Garlic and onions have the potential to be toxic to dogs.
Some dogs may eat them and be just fine, while others can get very sick.
Some dogs could even develop an autoimmune disease called Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.
This is where their bodys immune system thinks that their red blood cells are a foreign invader.
Their immune cells being attacking their blood, causing them to become very anemic.
This condition can be life-threatening and is very expensive to treat.
Pumpkin Baby Food
Pumpkin baby food is fine for dogs to eat every now and then.
Adding a little pumpkin to your dogs diet can even provide them with a little extra fiber.
This in turn can help regulate their bowel movements.
For dogs who are having a little diarrhea or softer than normal stools, you can even add a small scoop of canned pumpkin on their food once a day to help firm their stool back up.
Dont overdo it, though.
If you give them too much pumpkin, the opposite effect can happen and their diarrhea could get worse.
For large breed dogs, 1 tbsp of canned pumpkin will suffice.
For smaller breed dogs, giving just a couple of teaspoons is enough.
Banana Baby Food
There are so many different flavors of baby food out there.
Pumpkin and banana flavors are ones that are perfectly safe for your pup to eat occasionally.
Again, just a small scoop on their food to entice them to eat is enough.
Make sure to refrigerate any leftover baby food after opening, and discard it after 24 hours.
Just like when offering anything new in your dogs diet, monitor your dog closely for any signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, diarrhea, or vomiting.
It would be unusual for them to have a reaction to baby foods, but it is always a good idea to make note if they do.
And, again, do not give your dog any baby food that has onion or garlic powder in it.
Is Applesauce Bad For Dogs?
Applesauce is fine for dogs to eat in moderation.
It should not be a regular part of their diet, but it can be given as a treat every now and then in small amounts.
You could also use it to entice your dog to eat or to help give medication in.
Apples are a good source of antioxidants and fiber, and applesauce can be a good way of incorporating apples into your dogs diet without worrying about the core of the apple.
It is best to look for applesauce that is sugar-free and contains little to no preservatives, however.
When To Go To The Vet
If your dog is not eating their regular diet for more than 2-3 days, you need to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
While some dogs may have an upset stomach for a short period of time and feeding them baby food can get them over the hump, other dogs may have a serious medical condition.
It is time to go to the vet if your dog is doing one or more of the following things:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea for more than 2-3 days
- Refusing to eat, even with enticement
- Decreased appetite for more than 2-3 days
- Being lethargic
Offering baby food is not a long-term solution if your dog is not eating their regular food.
Yes, your dog can eat most flavors of baby food without harm.
Follow up with your veterinarian if your dogs symptoms get worse or they are not back to eating their regular food within a couple of days to make sure nothing more serious is going on.
Leslie Brooks graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. After graduation she moved to Indianapolis to do an intensive one-year internship at a specialty practice and then began working as a small animal general practitioner. She ran her own house call practice for three years, visiting pets in peoples homes. Currently, she works part time in clinical practice and volunteering her free time to serve pets of the homeless. Read more about us here.
Love In Every Bite
In The Beginning for Love of Zoe
You might say that Zoe, our aging Dachshund, representsthe heart of our family. Loyal and full of boundlesslove, theres no end to what well do to keep her safe,happy and healthy.
Fur Baby Cookies were originally created toprovide Zoe with a natural, healthy alternativeto store-bought dog treats readily available,but full of preservatives and undesirableingredients.
A true hit, I wanted to share my passion withour Grand-dog, Daisy, a spunky, playful and lovingBull Terrier. Daisy, like other dogs with allergies,needed some extra TLC. Store-bought were simplyunsafe for her.
As a result, all Fur Baby Cookies are DaisyApproved Gluten and Wheat-Free, and madefrom the finest Organic and Superfood ingredientsavailable. Happiness is indeed sharing your love foryour dog one bite at a time.
The Best Baby Food: Jars, Pouches, Organic, and More
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After months of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it can be surprising to realize that your still-tiny baby is actually ready for real food. This exciting (albeit messy!) transition may be a little bittersweet and can feel overwhelming, especially considering the numerous baby food options available in 2022.
Weve rounded up some of this years best baby foods to help you get started on the right foot er, spoon.
Both the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend exclusively breastfeeding babies for the first 6 months of life. Formula-fed infants are ready to start solid foods when they start showing signs that theyre ready.
In some cases, you may start solids around 4 or 5 months, but its best to discuss this with your pediatrician. If your doctor doesnt have a different recommendation, most babies are ready to start soft or pureed foods by the time theyre about 6 months old.
If youre picking commercially prepared baby food (versus making your own), its wise to start with simple, one-ingredient baby food. Most commercial baby food is labeled stage 1, 2, or 3 based on the texture and number of ingredients.
For instance, stage 1 baby food has the smoothest texture and typically has one ingredient, such as pureed pears. So, for your 4- to 6-month-old, youll want to start with stage 1 baby food.
Starting with one food at a time helps you monitor for any adverse reactions or food allergies. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends monitoring each food for 3 to 5 days.
There isnt really a perfect first food the choice is yours! Some good foods to start: infant cereal (preferably oat or whole grain), meat purees such as chicken or turkey, or single-ingredient purees of fruits or veggies.
If youre debating whether to start with fruits or veggies first, the AAP suggests that an infants preferences for sweets wont budge even if veggies are introduced first. Mashed peas just dont taste as good once youve had applesauce.
We chatted with pediatricians, read the research, polled real-life parents, read reviews, and used our own babies as taste testers (although we cant say their opinions on nutritional value are very authoritative) to bring you some of the top baby food brands available. In addition:
- We looked for foods that are certified USDA organic and have non-GMO verified ingredients.
- We focused on baby food thats free of added sugar (but have called out one or two products that contain it).
- The baby foods on our list are free of harmful preservatives.
- We called out the brands that market their products as gluten-free and allergen-free.
All products are also vetted by our medical standards team, which evaluates brand integrity and product safety.
Best overall baby food
This affordable baby food is an all-around fan favorite. Beech-Nut baby foods come in recyclable glass jars and are available in both natural and organic varieties. Blends are available in every stage, from single-ingredient foods for brand-new eaters (like butternut squash and plum) to multi-food blends with chunkier textures for older babies.
The ingredients in Beech-Nut baby foods are simple, with no artificial additives. Plus, these little glass jars are available at most grocery stores, so theyre easy to find. However, while its great for recycling purposes, glass can be dangerous always supervise your little one around glass.
Beech-Nut Naturals are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) but not certified organic (unless you shop their organics line). They contain no added sugar.
Best organic baby food pouches
If sustainability, organic foods, and non-GMO ingredients are important to you, Plum Organics has a great line of baby food options to try.
Their BPA-free pouches are super convenient and available in a variety of fruits, veggies, and grains for each stage of eating. These foods have no added salts or sugars, so theyre nutritious and simple for babys maturing digestive system. Theyre also widely available and can be purchased in bulk for greater savings.
And while feeding experts definitely discourage using pouches exclusively, theres no denying that pouches are very convenient for occasional on-the-go feedings. To make sure your baby is still progressing in their journey through solid foods, try squeezing the pouch contents into a spoon. And be sure to watch out for the small plastic caps, as theyre a choking hazard.
Plum Organics is certified organic and non-GMO, and their baby food doesnt contain added sugar.
Best budget-friendly baby food
Gerber is the classic baby food brand, and theyve made changes over the last few years to make their food more health-conscious (e.g., starting an organic line). Yet they have maintained their status as one of the most affordable prepared baby food brands on the market.
They offer benefits like glass jars, organic ingredients, and a wide variety of food choices at a lower cost than some other brands on our list.
Gerber Organic is USDA organic, non-GMO, and free of added sugar.
Best baby food for constipation
Sometimes babies get a little constipated when theyre beginning their solid food journey, especially if theyre eating a lot of dairy or iron-fortified cereal. In addition to continuing breast milk, some foods may help relieve your little ones digestive discomfort, including all the P fruits.
So prunes, pears, plums, and peaches are some options to help keep tiny bowels on the move. You can find great fruit purees in any brand on our list, but one of the more cost-effective is the Gerber brand. The good news is that many babies love fruit, so it shouldnt be too hard to get your little one to down some prunes or pears.
This product is made with non-GMO ingredients and pears grown with Clean Field Farming practices. It doesnt contain added sugars.
Best organic jarred baby food
Another great organic baby food option, the Happy Baby company offers their organic baby food jars at most stores although not quite as widely as Beech-Nut and Plum Organics.
Happy Baby jars offer a wide variety of foods, from kale and mango to spinach and peaches and chia seeds. You can start with their single-ingredient jars (this is important for ruling out allergies, as well as to help baby learn to like spinach even when its not disguised by pears). Then, you can move on to their fruit and veggie blends as your little one grows.
High quality ingredients, creative flavors, and no artificial ingredients all make Happy Baby a solid (no pun intended) choice.
Happy Baby is USDA organic and doesnt contain added sugars.
Best personalized subscription service
Cerebelly allows you to personalize your subscription of baby food pouches based on your childs age, leaning on science to determine what foods will benefit them at their stage of development.
Youll take a quiz that asks about the current development and language cues your baby is showing (responding to their name, grasping toys, using noises to show emotion, etc.). It also asks about motor, social, and visual skills.
The results will clue you in on key nutrients that may benefit your little one and customize your baby food pouches based on this.
To boot, the brand has earned the Clean Label Project Purity Award (which evaluates products for toxins and contaminants), is certified USDA organic, and contains no added sugars.
Best fresh baby food
These organic, cold-pressed baby food pouches and cups are found in the refrigerated section at your grocery store (and yes, they have to be refrigerated at home). The company also has a subscription delivery option to make baby food even more convenient for your busy schedule.
Creative names like Wild Rumpus Avocado and Magic Velvet Mango will have you smiling, and the variety of flavors will (hopefully!) appeal to your little one. Once Upon a Farm offers a variety of food stages, so you can start with their purees and move on up to their finger and toddler foods as your baby grows.
Once Upon a Farm is certified organic and non-GMO. Their products contain no added sugars and are Clean Label Project certified.
Best first baby cereal
This simple cereal is a great first food for baby. You can mix this one-ingredient whole grain cereal with breast milk, formula, or water to provide your little one with some crucial nutrients (such as iron) and experience with spoons and textures.
The AAP recommends oatmeal or multigrain cereals over rice cereals, as they have a lower risk of exposure to chemicals such as arsenic (which is sometimes a concern with rice products).
As your baby gets used to other foods, you can also mix this cereal with fruit or yogurt to provide a heartier meal.
Gerber Organic is certified USDA organic and non-GMO, but this product does contain some added sugars.
Best, most interesting baby food blends
Once your baby is ready for more advanced blends, Little Spoon has a unique line of complex blends that contain multiple purees as well as other seeds and grains for texture.
For example, one blend contains quinoa, butternut squash, and apple. Another contains kale, white bean, pear, basil, quinoa, and avocado oil.
Little Spoon purees use certified organic and non-GMO ingredients. Theyre free of added sugar.
Best all-around clean baby food
Baby Gourmet is another Clean Label Project Purity Award winner, which means they go above and beyond to ensure their baby food is free of harmful toxins that naturally occur in the environment.
This Canadian company is also set to donate 1 million meals to vulnerable populations by 2025. Its founded and run by moms, which can be reassuring.
Baby Gourmet is certified organic and non-GMO by both U.S. and Canadian standards. All packaging is BPA-free. Products contain no added sugar.
As a general guideline, its a good idea to start with iron-fortified baby cereals or pureed meats if your infant is breastfed. Breastfed babies are more likely to need extra iron than formula-fed babies.
Its also advisable to start with simple, single-ingredient purees of meat, vegetables, and fruits.
Choosing brands that are certified organic, use BPA-free materials, and are conscious of using whole food ingredients (e.g., they dont add extras like salt, sugar, or corn syrup) helps ensure a healthy start for your little one.
According to the AAP, you shouldnt give babies under age 1 cows milk, honey, unpasteurized dairy, or undercooked meat, as these can be an infection risk for a babys developing immune system.
Youll also want to avoid foods that are hard or sharp or present a choking risk (for instance, chips, nuts, popcorn, raisins, raw apples, raw carrots, whole grapes, hot dogs). For a more comprehensive guide to which foods to give and what to avoid, check out our article on infant nutrition and starting solids.
While experts used to advise waiting to introduce highly allergenic foods (such as dairy, wheat, nuts, and eggs) until after the first year, the experts now say that delayed introduction of these foods may increase a childs risk of food allergies. So, with the guidance of your pediatrician, go ahead and introduce those foods within the first year.
Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you notice swelling of the tongue and mouth, wheezing, or trouble breathing after your child eats certain foods
Some babies are raring to go when it comes to trying food, while others may take a little more convincing. Either way, definitely get your camera on video mode, as there are bound to be some hilarious faces and some impressive food spillage along the way.
Here are some pro tips to help make the process as smooth as possible:
- Wait until your baby shows signs of readiness for solid food.
- Keep trying. It can take 5 to 10 exposures for a baby to accept a new food.
- Make it fun and silly.
- Cook and eat as a family as much as possible.
- Let your baby play with the spoon and even the food! While incredibly messy, this helps them get comfortable with the textures, smells, and tastes of new foods.
- Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns. Theyre a great resource and want to help you grow a happy, healthy baby.
Whats the best baby food for growth and weight gain?
If your baby is under 6 months and breastfeeding, its recommended that you stick to that exclusively for 6 months. When youre ready to introduce solids after 6 months, it should be in addition to breastfeeding and formula, not as a replacement.
If your baby is formula-fed, they may begin eating solids sooner than 6 months. While no one specific food is recommended, a variety of foods and colors is best, including meats, vegetables, and fruits. One of the key foods that can help with growth and weight gain is
Always discuss your babys dietary changes with your pediatrician and attend regular checkups to monitor growth.
Whats the easiest food for babies to digest?
Just like adults, babies do best with regular bowel movements. If theyre having a hard time with this, oatmeal is one food known to be easy to digest and promote regularity, as it contains higher amounts of dietary fiber.
It may also help to focus on quantity. Try feeding your baby smaller meals more often, rather than fewer larger meals. This may be easier on their system and allow them to digest foods more easily.
Whats the best baby food to start with?
Mashed banana and avocado are some of the most popular solids to start with. Soft, ground oatmeal is also great. When it comes to fruit and vegetable purees, focus on variety, but dont overdo it with those that are naturally high in sugar (such as berry purees).
Most importantly, at 6 months old, all foods should still be pureed and cooked. Once your baby is 9 months old and older, you can start to introduce vegetables cut into pieces. The only other no-no is honey, which they shouldnt have until theyre over a year old.
It can feel like a lot of pressure to choose the best nutrition for your child, especially when trying to capitalize on the years before they start demanding chicken nuggets and ice cream. But there are a lot of great, healthy options available in 2022.
Whether you choose to make your own baby food, buy jars or pouches, or use a baby food subscription service, there are a number of resources to help you feed your baby.
