5 Best Baby Cereals for First Bites, Tested by 7- and 8-Month-Olds

Whether you’re introducing cereal into baby’s diet for the first time or looking for a dependable, nutritionally balanced option for your older infant, the Gerber Organic Single Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal is an excellent choice. It has 13 ingredients and is fortified with vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, all of which Turnbull says contribute to baby’s brain development and immune function. For further support, this cereal also contains 60 percent of baby’s recommended daily value for iron and folic acid. Our tester Audrey, mom of an 8-month-old, was a fan of this range of nutrients. “There were many added vitamins and nutrients that I think are important for a baby just starting to eat solids. […] I recognized all of the ingredients and none looked unfamiliar,” she told us. Plus, it’s USDA-certified organic, which Audrey praised.

Parents of infants with sensitive stomachs will appreciate that this cereal is single-grain. In contrast to multi-grain cereals, single-grain cereals are “easier to digest and less likely to cause allergic reactions,” explains Turnbull. Though Audrey’s 8-month-old doesn’t experience gastrointestinal problems, she found that eating this cereal positively impacted her son’s digestion. “His consistency didn't change when we started testing the cereal, but he became more regular like down to the hour when he would poop,” she shared.

Better yet, Audrey found this baby cereal straightforward to prepare and serve. The instructions were easy to follow, and Audrey said it was easy to achieve her desired consistency in less than a minute. “I also liked how they suggested how much oatmeal and water [or] formula to add if your baby is just starting to eat cereal. It's a good way to gauge the proportion of oatmeal and water needed,” she explained. All in all, this organic baby cereal was easy and enjoyable for Audrey’s 8-month-old to eat. “He was able to move the food around in his mouth and swallow it without any issues,” she added, “he always ate everything I served.”

While most baby cereals tend to be reasonably priced, it’s worth noting that this option is the least expensive on our list. After testing, Audrey told us she’ll continue buying this infant cereal for her family. “I would recommend this baby cereal to other parents because of the brand, price and nutritional benefits,” she said.

Age rating: 4 to 6 months | Primary grains: Oat | Vitamins: C, E and Bs | Minerals: Iron, calcium and zinc

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While single-grain baby cereal can be a great starting point for new eaters, multi-grain cereals can help little ones expand their developing palettes. “A multigrain cereal can provide a wider variety of textures and nutrients, including fiber, protein and vitamins and minerals,” explains Turnbull. The Earth’s Best Organic Multi-Grain Infant Cereal does just that. It contains a mix of oat, barley and spelt, offering a more diverse range of grains than any other option in our roundup. This organic baby cereal also has just six ingredients, which our tester Kimberly appreciated. She said she liked how they were all non-GMO, USDA-certified organic and clearly listed on the box. “I feel like fewer ingredients show how organic and natural it is; I feel comfortable giving my baby knowing the ingredients,” she shared.

Compared to other organic infant cereals Kimberly has fed her 7-month-old, she found Earth’s Best Organic Multi-Grain Infant Cereal thicker and grainier, which her child enjoyed. “I think he loved the texture because it was easier to feel on his mouth. It's easy to swallow and easy to grab with any spoon,” Kimberly told us. Moreover, preparation took less than five minutes, and she found it easy to achieve the right consistency with warm water.

Although this cereal offers a trio of grains, the minimal ingredient list doesn’t feature as many nutrients as other options on our list. Like the others we tested, The Earth’s Best Organic Multi-Grain Infant Cereal is fortified with iron, but it only contains one vitamin, which may be a drawback for some parents. That being said, Kimberly thinks that this cereal acts as an ideal base to introduce her little one to new foods. “I think it's great because I can mix it with other veggies and fruits, allowing my baby to experience different flavors while still getting the most nutrients and a full belly,” she shared. With that in mind, this could be a solution for parents hoping to create nutrient-dense meals for their infants, thanks to the multi-grain blend.

Age rating: 4+ months | Primary grains: Oat, barley, spelt | Vitamins: E | Minerals: Iron

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According to pediatric dietician Turnbull, “fortified infant cereals provide key nutrients essential for brain development, blood health and overall growth, helping fill gaps that breast milk, formula or early solid foods may not always cover.” The Else Baby Super Cereal 6+ Months is fortified with more vitamins and minerals than any other option on our list, so you can ensure a well-rounded nutritional base for any of baby’s meals. In contrast to the other cereals we tested, this one includes vitamin K, lecithin, potassium and choline, which work together to offer many benefits. “Vitamin K aids blood clotting and bone health, lecithin (choline and phospholipids) supports nerve function, potassium maintains fluid balance and heart health and choline is vital for memory and cognition,” Turnbull explains.

The Else Baby Super Cereal is made mostly from buckwheat, whereas most other baby cereals which use oat as the primary grain. Our tester, Michelle, appreciated this in addition to the fortified ingredient list. “I like that the packaging indicated that more than 80 percent of the ingredients are almond, buckwheat and tapioca, and the rest is a thoughtful combination of nutritionally balanced protein, as well as vitamins and minerals,” she told us. Plus, the mom of a 7-month-old liked that the nutritional label was easy to understand. “While my son gets most of his nutrients from his formula, I like knowing that the cereal we give him also has added nutrition,” Michelle said.

One potential downside is that this cereal is made with ferrous sulfate as a form of iron. As a result, it may be harder for some infants to digest, especially if your child has a sensitive stomach, says Turnbull. However, Michelle’s 7-month-old didn’t have problems with it. “I think my son digested this cereal very well and did not negatively impact his poop,” she shared.

Preparing this baby cereal with warm water took Michelle less than 30 seconds, and she liked that the texture was smooth whether she made the consistency thicker or thinner. “My son's initial reaction was very positive,” she shared, “he eagerly grabbed the spoon when I offered it!” All in all, when choosing a baby cereal like this one, parents can rest assured that their infant is getting all the nutrients they need. “The convenience and safety of fortified cereals make them a reliable and beneficial option during this critical growth stage,” adds Turnbull.

Age rating: 6+ months | Primary grains: Buckwheat | Vitamins: A, C, D, E, K and Bs | Minerals: Iron, lecithin, calcium, zinc, potassium and choline

If you’re looking for a straightforward way to incorporate more protein into your child’s diet, you can’t go wrong with Kendamil Baby Cereal Creamy Oatmeal. From birth up to 6 months, Turnbull says that babies need roughly 9 grams of protein, which they primarily receive through breast milk and formula. Then, between 7 and 12 months, “infants require approximately 11 grams per day of protein,” Turnbull states. Each Kendamil serving delivers 28 percent of your child’s recommended daily value for protein, and it’s the only cereal we tested that contains whole milk powder, skim milk powder and whey powders, which our tester Kimberly was a fan of. “Having protein in a cereal is super important for me,” the mom of a 7-month-old told us. “I feel it important to feed them protein to be well fed and full.”

In addition to the protein-filled milk and whey powders, this cereal is fortified with a range of nutrients that parents and experts appreciate. In fact, it includes the second most vitamins and minerals on our list, including vitamin D, several B vitamins and potassium. “I love that it has whole grains like oats, vitamins and minerals, giving my baby the necessary nutrients to be healthy during this period of growth,” Kimberly shared. This infant cereal is also the only option in our roundup that contains hydrolyzed wheat. According to Turnbull, these are “broken-down proteins to aid digestion for infants with sensitivities,” so this cereal could also be a gentle solution for little ones with digestive issues.

While this baby cereal offers a great source of protein, Turnbull reminds parents not to get too caught up in tracking their child’s nutritional intake, unless otherwise advised by their pediatrician. “Exposure to a variety of different developmentally appropriate foods and textures is more important than micromanaging grams of specific nutrients,” Turnbull explains.

Age rating: 6+ months | Primary grains: Oat | Vitamins: A, C, D, E and Bs | Minerals: Iron, calcium, zinc and potassium

As per the 2020-2025 USDA Dietary Guidelines, parents should consider introducing babies to allergenic foods as early as 4 to 6 months to reduce the risk of developing food allergies. However, “it can be difficult for parents to consistently and safely introduce all of the nine common food allergens,” Turnbull explains. With that in mind, the pediatric dietician says an infant cereal designed for allergen introduction, like this option, can be extremely convenient.

Ready, Set, Food! Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal contains the top nine allergens: peanut, egg, milk, cashew, almond, walnut, sesame, soy and wheat. Our tester Michelle loved how simple it was to introduce her son to these ingredients. “I really like that this cereal includes nine top allergens in powder form! I usually wouldn't know how to serve cashews, almonds, walnuts, sesame and soy to my baby, so this is a very easy way to do it,” she explains. Better yet, her 7-month-old loved the taste. “My son's initial reaction was very positive, and he eagerly reached out his spoon for more,” she shared. If that’s not all, it took less than 30 seconds to prepare with warm water; Michelle loved the convenience this cereal offered.

While this specialized baby cereal is helpful to new parents, it’s also the most expensive option on our list. For families who don’t have access to cereals like this, Turnbull suggests introducing common allergens via a more inclusive, food-first approach. Exposing baby to allergens one at a time can also help identify if a reaction occurs, Turnbull explains. That said, Michelle was thoroughly impressed by this infant cereal and would recommend it to other families. “I would repurchase this cereal, mostly due to the ease of offering allergens to my baby,” she explains.

Age rating: 6+ months | Primary grains: Oat | Vitamins: C and E | Minerals: Iron