Starting solids is exciting. When it is time for that first bite of food, you want to do it right so your baby learns to love healthy foods. Do you need organic baby food?

Conventionally grown foods are often quite healthy, but organic foods give you the peace of mind of knowing that you are not feeding your baby pesticides, genetically modified organisms, or additives. Organic cereals are not a must have, but they are a nice way to make sure that your baby is getting good, healthy food without pesticides and additives.

Whatever food you choose, you definitely want to read labels! I was shocked to find out that a jar of "sweet potatoes and turkey" contained heavy cream. Not great for any kid, but very, very bad for my milk allergic little one.

Starting solid food is usually a time for taking pictures and much fanfare. After all, this is a big step for your baby. You want to be sure that they develop a taste for healthy foods and not junk food.
I'll always cherish the look on my baby girl's face the first time she tasted rice cereal. She loved it and quickly grabbed the spoon away from me and shoved it into her own mouth! Getting it the cereal down was another matter, but she was thrilled to discover this new world of taste and texture.

These days, at a ripe old 6 months, she has decided rice cereal is for the birds. But, she loves a dash of cinnamon in her oatmeal ceral, and has developed a thing for black beans and refried beans. Beans are not such a typical first food in the US, but she loves them and the pediatrician said that as long as we hold off on salt, they are very healthy for her. I particularly like the HappyBellies cereals to help combat yeast diaper rash and upset tummies as she learns to eat new foods. They contain probiotics that help to keep her tummy happy. This is particularly important since she and I both got a ton of antibiotics during labor and the effects tend to be long-lasting - allowing for yeast overgrowth rashes and cranky bellyaches.

Organic baby foods do cost more, but I found that ordering online can save a ton of money and still allow me to buy the best for my baby. HappyBellies cereals are available online in a six pack for almost half what they are in my local grocery store - with free shipping that makes them a real bargain. That sure makes offering the best to my baby much more affordable. There are other great organics available there as well.