When can my baby start solids?

See the AAP's Starting Solid Foods page. Check the label and the maker's instructions, and ask your pediatrician about your child.

What about heavy metals in baby food?

The FDA has final guidance on lead in processed foods for babies and young children and tips on food choices for babies. We don't rate brands on heavy metals; where a maker publishes its own testing, we link it.

Baby food purées and pouches

Jars, tubs, and pouches with the maker's ingredients and stage.

Jars of carrot, pea and pear baby purees with plain pouches and fresh vegetables

40models tracked
1–12varieties listed

All 40 baby food purées and pouches

Must have:

✓ maker says yes ✕ maker says no ? not published Confirmed only Sort

Compare		Age	Form	Material	USDA Organic	Maker publishes heavy-metal testing	No added sugar
	Babylife Organics pouchesUSDA OrganicUSDA OrganicMaker publishes heavy-metal testingNo added sugar	Stage 2	pouch	–	✓	✓	✓
	Beech-Nut Fruities pouches6 months and upMaker publishes heavy-metal testing	Stage 2	pouch	–	?	✓	?
	Beech-Nut Naturals jarsStage 1 (around 4 months and up); StageMaker publishes heavy-metal testing	Stage 1	jar	–	?	✓	?
	Beech-Nut Organics Fruit & Yogurt jarsUSDA OrganicUSDA OrganicMaker publishes heavy-metal testing	–	jar	–	✓	✓	?
	Beech-Nut Organics jarsUSDA OrganicUSDA OrganicMaker publishes heavy-metal testing	–	jar	–	✓	✓	?
	Beech-Nut Stage 1 meat jarsaround 4 months and upMaker publishes heavy-metal testing	Stage 1	jar	–	?	✓	?
	Beech-Nut Veggies pouches6 months and upMaker publishes heavy-metal testingNo added sugar	Stage 2	pouch	–	?	✓	✓
	Cerebelly Bone Broth Purées	–	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Cerebelly Dairy-Free Smoothie Purées	–	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Cerebelly Veggie Purée pouchesUSDA OrganicUSDA OrganicNo added sugar	–	pouch	–	✓	?	✓
	Gerber 1st Foods tubs (My 1st Fruits / Veggies)Around 6 months (Supported Sitter)	Around 6 months	tub	–	?	?	?
	Gerber 2nd Foods fruit & veggie tubs6+ months	Sitter	tub	–	?	?	?
	Gerber 2nd Foods meat jars6+ months	Sitter	jar	–	?	?	?
	Good & Gather Baby organic pouchesUSDA OrganicUSDA Organic	–	pouch	–	✓	?	?
	Good & Gather Baby tubs6+ months (1st Stage, Pears tub)	6+ months	tub	–	?	?	?
	Happy Baby Brain Support Blends pouchesUSDA OrganicUSDA Organic	–	pouch	–	✓	?	?
	Happy Baby Clearly Crafted pouches6 months+, USDA OrganicUSDA OrganicMaker publishes heavy-metal testingNo added sugar	Stage 2	pouch	–	✓	✓	✓
	Happy Baby Nutty BlendsUSDA OrganicUSDA OrganicNo added sugar	–	pouch	–	✓	?	✓
	Happy Baby Organic jars6+ months (Stage 1 and Stage 2 jars)No added sugar	6+ months	jar	–	?	?	✓
	Happy Baby Organic pouchesStage 1 through Happy Tot (24+ months), USDA OrganicUSDA OrganicNo added sugar	Stage 1 through Happy Tot	pouch	–	✓	?	✓
	Happy Tot Organic Toddler Bowls2+ years (Toddler Mealtime Bowls); Advan	2+ years	tub	–	?	?	?
	Happy Tot Organic Toddler Pouches	24+ months	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Kekoa Foods organic pouchesNo added sugar	–	pouch	–	?	?	✓
	Little Spoon BabyblendsStage 1 to 5 (6+ months to 8+ months)Maker publishes heavy-metal testing	Stage 1 to 5	refrigerated pouch	–	?	✓	?
	Little Spoon Frozen Kids' Meals	Early toddlerhood up through age 7	–	–	?	?	?
	Little Spoon Plates	Early toddlerhood up through age 7	–	–	?	?	?
	Little Spoon Smoothies + YoGos pouches12+ months and 3+ years tiersMaker publishes heavy-metal testing	0+ months	refrigerated pouch	–	?	✓	?
	Once Upon a Farm Dairy-Free SmoothiesUSDA OrganicUSDA Organic	4+ years	refrigerated pouch	–	✓	?	?
	Once Upon a Farm frozen mealsUSDA OrganicUSDA OrganicNo added sugar	6 months and up	frozen	–	✓	?	✓
	Once Upon a Farm refrigerated pouchesUSDA OrganicUSDA OrganicNo added sugar	–	refrigerated pouch	–	✓	?	✓
	Plum Organics Stage 1 pouches4+ months (Just Mangos), USDA OrganicUSDA OrganicMaker publishes heavy-metal testingNo added sugar	Stage 1	pouch	–	✓	✓	✓
	Plum Organics Stage 2 Blends6+ months, USDA OrganicUSDA OrganicMaker publishes heavy-metal testingNo added sugar	Stage 2	pouch	–	✓	✓	✓
	Serenity Kids Bone Broth pouches	–	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Serenity Kids Meat & Veggie pouchesMaker publishes heavy-metal testingNo added sugar	–	pouch	–	?	✓	✓
	Serenity Kids Smoothies	–	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Serenity Kids Veggies with Olive Oil	–	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Sprout Organics Protein pouches	–	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Sprout Organics Simple Starts	6+ months	pouch	–	?	?	?
	Stonyfield YoBaby cupsUSDA OrganicUSDA Organic	6+ months	tub	–	✓	?	?
	Stonyfield YoBaby pouchesUSDA OrganicUSDA Organic	–	pouch	–	✓	?	?

Baby food purées and pouches by the numbers

The 40 we compare, from each maker's published specs. Ranges, not ratings.

Varieties listed1 to 12; the middle half 2 to 8 (38 of 40 publish it)

Label facts side by side

From each label and maker listing. A dash means the label wording we have doesn't say.

Product	Form	Varieties	USDA Organic	Contains (label)	Added sugar	Heavy-metal testing
Babylife Organics pouches	Pouch	9	Yes	–	No	Maker statement
Beech-Nut Fruities pouches	Pouch	5	–	–	–	Maker statement
Beech-Nut Naturals jars	Jar	10	–	–	–	Maker statement
Beech-Nut Organics Fruit & Yogurt jars	Jar	2	Yes	–	–	Maker statement
Beech-Nut Organics jars	Jar	6	Yes	–	–	Maker statement
Beech-Nut Stage 1 meat jars	Jar	2	–	–	–	Maker statement
Beech-Nut Veggies pouches	Pouch	3	–	–	No	Maker statement
Cerebelly Bone Broth Purées	Pouch	3	–	–	–	–
Cerebelly Dairy-Free Smoothie Purées	Pouch	4	–	–	–	–
Cerebelly Veggie Purée pouches	Pouch	9	Yes	–	No	–
Gerber 1st Foods tubs (My 1st Fruits / Veggies)	Tub	3	–	–	–	–
Gerber 2nd Foods fruit & veggie tubs	Tub	8	–	–	–	–
Gerber 2nd Foods meat jars	Jar	2	–	–	–	–
Good & Gather Baby organic pouches	Pouch	12	Yes	–	–	–
Good & Gather Baby tubs	Tub	9	–	–	–	–
Happy Baby Brain Support Blends pouches	Pouch	2	Yes	–	–	–
Happy Baby Clearly Crafted pouches	Pouch	1	Yes	–	No	Maker statement
Happy Baby Nutty Blends	Pouch	4	Yes	–	No	–
Happy Baby Organic jars	Jar	2	–	–	No	–
Happy Baby Organic pouches	Pouch	–	Yes	–	No	–
Happy Tot Organic Toddler Bowls	Tub	2	–	–	–	–
Happy Tot Organic Toddler Pouches	Pouch	6	–	–	–	–
Kekoa Foods organic pouches	Pouch	7	–	–	No	–
Little Spoon Babyblends	Refrigerated pouch	–	–	–	–	Maker statement
Little Spoon Frozen Kids' Meals	–	12	–	–	–	–
Little Spoon Plates	–	12	–	–	–	–
Little Spoon Smoothies + YoGos pouches	Refrigerated pouch	12	–	–	–	Maker statement
Once Upon a Farm Dairy-Free Smoothies	Refrigerated pouch	5	Yes	coconut	–	–
Once Upon a Farm frozen meals	Frozen	7	Yes	–	No	–
Once Upon a Farm refrigerated pouches	Refrigerated pouch	9	Yes	–	No	–
Plum Organics Stage 1 pouches	Pouch	2	Yes	–	No	Maker statement
Plum Organics Stage 2 Blends	Pouch	1	Yes	–	No	Maker statement
Serenity Kids Bone Broth pouches	Pouch	4	–	–	–	–
Serenity Kids Meat & Veggie pouches	Pouch	7	–	–	No	Maker statement
Serenity Kids Smoothies	Pouch	3	–	–	–	–
Serenity Kids Veggies with Olive Oil	Pouch	7	–	–	–	–
Sprout Organics Protein pouches	Pouch	3	–	–	–	–
Sprout Organics Simple Starts	Pouch	3	–	–	–	–
Stonyfield YoBaby cups	Tub	5	Yes	–	–	–
Stonyfield YoBaby pouches	Pouch	2	Yes	–	–	–

Forms

By form

Pouch: 22
Jar: 6
Tub: 5
Refrigerated pouch: 4
Frozen: 1
Other or not stated: 2

Heavy-metal testing, in each maker's words

13 of 40 products have a testing statement from the maker in our data.

Babylife Organics pouches: “4-point heavy metal testing with highly transparent results” Maker page
Beech-Nut Fruities pouches: “Tested for heavy metals & metalloid levels” Maker page
Beech-Nut Naturals jars: “Tested for heavy metal levels” Maker page
Beech-Nut Organics Fruit & Yogurt jars: “Tested for heavy metal levels” Maker page
Beech-Nut Organics jars: “Tested for heavy metal levels” Maker page
Beech-Nut Stage 1 meat jars: “Tested for heavy metal levels” Maker page
Beech-Nut Veggies pouches: “page states the product is tested for heavy metals and metalloid levels (no results posted on that page)” Maker page
Happy Baby Clearly Crafted pouches: “The maker says Clearly Crafted pouches are rigorously tested for heavy metals, pesticides, and plasticizers” Maker page
Little Spoon Babyblends: “States Babyblends are tested for heavy metals and 500+ contaminants” Maker page
Little Spoon Smoothies + YoGos pouches: “States products undergo third-party testing for heavy metals, pesticides and BPA/BPS” Maker page
Plum Organics Stage 1 pouches: “publishes heavy metals test results for pouches” Maker page
Plum Organics Stage 2 Blends: “publishes heavy metals test results for pouches” Maker page
Serenity Kids Meat & Veggie pouches: “Tested for Heavy Metals” Maker page

What the CDC says

What to look for in baby food purées and pouches

The range across every baby food or feeding product here, with the typical middle half shaded and the shortlist marked.

Varieties listed

How many flavors or varieties the maker lists in this line.

Baby organic pouches

1middle 512

Typical: 2 to 8. 38 of 40 list it. Most varieties: Baby organic pouches.

Guides

How-toBaby Food Freezer Trays: Cube Sizes, Lids and How Many You Need6 min read