Cerelac is a name synonymous with baby cereal in many households. It's a popular choice, readily available, and often the first thing that comes to mind when introducing solids to your little one. But while convenient, there might be better options than Cerelac for your baby's growing needs.

Let's explore why Cerelac might not be ideal and discover healthier alternatives for your baby's journey to solid foods.

» Try Else Nutrition Baby Super Cereal as a healthy alternative to Celelac

Our Pick: 6 Best Cerelac Alternatives

1. Best Cerelac alternative for babies overall: Else Nutrition Baby Super Cereal
2. Best Cerelac alternative for babies with sensitive stomachs: Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal
3. Best Cerelac alternative for babies for taste and texture: Nestle NESTUM® Wheat and Honey Baby Cereal
4. Best nutrient-dense Cerelac alternative for babies: Ready Set Food Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal
5. Best Cerelac alternative with innovative ingredients for babies: Amara Superfood for Babies Oats and Berries
6. Best budget-friendly Cerelac alternative for babies: Holle Organic Whole Grain Baby Cereal

» Follow these tips for a gentle transition from breastfeeding

Why Cerelac Might Not Be the Best First Food

Cerelac, though marketed as a convenient first food for babies, might not be the healthiest option. Many varieties sneak in hidden sugars, often listed as sucrose, brown sugar, or corn syrup solids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly discourages added sugar in a baby's diet for the first two years.

Here's why:

• Weight Gain and Obesity: Excess sugar intake early in life can contribute to unhealthy weight gain and increase the risk of childhood obesity.
• Cavities: Sugar feeds the bacteria in a baby's mouth, accelerating tooth decay. As babies' teeth are emerging, cavities can be a serious concern.
• Preference for Sweet Foods: Exposure to sweet flavors early on can shape a baby's taste preferences, making them crave sugary foods later in life, potentially leading to unhealthy eating habits.

Over the years, certain countries have experienced contamination scares from Cerelac products. While Nestle has taken steps to improve safety measures, these incidents can raise concerns for parents seeking a more controlled approach to their baby's food.

» Check out these tips for teaching your baby to chew

6 Best Cerelac Alternatives for Babies

Best Cerelac alternative for babies overall

1

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Exceptional

10

Else Nutrition Baby Super Cereal

Love at first spoonful

Read reviews

Buy Now

Price

$19 for 3 packs

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Servings

13 per pack

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Age

6+ months

Pros and cons

Free of gluten, dairy, soy, corn syrup, and GMOs

Variety of flavors

Clean Label Project Purity Award

Not suitable for those with a nut allergy

Why choose Else Nutrition Baby Super Cereal

Else Nutrition Baby Super Cereal provides a superior alternative to traditional baby cereals like Cerelac for several reasons. It prioritizes clean, organic ingredients, free of common allergens and corn syrup.

Unlike Cerelac, Else is also free of added sugar. Else Nutrition offers a complete nutritional profile with a balanced blend of macronutrients and over 20 vitamins and minerals for your baby's development.

Finally, the delicious taste is a hit with even picky eaters.

Best Cerelac alternative for babies with sensitive stomachs

2

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Outstanding

9.6

Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal

Price

$4.39

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Servings

16

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Age

6+ months

Pros and cons

Cost-effective

Easy to digest

Sugar free

Not gluten free

Single grain

Why choose Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal

Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Baby Cereal is a good option for babies with sensitive tummies because it's easier to digest than some other cereals like Cerelac.

Made with just oats, an enzyme, iron, and vitamin E, it's organic and sugar free.

Best Cerelac alternative for babies for taste and texture

3

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Excellent

9.4

Nestle NESTUM® Wheat and Honey Baby Cereal

Price

$3.79

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Servings

20

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Age

12+ months

Pros and cons

Sweetened with honey

Tastes similar to Cerelac

Fortified with vitamins and minerals

Honey is an added sugar

Honey is cautioned for children under 12 months

Why choose Nestle NESTUM® Wheat and Honey Baby Cereal

Nestle NESTUM® Wheat and Honey Baby Cereal offers a taste and texture alternative to Cerelac for babies who enjoy wheat and honey flavors. Similar to Cerelac, it's made with a wheat base and uses honey for sweetness.

Nestum is also fortified with some vitamins and minerals.

Best nutrient dense Cerelac alternative for babies

4

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Impressive

9.2

Ready Set Food Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal

Price

$8.99

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Servings

15

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Age

6+ months

Pros and cons

Iron fortified

No added sweeteners

High in protein

Not suitable for those with common allergies

More costly than other options

Why choose Ready Set Food Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal

This Cerelac alternative boasts a blend of all nine major food allergens, promoting early exposure and potentially strengthening your baby's immune system. However, it's not suitable for babies with known allergies.

Ready Set Food Organic Baby Oatmeal Cereal is also rich in essential nutrients, offering iron, calcium, and potassium, along with protein—all with no added sugar.

Best Cerelac alternative with innovative ingredients for babies

5

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Very Good

9

Amara Superfood for Babies Oats and Berries

Price

$12.99

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Servings

5

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Age

6+ months

Pros and cons

Pre-portioned for convenience

Contains fruit

No added sugar

More costly than other options

Low in iron, calcium, protein, and fat

Why choose Amara Superfood for Babies Oats and Berries

Amara Oats N' Berries offers a unique alternative to Cerelac for parents seeking innovative ingredients. This organic baby food features a blend of oats and fruits (banana, apple, and blueberries) for natural sweetness, with no added sugar.

The convenient, pre-portioned pouches are easy to mix with water, breastmilk, or your preferred milk.

Best budget-friendly Cerelac alternative for babies

6

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Noteworthy

8.8

Holle Organic Whole Grain Baby Cereal

Price

$34 for 6 packs

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Servings

15 per pack

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Age

6+ months

Pros and cons

Cost effective

Muti-grain

0g added sugar

Low in iron, potassium, and calcium

Low fat

Why choose Holle Organic Whole Grain Baby Cereal

Holle Organic Whole Grain Baby Cereal is a budget-friendly alternative to Cerelac at only $0.38 per serving.

Made with a blend of organic whole grains—oats, wheat, corn, and spelt—it's a nutritious and affordable choice for starting your baby on solids.



Choosing the Right Cereal for Your Baby

While popular brands may be readily available, focusing on what's best for your baby's health should take priority when choosing a cereal. Here are some tips:

• Whole Grains: These offer more nutrients than refined grains. Opt for cereals made with oats (rich in fiber and iron), barley (a good source of prebiotics), and multi-grain blends (a variety of nutrients) over those with white rice or wheat flour as the main ingredient.
• Allergies: If allergies run in your family, introduce new grains one at a time, starting with single-grain cereals like oatmeal or barley. Monitor your baby for any allergic reactions, such as rashes, fussiness, or vomiting.
• Added Sugars: This can contribute to unhealthy taste preferences later in life and might increase blood pressure concerns. Look for ingredients like "maltodextrin" or "brown rice syrup," which are hidden sugars.
• Texture: Look for cereals with a smooth texture that readily mixes with breast milk, formula, or water. This makes swallowing and digesting easier for your baby, especially during the early stages of introducing solid foods.
• Organic Certified: These options prioritize whole grains and may offer natural sweetness from fruits. These can be a good choice if you're concerned about potential pesticide residues.

» Discover the signs that indicate feeding issues in your baby

Give Your Little One the Right First Food

There's no one-size-fits-all answer regarding your baby's first food. Popular options like Cerelac may not always be the healthiest, and the sheer number of cereals on the shelf can make it hard to decide. But—this abundance of choice is a good thing.

Instead of settling for the most recognizable brand, you can explore options packed with essential nutrients, like Else Nutrition Baby Super Cereal. With its focus on well-rounded nutrition, it's the perfect solution for your baby's taste buds and dietary needs.

» Skip generic options like Cerelac and try organic plant-based baby cereal