Finding Organic And Natural Foods For Your Baby: Resources In The Brick And Mortar World And Online

A growing number of people are looking for organic and natural foods for their children, and it’s not just because of aesthetics. Recent studies have linked conventionally grown produce to illnesses such as ADHD, asthma, allergies, migraines, and other chronic illness.

The following list is a resource guide in two parts: The first contains brick-and-mortar resources (including an app) for parents seeking organic and natural food choices for their children; the second features online resources that can be accessed from anywhere. The links below will point you in the right direction if you are interested in finding these items in your local area or ordering products online to have them shipped to your home.

Brick-and-Mortar Resources

1. Grocery Stores: These days, most grocery stores carry organic milk, yogurt, and eggs; baby formula; baby food; infant cereals and snacks; baby bottles and nipples; and many other items. But to locate the organic or natural products in your store, you must rely on labels. Organic Valley is a cooperative of farmers from across the United States who produce all-organic milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, eggs, meat and poultry products. Many stores also carry local farm products from smaller producers. All of these options can be found in the dairy aisle or freezer section of your grocery store.

2. Supermarkets: Organic products are available in most supermarkets – with a growing selection in larger markets, especially natural foods sections. Some of these stores will offer local produce as well. A growing number sell organic and natural foods online or from catalogs. For example, the website Amazon carries many organic baby-food-related products, and also carries many other non-food items that may be useful for parents looking for alternatives to conventional products.

3. Online Resources: Check out The Organic Consumers Association (www.organicconsumers.org) for a list of resources and online shopping. REI (www.rei.com) sells organic clothing and gear, as well as a wide selection of other organic products. Shopping on Amazon helps parents find organic items for their children, as does anecoomiababies.com , which features dozens of baby-related items; Simply Organics (www.simplyorganicsbabyfoods.com) also offers a great selection of natural baby food, but the site is in English only; Parents Gone Organic (www.parentsgonaturalbabyfoods.com) is a great resource for parents who prefer to make their own baby food.

Online resources will also help you find the products you’re looking for if you live in an area where these organic and natural foods aren’t readily available.

4. Community Resources: Local farmer’s markets offer fresh and organic produce, meats and dairy products as well as locally produced snacks, treats and other items. Check out localharvest.org to locate farmer’s markets in your area that sell produce, grains, meats, eggs or dairy products from local farms – this will likely be the best way to find fresh organic produce or meat near your home.

5. Parent Websites: Many websites are dedicated to providing parents with products that can be used in lieu of conventional baby-food choices. For example, Simply Organics sells organic and natural foods products for babies, toddlers and kids – including organic baby food. Other important resources are the Baby Bump website (www.thebabybump.com), which is dedicated to bringing parents natural and organic alternatives to conventional baby food; Dr. Sears’ Baby Food Book (www.drsears.com), which is a great resource for helping you make and store your own homemade baby food; and the National Farm to School Network website (www.nftsnh .org) which offers state-by-state listings of farms that sell fresh and organic produce directly to local schools.

6. Baby Registry Websites: This can be a great way to order gifts for baby – you can also purchase quality organic food that’s good for your baby – from your own personal supply of these goods. You can find items from all of the companies mentioned above, as well as many other popular baby product manufacturers on Baby Registry websites.

Online Resources

Plum Organics   (www.plumorganics.com) offers parents a wide variety of organic baby food – they also sell many other types of organic and natural products for babies, such as cloth diapers, bedding, toys, teethers and more. Kelly’s Nursery (www.kellysoftexas.com) is another site that sells all-natural nursery products such as diaper pails and soft cloths for wiping bottoms. Eco Sprout (www .ecosprout.com) is a cloth diaper company that uses environmentally friendly products made with organic cotton and sustainable materials. The site also sells cloth diapers, trainers, swim diapers, and changing table covers.

If you’re looking for cruelty-free cosmetics and personal care products that are also organic or natural, you may be interested in checking out www.leapingbunny.org. This site offers a list of companies that make certified cruelty-free products – some of these companies offer online shopping as well as stores in your local area.

To help you find all natural baby supplies in your area, Baby Stuff Bump (www.babystuffbump .com) provides listings of baby-related products for sale from local businesses.

Resources for Organic Foods and Food Production

Check out the following websites for resources on how to buy organic foods and ways to become more familiar with where your food is made:

www.organicconsumers.org  is dedicated to promoting the benefits of organics; they offer a list of state organizations that promote organic food production, as well as publications on organic farming, gardening, soils, topsoil conservation and soil testing. They also have information on the USDA's National Organic Program and links to USDA resources for farmers and their families. www.epa.gov .

Conclusion

Organic foods can be a great way to provide your baby with wholesome food, and you can do this without spending a significant amount of money. While the price of organic foods is often higher than conventional foods, the benefits of purchasing these products will easily outweigh this expense in the long run – especially as your child grows older and becomes more interested in healthier food options. Happy Organic Parenting!

About The Author: Kelsey Wickham is the editor-in-chief at Baby Bump and has been writing about babies, pregnancy and childcare for several years now.