Non-organic baby food bought at a store can be questionable when it comes to the health of your little one.

Non-organic foods contain far too many pesticides and chemicals for tiny, still developing babies and toddlers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released grocery facts sheets that recommend you and your children avoid pesticides to stay healthy. The EPA also has an extensive area of their website devoted to how pesticides in foods affect children.

To learn more about the dangers of non-organic foods, read this longer article I wrote about organic toddler foods.

Luckily you don’t have to feed your baby non-organic foods. In the past it’s been somewhat expensive, but there are ways to lower those costs.

Don’t buy junk food: Buying junk food like chips lowers your real food budget. It’s better to buy organic apples and make baby applesauce, than it is to buy chips.

Shop sales: There are many store bought organic baby foods available now. The absolute least expensive route is to buy organic store brands. Like my local Safeway and the co-op both have organic baby food brands - maybe your local traditional store, co-op, or natural food market does as well.

Make your own: If you buy organic ingredients in season and in bulk, it won’t cost as much.

To learn more read:

What’s in your baby’s food

Are packaged foods bad for babies and toddlers?

Three nutritious (and easy) baby food recipes

A new mama owned natural baby food company

Homemade baby food