Food Shopping and Storing Best Baby Food Delivery Services Yumi is our top recommendation for baby food delivery services By Carrie Havranek Carrie Havranek Carrie has 10+ years experience as a food writer and editor. Her work can be found in her cookbook, Tasting Pennsylvania, and her site, the Dharma Kitchen. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 31, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: 279photo / Getty Images It’s always exciting when it’s time to introduce your baby to solid foods. But with all the demands of parenthood (and life in general), it can also be confusing, expensive, and time-consuming to figure out what’s best for your baby. You probably know that the first year is really important to establish your baby’s eating habits and expose their taste buds to new textures and flavors, but you might not know what the best foods are and when and how to introduce them—beyond what you might learn from a book or your pediatrician. The best baby food delivery services address a gamut of concerns when it comes to feeding your little one, and most of them gear the food toward specific stages and phases of development. It can often take repeated introductions of a new food before your baby will adapt to it. Luckily, there are plenty of companies that provide a range of organic and high-quality meals for your growing child. Maybe you’ll end up ordering from more than one of the companies on this list of the best baby food delivery services. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Yumi Best for Budget: Little Spoon Best Organic: Tiny Organics Best for Fruits and Vegetables: Once Upon a Farm Best for Adventurous Eaters: Square Baby Best for Finger Foods: Nurture Life Best Science Backed: CereBelly Best for Bulk Buying: White Leaf Provisions 01 of 08 Best Overall: Yumi Yumi Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4.40 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Yumi offers organic, chef-created meals that are free of dairy, gluten, preservatives, or added sugar—which is about as pure as you’d want it when it comes to feeding your baby. Additionally, the menu offerings are staged according to your baby’s developmental needs. Pros and Cons Pros Smartly paced eight-stage introduction period for new foods Free shipping for all plans Strict oversight regarding sourcing and ingredient testing (e.g., heavy metals) Cons Lots of packaging Facility is not peanut free Overview Yumi’s strength lies in its extensive phasing of foods, from simple single-ingredient purees to duos to thicker, more mashed purees and those that are “pinchable” for your baby to start working with finger foods. Babies will be exposed to fruits, veggies, and beans (the foods are plant-based) and combos including “minty pea soup” and “ratatouille,” both of which are a combination of multiple foods with more texture. The food is so fresh that consumption within 24 hours of receipt is recommended; otherwise, you can freeze it. Pricing and Plans Yumi offers three pricing plans. One meal a day is around $30 a week, two meals a day costs about $54 a week, and three meals a day costs roughly $73 per week. 02 of 08 Best for Budget: Little Spoon Little Spoon Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $5.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It In those early days of parenting, meal kits can be a huge help. Little Spoon’s goal is to ease your child’s transition to solids and then bring in some fun toddler meals, too. Offerings are creative and packed with veggies, making it easier to introduce healthy foods to your kids right from the start—and they’re budget friendly, to boot. Pros and Cons Pros Fresh, organic, non-GMO meals Biweekly deliveries offer reduced shipping Packaging is almost 100% recyclable Cons Pureed meats are not available Not ideal for picky eaters Overview Variety is so important when kids are starting to eat, and Little Spoon’s menus meet that need in the most affordable way. Little Spoon’s menu offers both baby-ready organic purees (“babyblends”) and kid-sized meals for toddlers (“plates”). You can also order cold-pressed, organic smoothies and “boosters,” which are like supplements in powder form with vitamins and probiotics. Simply select your child’s stage of eating—early, intermediate, or advanced—and your menu options will reflect that. Pricing and Plans 4 meals per week: $7.49 per meal6 meals per week: $6.99 per meal9 meals per week: $6.49 per meal12 meals per week: $5.99 per meal 03 of 08 Best Organic: Tiny Organics Tiny Organics Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $5.49 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It You can be sure your baby is getting the right portions and appropriate ingredients from Tiny Organics, which employs a chef and a team of neonatal nutritionists to create meals suitable for babies six months and older. The textured meals are ideal for baby-led weaning because they encourage your baby to pick up pieces and feed themselves. Pros and Cons Pros Organic Plant-based Avoids biggest allergens Cons No single-ingredient purees Not as many breakfast items as lunch and dinner Overview If you’re in the process of letting your baby direct how and when they wean, Tiny Organics’ foods will support those efforts. Meals are made fresh and shipped frozen, and they offer some sophisticated combinations that even adults might enjoy, like kale and quinoa, bananas foster, and coconut curry. This service may be better for babies who have already started with some solids, as there are no single-ingredient purees available—just duos and meals, the latter of which contain multiple ingredients and are chunkier. Free shipping is a bonus to this excellent service. Pricing and Plans Select from 12 or 24 meals for deliveries on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. Meals cost between $5 and $6, depending on what you select, and shipping is free. 04 of 08 Best for Fruits and Vegetables: Once Upon a Farm Once Upon a Farm Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $2.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 states and CanadaProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It This business literally started on a family farm—it’s not just marketing. Once Upon a Farm offers sustainable, organic produce for your babies and toddlers in the form of smoothies, yogurt, overnight oats, and purees. They’re all cold pressure-protected, a process that’s often used in juice and smoothie production, to preserve the nutrient content. Pros and Cons Pros Certified organic Wide range of fruits and veggies, some fortified with probiotics and omega-3s Extensive safety testing (mold, yeast, bacteria, etc.) Cons Pouches aren’t the easiest way to feed babies Pouches and caps can be recycled but not curbside Overview It would be tempting to dismiss Once Upon a Farm as a celebrity pet project, but it’s actually a standout service. Some of the produce is grown on the Oklahoma family farm of co-founder and actress Jennifer Garner. The combinations of veggies and fruits are consistently creative and smart throughout your baby’s stages of eating solid foods. We like the subtle use of cinnamon, ginger, and other spices in these purees to perk up your baby’s taste buds, along with herbs such as mint. While you can find Once Upon a Farm products in stores, you likely won’t find the full range of offerings that you’ll find on the company’s website. Pricing and Plans You can order meals either à la carte or via subscriptions, with a frequency that ranges from once a week to once every five weeks. Plans start at $85 for 24 pouches. 05 of 08 Best for Adventurous Eaters: Square Baby Square Baby Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4.98 per servingDelivery Area: 8 states (WA, OR, CA, ID, UT, NV, AZ, CO)Products Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Square Baby’s approach is science-based and offers balanced nutrition—as in three square meals a day. Founded by a dietitian and genetic counselor, the company is growing and offers organic meals based on your baby’s age and stage. Pros and Cons Pros Fruits and veggies, nut butters, and meats are available Can be eaten right from the jar Packaging is almost 100 percent recyclable Cons Limited choices and flavor combos compared to some other brands Limited delivery area (although the company plans to expand) Overview Rather than completely shy away from potential allergens, Square Baby offers safe and smart ways to offer your baby things like nuts, soy, and eggs, with clearly labeled ingredients. (You can also order from plans that don’t have allergens!) Everything on the menu is crafted in small batches. Opt for Stage 1 for simple purees when your baby is about 4 months old. From 6 months old and up (Stage 2), babies can have combinations like almond butter and banana, apple curry chicken, and apple rosemary lentil. Finally, Stage 3 (which starts at 8 months) includes “mash” options such as salmon, avocado greens, and mango chia pudding. Pricing and Plans Plans start at $99 for two weeks of meals (one per day). 14 meals (1 per day for 2 weeks): $99, $7.07 per meal28 meals (2 meals per day for 2 weeks): $159, $5.67 per meal42 meals (3 meals per day for 2 weeks): $219, $5.21 per meal56 meals (4 meals per day for 2 weeks): $279, $4.98 per meal 06 of 08 Best for Finger Foods: Nurture Life Nurture Life Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $6.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Nurture Life wants to be with your baby from their first puree all the way through childhood, and offers a select “finger food” menu for babies who are ready for self-feeding. Meals are created with dietitians and are freshly made (never frozen), with an eye toward sustainability across the board. Pros and Cons Pros Strong focus on nutrition Flexible ordering system Diverse menu with kid-friendly flavors Cons Must order a minimum of nine items to receive free shipping Meals are limited to four people Overview Nurture Life is comprehensive in its offerings for kids and offers sustainable proteins and organic produce—along with as much recyclable packaging as possible. No veggie is left behind, which is key during the early days of eating solids. The finger food menu includes favorites such as meatballs, shepherd’s pie, mac and cheese, veggie frittatas, turkey meatloaf, and more. Pricing and Plans 6 meals per week: $7.99 per meal9 meals per week: $7.99 per meal 12 meals per week: $7.16 per meal15 meals per week: $6.99 per meal 07 of 08 Best Science Backed: CereBelly Cerebelly Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $2.71 per mealDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh (and shelf stable) Why You Should Try It Founded by a neurosurgeon and developmental neurobiologist, CereBelly is all about supporting the brain health of babies and toddlers. Meals are certified organic and shelf stable, and tested for heavy metals and contaminants. Pros and Cons Pros Organic, farm-fresh ingredients Free of gluten, added sugar, and major allergens Science-backed recipes and ingredients Cons Selection is limited compared to other companies Pouches aren’t recyclable curbside Overview CereBelly considers itself a science-first company, dedicated to providing the best foods for growing babies. It’s the first baby food brand to earn the Clean Label Project Purity Award, and the company prides itself on fortifying its veggie-first baby food with 16 brain-supporting nutrients. Customer service is somewhat limited, with only an email address listed on their website. However, with creative flavor combos like white bean pumpkin apple and sweet potato mango, CereBelly is hard to pass up. Pricing and Plans Plans are customizable, allowing you to order a pack of six or eight pouches or a bundle of 14, 28, 42, or 56 items (small, medium, large, and family size). Pricing starts at $2.71 per meal, and orders ship every two or four weeks. 08 of 08 Best for Bulk Buying: White Leaf Provisions White leaf provision Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $2.99 per servingDelivery Area: 50 states and CanadaProducts Arrive: Fresh (and shelf stable) Why You Should Try It White Leaf takes organic a step further with its biodynamic and regeneratively farmed fruits and veggies, and caters to those who want to buy their baby food in bulk for maximum savings. Pros and Cons Pros Bulk purchasing is more economical Can easily filter for ingredients you do or don’t want Regeneratively farmed means soil health is preserved beyond organic means Cons Bulk buying requires pantry space More expensive than grocery store brands Overview Bulk buying can be really helpful for new parents, as long as you’ve got the pantry space for these items. And White Leaf Provisions is an excellent choice for bulk orders. The company’s baby food pouches come in a wide range of fruit and veggie combinations, and you can sort by ingredient or “health focus” based on your baby’s needs (including “boost immunity,” “healthy digestion,” and “healthy brain”). Pricing and Plans White Leaf Provisions’ à la carte purchasing means you can order what you want, when you want it. A box of six pouches of purees starts at $17.94 and goes all the way up to $99.95 for the Big Baby Food Bundle, which consists of 36 pouches. You can also opt for the Big Organic Biodynamic Snack Box for $108, which comes with 36 baby food pouches plus eight servings of unsweetened applesauce blends. (You can choose the pouches you want.) You can also sign up for a recurring subscription and shave a few dollars off the total cost, bringing the six-pack box to $16.15, the baby food bundle to $89.96, and the snack box to $97.20. Final Verdict Our winner for best overall baby food delivery service is Yumi. The freshness is hard to beat, and the flavor combinations are vibrant and unique. Baby food comes in BPA/BPS-free plastic, which takes away any concerns about plastics leaching into the food. This also makes it easier for your baby to learn to self-feed without worrying about shattering glass. Compare the Best Baby Food Delivery Services Company Starting Price Delivery Area Products Arrive Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? Free Shipping? Yumi Best Overall $4.40 per serving 48 states Fresh No Yes Little Spoon Best Budget $5.99 per serving 48 states Fresh No No Tiny Organics Best Organic $5.49 per serving 48 states Frozen No Yes Once Upon a Farm Best for Fruits and Vegetables $2.99 per serving 48 states, and Canada Fresh No No Square Baby Best for Adventurous Eaters $4.98 per serving 8 states Frozen No Yes Nurture Life Best for Finger Foods $6.99 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes No CereBelly Best Science Backed $2.71 per serving 48 states Fresh and shelf stable No (but the product is shelf stable) No White Leaf Provisions Best for Bulk Buying $2.99 per serving 50 states and Canada Fresh and shelf stable No (but the product is shelf stable) Yes, for orders $60 and up Guide to Choosing a Baby Food Delivery Service What to Consider There are multiple considerations when you’re investigating baby food deliveries. You’ll want to consider your baby’s age, first and foremost—that will determine what sorts of purees are developmentally appropriate. The price will be a consideration, too, and we’ve presented companies with a range of price points. It’s also a good idea to consider the menu selection, especially if you’re interested in exposing your baby to as many new flavors and textures as possible before they turn one year old. What Foods Should Babies Avoid? Typically, babies don’t need salt, saturated fat, honey, extra sugar, and whole nuts and peanuts, along with cow’s milk and some cheeses. Babies also don’t need fruit juices, either. Additionally, foods that would produce a choking hazard should be avoided. Most of the companies on our list follow appropriate safety and developmental guidelines for introducing foods and food types; some even go so far as to help you stage the introduction of potential allergens such as nuts. Frequently Asked Questions Are Baby Food Delivery Services Cost-Effective? They can be if you consider what your time is worth. If your schedule is tight and you have multiple children, it might be worth it to stock up on some purees and mashed foods from one of these companies. Budget options are available, as are more expensive options, too. How Do Baby Food Delivery Services Keep Their Food Fresh? Companies that prepare their food fresh will ship it to you in packages with appropriate temperature control, including dry ice or cooler packs. Many will send foods via two-day shipping to preserve the freshness. How Should You Inspect a Baby Food Delivery Package? First, determine whether or not the items are still cold upon arrival. Then, check the expiration dates on the products to make sure they’re in the future. Finally, make sure the packaging hasn’t been compromised and that nothing has broken or opened up during shipping. What Is the Three-Day Rule for Baby Food? The three-day rule says that you should wait three days in between introducing a new food to your baby. The idea is to introduce a potentially allergenic food (such as nuts) when other foods are introduced. Some pediatricians, however, are rethinking this idea of waiting every three to five days before introducing a new food, stressing that it’s important to expose your baby to as many new flavors and textures as possible. (The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology still adheres to the three to five-day rule.) If you’re at all in doubt, consult your pediatrician. Methodology In order to determine the best baby food delivery services, our testers ordered from and rated dozens of meal delivery services. Each company was scored based on selection, staging, quality of ingredients, ease of shipping, and sustainability of packaging. Testers also evaluated the customer service process, the taste of the food, and nutritional information. Our tester panel includes chefs, food writers, nutritionists and dietitians, and other culinary professionals. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. CDC. 2021, August 24. “When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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