In 1993, a report by the National Academy of Sciences documented that children, due to their size, metabolism, and rapid development, are especially at risk from pesticides, and that government standards for residues in food do not adequately protect children. Regulations have not changed much since, but research continues to implicate pesticides and other man-made chemicals as highly possible causes of neurological problems in children, affecting intelligence, behavior, and physical health. Many parents who wish to avoid such risks naturally turn to organic food, especially for their babies.

Rice cereal is often recommended as the first food for babies, and whole grain organic rice baby cereal is produced by several different companies and available at most health food stores. When baby is ready for fruits and vegetables, making your own baby food is simple and economical. Cook organic vegetables or fruit until soft, then puree in food processor or blender, or mash by hand. Add enough water to make a smooth consistency if necessary (for green beans, for instance). To store large quantities, pour into ice cube trays and freeze. After frozen, pop out the cubes and store in freezer bags. Before meals, just take out a couple of cubes as needed and thaw. You can mix your own "custom blends" for every meal; applesauce and carrots, black beans and potatoes, zucchini and corn, etc. Freezing is a great way of preserving food if you don't have a local source for fresh produce. Since we don't have a close source of organic bananas, we buy several bunches at a time and freeze enough cubes to last for weeks.

Having your own garden assures the freshest vegetables. If that's not an option, look for organic farmers at farmers' markets or farm stands. Since some parents are buying organic fruits and vegetables for the first time, farmers may want to be sensitive to these potential new customers. Organic produce is more expensive, but once parents overcome the initial price hurdle they are usually happy to pay more for safe produce.

Health-oriented grocery stores often carry organic products, and even the big chains are responding to consumer demands and supplying some organic food. If your local store doesn't carry organic products, ask! Gerber brand is carried by most grocery stores; it generally causes no difficulty for the store manager to request their organic line called Tender Harvest. Earth's Best is another common line of organic baby food. Jars and boxed cereals are also available from retailers on the Internet.

Children who eat the healthiest diets are often the most healthy. Going organic is another step to a baby's overall good health.