When we started purees, I wanted to keep things simple. Clean, single ingredient foods only. Nothing mixed yet. Nothing with extra flavors layered in. Just pure vegetables and fruits so we could watch for reactions and help her get used to textures without guessing what was in each bite.
For Stage 1, Beech-Nut stood out immediately. Not because I am loyal to one brand forever, but because their Stage 1 lineup made the early weeks so much easier. Once we move into Stage 2 and combos, I’m totally open to branching out. But for this first stage, Beech-Nut has been the simplest and most consistent option.
Here is how it compared to the other brands we looked at.
Why We Chose Beech-Nut for Stage 1
Beech-Nut Organics Stage 1 Carrots
- Single ingredients
- Glass jars
- No fillers
- Clean labels
Pros: Widest Stage 1 variety, glass jars, pure ingredients. Cons: Slightly pricier. Best for: Parents who want simple, transparent first foods.
The Most Single Ingredient Options
For Stage 1, this mattered the most. Beech-Nut has the widest range of pure one-ingredient jars. No blends. No combos. No hidden extras.
Even something like carrot, which some brands only sell mixed with apple or peas, comes plain and pure with Beech-Nut.
Glass Jars
This was a huge reason we chose it.
I like:
- Seeing the texture
- Storing leftovers safely
- Avoiding warm food sitting in plastic
- The clean feel of glass
It just fits the early stage better.
Clean, Simple Ingredients
- No salt
- No sugar
- No stabilizers
- No fillers
Just the food itself.
Our Real Experience
Sweet potato, squash, and pumpkin were all big hits. Carrot was dramatic at first (full rejection), but by the fourth feed in a row, she loved it and kept opening her mouth asking for more. Repetition really does matter.
Other Brands We Looked At
Brand Comparison
Gerber 1st Foods Pea Puree
Affordable and available everywhere
Happy Baby Organic Stage 1 Sweet Potatoes
High quality organic pouches
Earth's Best Organic Winter Squash
Organic options in glass
Gerber
Pros: Easy to find everywhere, affordable
Cons: Fewer Stage 1 single ingredient jars, textures can be thicker, more blends than basics
Happy Baby
Pros: Organic, high quality
Cons: Mostly pouches, and the Stage 1 options are limited, often in flavor combos which we are not ready for yet
Earth’s Best
Pros: Organic options
Cons: Harder to find simple single ingredient jars in some stores
Texture Notes
Beech-Nut Stage 1 textures are thin and smooth, which made the early spoons much easier for her to handle. She accepted them well and stayed consistent across different flavors.
How We Serve It
We always spoon a little into a stainless steel condiment cup so we are not double dipping into the jar. It keeps the jar clean and lets us refrigerate leftovers safely.
Our setup stays simple:
Our Feeding Setup
Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair
Supportive sturdy and grows with her
Lalo The Bib Silicone Bib Set
Catches everything and wipes clean
Lalo Little Spoon Set
Small and perfect for tiny mouths
- Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair
- Lalo bib
- Lalo baby spoon
- Beech-Nut single ingredient purees
The Bottom Line
For Stage 1, Beech-Nut has been the easiest and most reliable brand for us. Clean ingredients, smooth textures, and glass jars made the early feeding weeks feel calm and predictable.
As we move into Stage 2 and start adding combos and thicker foods, I’m completely open to trying other brands. But for now, during the single ingredient phase, Beech-Nut has been the clear winner.