Baby Food
Despite the fact that Kitniyot for infants is permissible, the Mishna Brura states that it is preferable (but not mandatory) to avoid giving infants rice, buckwheat (kasha in Yiddish), or millet on Passover.
However, one must take care to keep kitniyot baby utensils or cutlery away from the general kitchen area. Any mixing or washing should be done elsewhere, such as in the bathroom sink.
We have indicated that Kitniyot is permitted for infants – but that does NOT cover Chametz, or any food that was processed on equipment that was not properly cleaned for Passover. Such Chametz is strictly prohibited even for infants.
When we talk about Kitniyot being permitted for infants, it means that it would have to be a homemade Kitniyot, unless the Sephardic community has a reliable Hechsher on an infant product.
The Halacha (Jewish law) also suggests that separate pots, dishes and cutlery be dedicated to the Kitniyot food.
Obviously, in cases where a doctor insists that the infant must have Chametz, the prohibition does not apply. In such a situation, it would be preferable (if possible) that a gentile should bring his own Chametz and feed the baby. If that is not feasible then a Jew would be permitted to feed the infant Chametz.
The upper age still considered an ‘infant’ depends on the child. Obviously, if the child can eat healthy food that is not kitniyot, that would be preferable. Usually, the Poskim indicate that two years of age would be the upper limit, but if a 2-year old is not ready to eat other food, then certainly the limit goes up as high as his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Baby/Infant Formula
The following baby formula can be assumed to be free of chametz. Many are made from kitniyot ingredients. Kitniyot does not apply to infants.
Please take care to prepare baby formula and wash bottles and other utensils in an area outside the kitchen.
Please note that these products are only acceptable when bearing the OU or OU-D symbol.
Click HERE for Pediatric Supplements and Pediatric Electrolytes
Baby/Infant Formulas
• 365 Everyday Value
• Ahold
• Always My Baby
• Baby Basics
• Being Well
• Berkley & Jensen
• Bobbie
• Bright Beginnings
• CareOne
• Comfort
• Cottontails
• Cozy Care
• CVS
• Daily Source
• D-G Health
• Earth’s Best
• EleCare
• EnfaCare (all liquids, all powders)
• Enfagrow (all liquids, all powders)
• Enfamil (all liquids, all powders)
• Enfaport (all liquids, all powders)
• Equate
• Food Lion
• Full Circle
• Gerber Good Start
• Giant
• Giant Eagle Baby
• Good Sense
• Hannaford
• Happy Baby
• H-E-B
• Heinz Nurture
• Home 360 Baby
• Isomil (all liquids, all powders)
• Ketonex
• Kirkland Signature
• Laura Lynn
• Lidl
• Life Brand
• Little Journey
• Meijer Baby
• Member’s Mark
• Mom to Mom
• Mother’s Choice
• Nature’s Place
• Nestle Good Start
• Next Step
• O Organic
• Parent’s Choice
• Premier Value
• President’s Choice
• Price Chopper
• ProSobee (all liquids, all powders)
• PurAmino
• Publix
• RCF
• Rite Aid
• Shopko
• Signature Care
• Similac (all liquids, all powders)
• Simply Right
• Sound Body
• Stop & Shop
• Sunrise
• Supervalu
• Target
• Tippy Toes by TopCare
• Top Care
• Topco
• True Goodness
• Tyrex
• Up & Up
• Vermont Organics
• Walgreens
• Wegmans
• Welby
• Well Beginnings
• Wellsley Farms
• Western Family
Baby Rice Cereals
One should make the cereal using a special non-Pesach, non-chametz pot, and this special pot (and any special utensils used for the cereal) should not be washed together with the Pesach dishes. You can Kasher a pot before Passover and dedicate it for making the rice cereal over Passover.
Similarly, the grinding of the rice should not be done in a Passover grinder on Passover. You can grind the rice in a clean chametz grinder before Passover or purchase a dedicated grinder for use over Passover.
Sample Recipe:
Rice Cereal
- 1/4 c. rice powder [brown or white (not enriched) rice ground in blender, food processor, or coffee grinder]
- 1 cup water
- Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while stirring constantly
- Simmer covered for 10 minutes, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired
Serve warm.
Prepared Baby Food
First Choice Baby Food: Applesauce, Carrots, Pears and Sweet Potatoes are approved when bearing an OU-P or OU Kosher for Passover symbol.
