Yes, Do WIC Give Baby Food? A Guide to Benefits and Eligibility

December 23, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Food Research and Action Center, WIC served an average of 6.25 million participants monthly during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these participants are infants, and a common question for new parents is, 'Do WIC give baby food?' The answer is yes, with specific benefits and timelines based on the child's age and feeding method.

Quick Summary

The WIC program offers baby food, including infant cereal, jarred fruits, and vegetables, for eligible infants starting at six months old. The specific types and quantities vary based on age and whether the baby is fully breastfed, partially breastfed, or formula-fed.

Key Points

Start Age: WIC provides baby food for infants starting around six months, as they begin to eat solids.
Food Package Variety: The type of food package is tailored to whether the infant is breastfed, partially breastfed, or formula-fed.
Included Items: Benefits typically include iron-fortified infant cereal and jarred fruit and vegetable purees.
Bonus for Breastfeeding: Fully breastfed infants receive an additional benefit for jarred infant meats.
Strict Rules: WIC benefits do not cover all baby food products; plain purees are required, and items with added sugars, starches, or combo meals are usually prohibited.
Shopping Assistance: State WIC agencies offer resources like mobile apps or approved lists to help families find eligible items.

WIC and Infant Nutrition: A Comprehensive Overview

For many families, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a lifeline that helps ensure healthy growth and development. The program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, and healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and children up to age five. For infants, the support evolves significantly during the first year, particularly when solid foods are introduced.

The Infant Food Package: What to Expect

The WIC food package for infants is carefully structured to meet evolving nutritional needs. For the first six months of life, benefits are focused on providing breastmilk and/or iron-fortified infant formula. This aligns with recommendations from health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Once an infant reaches six months and shows signs of readiness for solids, the food package is updated to include baby food. The composition of this package is determined by the infant's primary feeding method.

WIC-Approved Infant Foods Often Include:

Infant Cereal: Iron-fortified infant cereal is a staple for starting solids and is included in all infant food packages from six months.
Jarred Fruits and Vegetables: A variety of plain, jarred fruit and vegetable purees are provided. WIC encourages plain varieties without added sugars, salts, starches, or other ingredients.
Infant Meats: Exclusively breastfed infants receive an additional benefit of jarred infant meats, which are rich in iron and other nutrients.
Cash-Value Benefit (CVB): Some states allow for a cash-value benefit for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables instead of or in addition to jarred options.

Shopping for WIC-Approved Baby Food

Shopping for WIC foods requires attention to detail. WIC benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which is used at participating stores. Shoppers must ensure they select only WIC-approved items, which can vary by state and brand.

Read Labels Carefully: Check the labels to ensure baby food jars contain only plain fruits or vegetables, with no added ingredients like sugars, cereals, or dinners.
Avoid Squeeze Pouches: Many state WIC programs do not allow squeeze pouches for infants, even if they contain a WIC-approved fruit or vegetable puree.
Use Shopping Resources: Many states offer resources like approved foods lists on their websites or mobile apps that allow you to scan barcodes to confirm if an item is WIC-eligible.
Check Benefit Limits: The EBT card is loaded with a specific quantity of each item, not a dollar amount. For example, you may have a credit for 16 ounces of infant cereal, not a set dollar value.

Infant Food Package Comparison


Feature	Fully Breastfed Infant	Partially Breastfed Infant	Fully Formula-Fed Infant
Primary Feeding	Breastmilk only	Breastmilk and some WIC-provided formula	WIC-provided formula only
Duration of WIC for Mom	Up to 1 year postpartum	Up to 1 year postpartum	Up to 6 months postpartum
Infant Cereal (6-11 months)	Included	Included	Included
Jarred Fruits/Veggies (6-11 months)	Included	Included	Included
Jarred Infant Meats (6-11 months)	Included	No	No
Cash-Value Benefit (9-11 months)	Option for additional fresh fruits/veggies in some states	Option for additional fresh fruits/veggies in some states	Option for additional fresh fruits/veggies in some states

Beyond Just Food: The Full WIC Program

WIC offers more than just food benefits. As infants transition to solid foods, the program provides valuable support to parents through:

Nutrition Education: Counseling on how to introduce solid foods safely, manage feeding schedules, and ensure a balanced diet.
Breastfeeding Support: Access to lactation consultants and peer counselors to help mothers meet their breastfeeding goals.
Healthcare Referrals: WIC connects families with healthcare services, including well-child checkups and immunization screenings.

Accessing Your Benefits

To enroll in WIC, families must meet categorical, residential, and income requirements, in addition to being determined as having a nutritional risk by a health professional. The best way to begin the process is to contact your local WIC agency for an appointment. During this appointment, the nutritional risk of both the mother and infant will be assessed, and a food package will be assigned based on the infant's needs.

Conclusion

Do WIC give baby food? Yes, absolutely. The program provides comprehensive support for infant nutrition that begins with breastfeeding and/or formula and expands to include solid foods at six months. By offering staples like iron-fortified cereal, pureed fruits, and vegetables, WIC helps families navigate the introduction of solids smoothly. For exclusively breastfed babies, the inclusion of infant meats further enriches the diet. By understanding the specific benefits and shopping guidelines, parents can make the most of this vital program and ensure their infants receive the necessary nutrition during this critical developmental period. For more details on the WIC program and food packages, visit the official USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service: WIC Food Packages

Frequently Asked Questions

WIC generally starts providing baby food benefits for infants at six months of age, in addition to breastmilk or formula.

You can typically buy plain, jarred fruit, vegetable, and infant cereal with WIC. Fully breastfed infants also receive a benefit for infant meats.

Most state WIC programs do not approve squeeze pouches for infant baby food, even if the contents are otherwise acceptable. Always check your specific state's approved foods list.

Each state has a specific list of approved brands. Many state WIC agencies offer mobile apps or printed shopping guides to help you identify eligible products. You can also scan items with the app to check.

Yes, formula-fed babies are eligible for infant cereal, as well as fruit and vegetable purees starting at six months. They do not receive infant meat benefits, which are reserved for fully breastfed infants.

No, WIC only covers baby food with plain ingredients. Products containing added sugar, salt, starches, or other extra ingredients like cereals mixed in are not approved.

In some states, parents can use a cash value benefit for fresh fruits and vegetables. This provides flexibility to buy produce for making homemade purees instead of relying solely on jarred options.