Keeping Cereal "Safe"

The fact that you found the ants ONLY in the cereal probably means they are "scout" ants, looking for food sources to which they can lead the other ants from their nest. Even though they didn't make it back to tell about the food, ants leave scent trails which are followed by other ants.
You got some good advice for cereal containers. I suggest that you use some kind of cleaner with a scent you can smell (like 409 or Simple Green) to wipe out the scent trails around your kitchen.
I'm not suggesting you don't normally clean your kitchen---just pointing out that you may have to clean around areas you might not usually wipe, like the cupboards, or wherever you keep the cereal, and walls, or windows.
Sometimes ants come in through small cracks, along baseboards or around windows... if you find a crack you suspect, you can put clear tape on it as a quick fix.
And if you don't like chemicals, vinegar should work on the scent trails too.

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Bed Bath and Beyond have containers by OXO that we use for all our dry goods. They seal and unseal with a push of a button on the lid and keeps it air tight. They are a little pricey but come in every size and fit in standard cabnets nicely and we've never had an issue with them breaking.

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I have plastic cereal dispensers form Walmart or Target. A couple are Rubbermaid and I know I have a few Sterilite. THey kept al lthe creepy crawlies out of my cereals in NC. So far I have seen none here in VA.
I rip of the top of the box and throw it in on the side then take the bag and either rubberband it or I have wooden clothes dryer clips or use Gallon size Ziplocs. I have also put my sugar in a Ziploc in my sugar canister on the counter.
We go through one BIG box of Honey Nut Cheerios every week it seems.

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Tupperware Cereal Storers! www.my.tupperware.com/KJThomas

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i always keep my cereal in tupperware, and bread in the fridge, i dont like ants, mice or cockroaches getting to my food before i do.

i got mine at walmart, but i see them other places to , like grocery stores, and dollar stores

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We take the bag of cereal out of the box and place it in a gallon size ziplock bag.

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I've got everything in my pantry in plastic containers of various sizes that I bought at Target and probably Walmart. I hate critters in my food and Southern California is one big ants nest. If you don't do things to keep them out int he first place you're in trouble. I never keep things in their box.

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You may want to invest in a tupperware cereal container. That should keep your Honey Nut Cherrios fresh and ant-free.

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Get some of those Tupperware containers (or whatever brand) that are air-tight and meant for cereal.

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One thing you could do is just treat for ants. Get the Terro ant traps at the store and put them in corners where you have ants or where you think that they come in - ex. the pantry or cabinet where you keep the cereal.

Also, maybe you want to go to plastic containers or ziploc bags until you get the ant situation figured out. It happened to us too. You just have to be careful to seal everything up. And I'm telling you the ant traps work!

A. v.

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You can pick up tupperware, rubbermaid, or other like containers at Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond. I usually see them in the same isles as the kitchen stuff. You can can them in various sizes and seal well.

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Once a box of cereal is opened, it keeps poured into a tupperware container. In this case I recommend tupperware or rubbermaid brandname.

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Tupperware containers (you can find them at the dollar store) or maybe those big freezer bags. I think the tupperware would be better since you're also dealing with a kid opening and shutting it.

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What Margie said is exactly what I do! Great way to keep nasty pests out :)

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In addition to all the suggestions the other moms provided,
give some thought to instructing your son
about closing up cereal and other such products very thoroughly.
If he's too young to understand or comply,
you probably need to check the containers after he uses them.
S.

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I've never found ants in my cereal, but if I did, I would try an air tight container!

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I keep cereal in a tupperware cereal box. Sounds like the ants like all the sugar in the cereal. You may consider someday to switch to a healthier cereal.

Buy some plastic storage containers and put the cereal in there. It's got a tight enough seal to keep the ants out and keep it fresh longer.

In addition, to get rid of them in your house, rather than use a dangerous chemical to treat them, use vinegar. They HATE it. I use it outside and in and they quickly leave. I've used it along my bay window in the kitchen on occasion and they don't return. I use them on ant hills outside, too. Best of all, it's cheap AND don't have to worry about keeping the kids away from any chemicals. Matter of fact, Abbie likes to go to the pantry and get the vinegar and take care of them herself sometimes. I have no problem with that.

You should be able to find storage containers pretty much anywhere - Wal-Mart, Meijer, etc.