For a baby who is just learning to eat pieces of food independently, soft bread without seeds is a better-supported starting choice than dry, crunchy toast, crispbread or a digestive biscuit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown bread or wheat bread without seeds as an option from 6 months; according to GroeiGids, your baby needs to be able to sit upright securely before eating pieces of food. Then assess the texture and check each product’s label for salt and relevant ingredients.
Your baby is still getting used to coarser textures and eating independently. GroeiGids highlights the importance of sitting upright and choosing food that you can easily squash between your fingers. That makes texture more important than a crunchy shape.
You want to check the salt content and ingredients before buying. Albert Heijn’s product information shows that melba toast may contain gluten-containing cereals, soya or sesame, depending on the variety.
You’re looking for something that’s easy to take to childcare. As well as checking the texture and label, find out what rules your childcare provider has about food from home, allergens and supervision.
Start with what your baby can already eat and how the product feels. Then compare the ingredients and how easy it is to store or take with you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and eating skills | Can your baby sit upright, and can you easily squash the food between your fingers? The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown bread or wheat bread without seeds as a starting option from 6 months. | If my baby is just starting to pick up pieces of food, I mainly want to choose a texture that suits this stage of learning. Texture would be the main concern for around 50% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Read the ingredients list and compare the salt content per 100 g. Also check which gluten-containing cereals and other allergens the product contains. | When comparing plain and wholemeal varieties, I want to know what’s actually in them, not just what the front of the pack says. Around 30% of consumers would put the label first. |
| Storage and taking food out | Check the texture and ingredients first. If you’re packing food to take out, also check the rules at the childcare provider or school. | When I want to take food with me, I look for practical packaging without losing sight of whether it’s suitable for my baby. Convenience would be the main purchasing concern for around 20% of consumers. |
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH plain melba toast contains 1.93 g of salt per 100 g. A flavour name doesn’t tell you how much salt a product contains, so the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends avoiding salty foods for babies.
Compare the salt content per 100 g on the packaging of the variety you’re planning to buy.
A product that’s easy to hold can still be dry and crunchy. GroeiGids recommends that babies sit upright when eating pieces of food and that the food can be easily squashed between your fingers.
Assess the texture before offering anything. Don’t choose toast or a biscuit just because it’s easy to portion.
The Van der Meulen wholemeal melba toast listed by Albert Heijn contains sesame and gluten-containing cereals, among other ingredients. For babies just starting out, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends bread without seeds.
Read the full ingredients list and assess the texture, even if the front of the pack says wholemeal.
AH plain melba toast is an example of toasted melba toast.
Van der Meulen offers plain and wholemeal melba toast, among other varieties.
Bolletje offers crispbread varieties as an alternative among crunchy bread products.
Not as an obvious first choice for a baby who is just learning to eat pieces of food. GroeiGids recommends food that you can easily squash between your fingers, so assess dry, crunchy varieties carefully. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown bread or wheat bread without seeds as a starting option from 6 months.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown bread or wheat bread without seeds as a starting option from 6 months. Also consider your baby’s development: GroeiGids says that babies need to be able to sit upright securely before eating pieces of food.
Check the ingredients of the specific variety. For AH plain melba toast, Albert Heijn lists wheat, barley and soya, among other ingredients; Van der Meulen wholemeal melba toast also lists sesame. If your baby has a known allergy or develops symptoms after eating, speak to a doctor or paediatric dietitian.
No, don’t assume that every variety of toast contains baker’s salt with iodine. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products when baker’s salt is added, up to 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the specific product.
Check your childcare provider’s rules about food from home, allergens and supervision. Texture and the ability to eat sitting upright under supervision are still important for a baby; GroeiGids recommends staying nearby while they eat.
