Don’t take a packet of crisps as a snack for your baby. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies salty foods, and says that only snacks that fit within the Dutch Wheel of Five are suitable for them. When you’re out and about, choose something with a texture your child can already manage; a handy pouch or an age label alone isn’t enough to make it suitable.
You’re looking for something to take with you that your baby can eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says you should consider both the snack you choose and your child’s eating skills: before having larger pieces, a child should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well.
You might want to share one snack, but the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing snacks from the Wheel of Five for toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread. So what’s convenient for you doesn’t have to determine what you choose for your child.
First, decide who the snack is for and whether it’s suitable as a snack. Then consider the texture, and leave the convenience of the packaging until last.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional suitability and salt | Don’t choose crisps for a baby. For an alternative, check whether the snack fits within the Wheel of Five, and read the ingredients and nutritional information. | When I take something for my baby, I mainly want to know whether it’s suitable as a snack, not just whether the packet is small. For around 46% of consumers, nutritional suitability comes first. |
| Texture and eating skills | Choose a shape and texture to suit what your child can already eat; before having larger pieces, they should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well. Stay with them while they eat. | My child is practising eating independently, so I don’t want to offer larger pieces before they’re ready. Around 36% of consumers give this consideration the highest priority. |
| Convenience on the go | Only consider the portion size once you’ve established that the snack itself is suitable. Keep crisps for yourself separate from what you offer your child. | I want something that’s easy to take with me or share with an older child, without mistaking a packet for adults for a baby snack. Convenience comes first for around 18% of consumers. |
The amount in a packet doesn’t change what’s inside. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies salty foods, and says that only snacks that fit within the Wheel of Five are suitable for them.
Choose something suitable to offer your baby first, then consider the portion size. Keep any crisps you take for yourself separate.
A comparison such as ‘less fat’ doesn’t tell you whether crisps fit the dietary advice for babies. The way they’re made alone doesn’t answer that either.
Read the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging, and assess the product as a baby snack rather than relying on the claim on the front.
With baby-led weaning, your child’s eating skills are what matter. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, before having larger pieces, a child should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well.
Introduce textures gradually and stay with your child while they eat. A crunchy snack isn’t automatically suitable just because your baby can hold it.
A product name or picture doesn’t tell you everything about what’s inside. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional value as important label information for prepacked foods.
Check this information on the current packaging, even if you choose a different flavour or size.
These brands show why a small snack size or a product claim isn’t the same as being suitable as a snack for a baby.
Lay's offers crisps in multipacks with small packets, among other options. The brand presents these as handy for sharing or taking with you.
Pringles Original is also available in a 40 g pack. The product information lists its ingredients and nutritional values.
According to the Lay's brand page, the Smiths range includes a variety of savoury snacks, including Wokkels and Bugles.
These Joybuy products are fruit purées for children aged 6 months and over, not crisps or solid snacks to hold independently. Before buying, check the current packaging and choose a way of offering the purée that suits what your child can already eat.
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Fruit purée with pear and raspberry for children aged 6 months and over. This isn’t solid finger food; offer it in a way that suits your child’s eating skills, and check the current packaging and nutritional information.
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Fruit purée with peach, banana and kiwi for children aged 6 months and over. Check the current packaging for the ingredients and salt content, among other details; a purée isn’t automatically a suitable snack for your child to hold independently.
No, don’t choose a packet of crisps as a snack for your baby. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies salty foods, and says that only snacks that fit within the Wheel of Five are suitable for them; the size of the packet doesn’t change that.
The way crisps are made, or a claim that they contain less fat, doesn’t make them suitable as a baby snack. Check the ingredients and nutritional information, and assess the product against dietary advice for babies rather than relying on a single claim.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, before having larger pieces your child should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well. Introduce textures gradually, stay with your child while they eat, and speak to your child health clinic if you have concerns about swallowing or chewing.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional value on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) lists this information as part of the labelling for prepacked foods; a label alone doesn’t mean the snack is suitable for a baby.
Choose a snack from the Wheel of Five that your child can eat. For toddlers and pre-schoolers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests options including fruit, vegetables, some wholemeal bread and suitable wholegrain crackers; choose a shape and texture to suit your child’s eating skills.
