For a baby who is still learning to eat bread, a croissant isn’t an obvious everyday choice. The Voedingscentrum recommends starting with brown bread or wheat bread without kernels or seeds. Consider a croissant only as an occasional change once your baby can sit upright and swallow and chew well. Don’t choose a multiseed or gluten-free option based on its name alone: check the texture, salt content and all relevant allergens in the specific product.
If your baby can already manage practice foods and some lumpier textures but isn’t used to crusts, kernels or seeds, texture matters more than a label such as ‘multiseed’. The Voedingscentrum recommends starting with brown bread or wheat bread without kernels or seeds.
For an occasional breakfast or brunch, it’s worth checking the portion size and nutritional information, especially the salt, saturated fat and fibre. A croissant doesn’t need to replace your baby’s usual bread meals.
If gluten, wheat or other allergens are a concern, check the label on the croissant you choose, including any possible traces. If the food is going to nursery or school, also check what they allow children to bring in.
First, make sure your baby can manage the texture. Then compare the label on a regular, multiseed or, if needed, gluten-free croissant. None of these names alone tells you enough about salt, seeds or other allergens.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay closest attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Eating skills and texture | Check the crust, kernels and seeds; choose a piece that matches what your baby can chew. | If my baby is still getting used to bread textures, I want to know first whether the piece is suitable for their eating skills. This is the main concern for around 46% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the salt per 100 g and per portion, as well as the saturated fat and fibre listed on the label. | When offering a croissant as an occasional change, I want to take its salt and nutritional value into account so it doesn’t quietly replace a regular bread meal. Around 36% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including possible traces; check nursery or school requirements if needed. | If I need to take a diet or rules about food brought in into account, I want to know exactly which ingredients the product contains. This is the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
The Voedingscentrum advises that, for larger pieces, a baby should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well; stay nearby while they eat. For nutritional comparison, the Voedingscentrum gives figures for an average 45 g croissant, including 0.53 g of salt, 5 g of saturated fat and 1.1 g of fibre. The values for a shop-bought product may differ.
Seeds don’t automatically make a croissant more suitable for a baby who is just learning to eat bread. The Voedingscentrum specifically recommends starting with brown bread or wheat bread without kernels or seeds.
First, consider your baby’s eating skills. Only consider a seeded croissant once they can manage that texture, and check the salt and allergens on the label too.
According to the Voedingscentrum, an average croissant contains salt and saturated fat, and isn’t an equivalent substitute for the recommended introduction to bread.
Save croissants for an occasional meal and choose something that suits your baby’s progression with bread for regular bread meals.
A gluten-free croissant may contain other allergens. For example, according to the product information, the Consenza croissants sold at PLUS contain egg and soya and may contain sesame, lupin and nuts.
If a gluten-free diet is essential, read the full, up-to-date allergen information, including any possible traces.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is especially important if an allergy is involved or you’re sending the product to nursery or school.
Check the packaging or label on the croissant you’re actually buying, and ask about the nursery or school’s requirements in advance.
These product ranges show some of the differences you might find in a croissant. Always check the current packaging for the specific option you choose.
The AH Multiseed Croissant is an example to consider if you’re looking at a seeded option.
Jumbo Croissants, 6 Pack offers a specific label to compare when looking at bake-off croissants.
At PLUS, you can compare a small butter croissant with a gluten-free option from Consenza.
Lidl includes a multiseed croissant in its range.
Dirk shows a pack of four butter croissants weighing 180 g in total.
These two butter croissants are options for an occasional croissant treat. For both, check the current ingredients, allergens and salt content, and consider whether a piece is suitable for your baby’s eating skills.
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An option if you’d like to offer a butter croissant occasionally to a baby who can already manage lumpier textures.
The product name states that the pack contains four croissants and weighs 180 g. Check the packaging for the salt and allergens, as well as the size and texture of each croissant.
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The mini option is worth considering for an occasional croissant treat; ‘mini’ alone doesn’t tell you whether the portion size or texture is suitable for your baby.
The product name gives a weight of 200 g, while other product details state four croissants weighing 180 g. Check the pack contents and weight per croissant on the current label, along with the salt and allergens.
Only consider a croissant once your baby can manage lumpier textures, sit upright and swallow and chew well. For introducing bread from 6 months, the Voedingscentrum recommends brown bread or wheat bread without kernels or seeds; stay nearby when your baby is eating independently.
No. Seeds don’t automatically make a croissant more suitable as a first bread choice. For a baby starting on bread, the Voedingscentrum recommends an option without kernels or seeds; if you’re considering a multiseed croissant, check the salt and the rest of the label too.
The Voedingscentrum recommends avoiding food with added salt for babies. For reference, it gives a salt content of 0.53 g for an average 45 g croissant; check the amount per 100 g and per portion eaten for the croissant you buy.
Read the current label on that specific croissant and check in advance what allergy requirements the nursery or school has. Check the ingredients, listed allergens and any warnings about possible traces; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory allergen information on food labels.
No. Gluten-free doesn’t mean that a croissant is free from all other allergens. According to the product information, the Consenza croissants sold at PLUS contain egg and soya and may contain sesame, lupin and nuts, so always check the label on the pack you choose.
