If your baby is starting to eat bread after six months, choose a crusty roll without kernels or seeds. Only offer larger pieces once your baby can sit upright and swallow and chew well. Check the crust and the inside as you’ll actually serve them. Then think about how many rolls you’ll use: multipacks need preparing and can lead to waste if you have rolls left over.
For them, their baby’s eating skills and a suitable texture matter more than the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises starting with brown or wheat bread without kernels or seeds after six months.
For them, it’s important to consider how many rolls they’ll use, the pack size and how long they take to bake.
For them, it’s important to check the ingredients, allergen information and any school or childcare requirements before buying and before packing the food.
Start with what your baby can eat, then check the ingredients. Next, choose between an individual crusty roll and a pack to bake at home, based on the portions you’ll actually use.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Eating skills and texture | Check the crust and softness after preparation; when starting out, choose a variety without kernels or seeds. | If my baby is still learning to chew, I don’t want to offer a hard piece of bread that isn’t suited to their skills. Around 25% of consumers prioritise eating skills and texture. |
| Amount of bread | Check how many rolls are in the pack and work out how many you’ll use. | I want to have rolls at home for several mealtimes without ending up with too many left over. For around 31% of consumers, the amount needed is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label for cereals containing gluten, kernels, seeds and allergen information. | When choosing bread for my baby or childcare, I need to know what it contains and which requirements apply. Around 25% of consumers prioritise checking the ingredients. |
| Preparation and planning | Check whether the roll is ready to eat or needs baking, and follow the preparation instructions. | When mealtimes are busy, I want to know whether I can use the roll straight away or need to bake it first. Around 19% of consumers prioritise planning and ease of preparation. |
The crust and texture need to suit what your baby can eat. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, larger pieces are only appropriate once a baby can sit upright and swallow and chew well.
Check the roll as you’ll serve it, adjust a crust that’s too hard if needed, and stay with your baby while they eat. If your baby is having difficulty chewing, wait before offering larger pieces.
A multigrain roll may contain kernels or seeds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises starting with brown or wheat bread without kernels or seeds after six months.
Check the ingredients of the roll you choose and make sure its texture suits what your baby can already eat.
An individual crusty roll and a pack to bake at home suit different mealtimes. With a multipack, you’ll also need to consider preparation and whether you might have rolls left over.
Choose an amount you’ll use, and if you’re buying rolls to bake, check their texture once prepared before giving one to your baby.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a baby doesn’t need a topping during the early stages of trying solid foods.
Check the bread and any topping separately to make sure they’re suitable for your baby’s age, and check the ingredients of both.
An option if you’re looking for an individual fresh roll as part of your regular shop.
Worth considering if you want to compare different types of crusty rolls from one range.
An option if you’d like to pick up fresh rolls while shopping.
Worth considering if you want to buy one individual white roll rather than a multipack.
Worth considering if you want to compare the ingredients in packaged white and multigrain rolls.
An option if you want to bake four white rolls at home.
Only offer larger pieces once your baby can sit upright and swallow and chew well. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises starting with brown or wheat bread without kernels or seeds after six months. Check the crust of a crusty roll too, and stay with your baby while they eat.
No. Extra crispiness isn’t the aim when you’re giving a roll to a baby. After baking, check whether the crust and inside are suitable for your baby’s eating skills. Wait before offering larger pieces if your baby is still finding chewing difficult.
Not necessarily: a multigrain roll may contain kernels or seeds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises starting with brown or wheat bread without kernels or seeds after six months. Read the ingredients of the variety you’ve chosen before offering it.
Check the current label for ingredients and allergen information, and ask about the childcare setting’s requirements. Standard crusty rolls may contain cereals with gluten. If you choose a product specifically labelled gluten-free, also check that the label meets your particular needs.
You can’t assume that every roll does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread and other baked goods because baker’s salt is added. Check the ingredients of the roll you choose.
