Choose a multipack of currant buns for baby-led weaning only after you’ve considered whether your baby is ready for pieces of bread and how you’ll offer them. A pack of 6 suits occasional use; a pack of 8 is most practical if the rest of the family will eat them too and you can follow the storage and freezing instructions. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on each pack: a mini size doesn’t mean it’s suitable for your baby.
For you, the question of whether and how to offer bread comes before choosing a pack size. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, babies need to be able to sit upright and swallow and chew properly before having larger pieces. Only start offering bread without the crust once your baby is used to first tastes and slightly lumpier foods.
If you don’t get through currant buns regularly, consider whether others at home will eat them too and whether you can freeze some. PLUS says its packs of 6 and 8 can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within a month.
A pack that’s easy to divide up is useful, but check the label and the childcare provider or school’s rules too. The PLUS varieties described contain wheat or gluten and milk ingredients; other allergens that may be present vary by pack.
First, consider whether pieces of bread are right for your baby’s stage and read the label. Then choose the number of buns based on how many your household will use and what the pack instructions say about storage.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Eating independently and how to serve | Consider whether your baby can sit upright and swallow and chew properly. For bread, follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to start without the crust once your baby is used to first tastes and lumpier foods. | If my baby is just starting on pieces of food, I want to know whether bread is right for what they can eat and how I should serve it. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Check the pack for allergen, salt and sugar information for this specific variety. If you’re packing food for childcare or school, check their rules too. | Before choosing a pack for my baby or childcare, I want to know what’s in the bun. Ingredients and nutritional information matter most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Stock and storage | Compare the number of buns with how many your household will get through, and read the storage and freezing instructions on that pack. | If others at home will eat them too, I want to know whether we’ll get through a larger bag in time or whether it can be frozen according to the label. Around 25% of consumers give stock and sharing the highest priority. |
The size of a bun or pack doesn’t tell you whether your baby is ready for larger pieces. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says babies need to be able to sit upright and swallow and chew properly.
Assess these skills and how you’ll offer the bread separately. Choose a mini pack because it’s easy to divide up, not because you assume it offers a safety benefit.
The Jumbo and PLUS varieties described contain wheat or gluten and milk ingredients. Information about other allergens may vary by pack.
Check the label on the bag you’re using every time you buy it, especially if there’s an allergy or you’re packing food for childcare.
More buns are only practical if you’ll get through them in time or can store them as directed on the label. The instructions for the PLUS packs of 6 and 8 described here say to freeze them on the day of purchase and use within a month.
Choose a smaller pack if you’ll only use them occasionally. Go for a larger pack only if others will eat them too or you can follow the storage instructions.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether a currant bun contains it just from the product category.
Check the ingredients list on the pack or ask the baker.
Jumbo describes a pack of 6 currant and raisin buns made with white wheat flour. It’s an option to consider if you’ll only use them occasionally or in small quantities.
PLUS describes currant buns in packs of 6 and 8, and mini currant and raisin buns in packs of 9. The size difference matters mainly for how you’ll use and share them at home.
Albert Heijn’s category listing shows a range of pack sizes, including currant buns in packs of 6 or 10 and mini raisin buns in packs of 9. Check the exact product name when comparing: raisin buns and currant buns aren’t necessarily the same product.
ALDI describes a pack of 6 currant and raisin buns. The number of buns makes it comparable in size to other packs of 6, but doesn’t tell you what’s in them.
A currant bun isn’t automatically suitable for giving your baby in pieces. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, babies need to be able to sit upright and swallow and chew properly before having larger pieces. Only start offering bread without the crust once your baby is used to first tastes and slightly lumpier foods; also check the ingredients in the bun you choose.
A mini size doesn’t mean a currant bun is safer for your baby. Consider your baby’s skills and how you’ll offer the bread rather than relying on the word ‘mini’.
Read the allergen information on the bag you’re buying. The Jumbo and PLUS varieties described contain wheat or gluten and milk ingredients; other allergens that may be present vary by product. If you’re packing food for childcare or school, check their rules too.
No, you can’t tell from the product name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on the pack or ask the baker.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, first tastes between 4 and 6 months are an addition to breast or formula feeds, not a replacement for them.
