For a toddler with coeliac disease, choose bread that is explicitly labelled gluten-free; the word ‘multigrain’ tells you nothing about this. Then compare the allergens and nutritional information on the current label. Sliced bread is ready to serve, while frozen rolls need preparing but can be used one portion at a time.
For them, the first step is to look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the current packaging. If their child also has other food allergies, the ingredients and allergen information need attention too.
For families looking for a suitable type of bread and wanting to compare nutritional information per 100 g, toppings and the amount their toddler eats. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses bread as part of breakfast and lunch for children aged 1 to 3.
For households where a whole loaf isn’t practical, individual frozen rolls may be an option. Check the allergens and storage and preparation instructions before use.
With coeliac disease, the gluten-free label comes first. Only then should you choose between bread and bake-at-home rolls, based on allergens, nutritional information and what’s practical for breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and allergens | Look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If my toddler has coeliac disease, I don’t want to have to rely on the word ‘multigrain’; for around 50% of consumers, gluten-free suitability is their top purchase priority. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g across the gluten-free options, and consider how much your child eats. | For everyday breakfasts, I want to see how the nutritional value of different bread options compares. For around 30% of consumers, this comparison is their top purchase priority. |
| Portions and preparation | Check the pack size and, for frozen rolls, read the preparation and storage instructions. | When my toddler eats small portions, how much preparation breakfast takes matters; around 20% of consumers put portion convenience first when buying. |
Multigrain bread may contain grains that contain gluten. The product name alone doesn’t make it suitable for a toddler with coeliac disease.
Check that ‘gluten-free’ is explicitly stated on the packaging and read the current label.
Gluten-free bread can still contain other allergens. This matters if your child is allergic to them too.
Read the ingredients and allergen information every time you buy it, even if it’s a familiar product.
‘Multigrain’ doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt a loaf contains, and it doesn’t make it nutritionally equivalent to ordinary wholemeal bread.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g of the gluten-free options and take into account how much your toddler eats.
Products available can change. Lidl, for example, says that additional gluten-free products aren’t always in stock.
Check your shop’s current range before buying, and read the label on the product you choose.
Schär offers, among other products, a packaged Mehrkorn loaf and frozen multigrain rolls that Jumbo describes as gluten-free.
Jumbo describes the Multiseed Bread in this range as gluten-free bread made with tapioca starch, kernels and seeds.
A gluten-free multigrain bread mix is a relevant option for families who want to bake their own bread and choose the shape and portion sizes.
In January 2026, Albert Heijn announced that it was expanding its gluten-free range in more than 400 shops.
No, ‘multigrain’ isn’t a gluten-free label. Bread with that name may contain grains that contain gluten. If you have coeliac disease, check that the product is explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the packaging.
No, the ‘gluten-free’ label is particularly important when gluten needs to be avoided for medical reasons. If you’re concerned about a possible food-related problem in a child, speak to a healthcare professional rather than basing a dietary decision on the name of the bread alone.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests around two to three slices of bread a day, usually split between breakfast and lunch. Children’s appetites vary, so the serving size on a packet isn’t a set amount a toddler has to eat.
Yes, gluten-free doesn’t mean that bread is free from all other allergens. Read the ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose, especially if your toddler has another food allergy.
They can be handy if you want to use the rolls individually, but baking them takes preparation. Check the allergens for the product you choose and follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging.
