For your baby's first tastes of bread, soft brown or wheat bread without seeds or grains is a better match for the Netherlands Nutrition Centre's advice than crisp Melba toast or party toast; the term ‘medium-sliced’ says little about the texture on its own. Once your baby is used to trying solid foods, you can soften ordinary bread if needed. Check the packaging of each product for salt and allergens, and don't assume it contains iodised baker's salt without checking the label.
Your baby is used to trying solid foods, and you're looking for a type of bread that you can soften if needed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown or wheat bread without seeds or grains as a starting point from 6 months.
You want to check the ingredients, salt content per 100 g and listed allergens in bread or toast. This is especially important when comparing different types of toast with ordinary bread.
You also check whether the bread is made with baker's salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren't required to use it, so check the label or ask your baker.
When choosing bread or toast for baby-led weaning, start by considering the texture. Then check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it's important for |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Look for ordinary soft brown or wheat bread without seeds or grains; consider whether you can soften it if needed. | If my baby is just starting on bread, I want to be able to adjust the texture. This is the top priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Compare the stated salt content per 100 g and read the ingredients; don't rely on names such as ‘plain’ or ‘medium-sliced’ alone. | If you're considering toast alongside ordinary bread, you'll want to know how much salt it contains and which ingredients are used. Around 36% of consumers give the ingredients the highest priority. |
| Allergens and taking food with you | Check the allergens on the current packaging and ask about the rules at your childcare setting or school if you're taking food in. | If I'm packing bread for childcare, I want to check the allergens and know what I'm allowed to bring. This comes first for around 19% of consumers. |
Melba toast and party toast have a different texture from the brown or wheat bread without seeds or grains that the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends as a starting point from 6 months.
For your baby's first tastes of bread, choose a soft type that you can moisten if needed. Consider crisp toast separately once your child is more confident with chewing.
‘Plain’ or ‘toast’ doesn't tell you how much salt a product contains. According to Jumbo, Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel contains 1,3 g salt per 100 g; Albert Heijn lists 2 g added salt per 100 g for AH Borreltoast zeezout.
Compare the salt information and ingredients on the packaging of the product you're buying.
Baker's salt can contain iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, Dutch bakers aren't required to use it.
Check whether baker's salt is listed in the ingredients, or ask your baker.
Ingredients and allergens can vary between products or change over time. For example, Jumbo lists wheat, barley and soya for Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel, and says it may contain sesame.
Read the packaging of the product you're actually using. If you're taking bread to childcare or school, check the local rules too.
AH Borreltoast zeezout is a crisp toast, not soft, medium-sliced bread.
The Melba toast and crisp toast products reviewed show that toast can vary in recipe.
Van Vlegelaar Krokante Tarwe Toast consists of rectangular, oven-baked pieces of toast, so its texture is different from soft everyday bread.
When comparing Lidl bread products, check the packaging to identify the exact variety.
From 6 months, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown or wheat bread without seeds or grains as a starting point for babies who are used to trying solid foods. Choose a texture that suits what your baby can already eat.
No. Jumbo describes Melba toast as crisp toasted slices; calling a product ‘medium-sliced’ doesn't automatically make it soft. For your baby's first tastes of bread, ordinary soft bread is easier to adjust.
Check the allergens for each product on the current packaging. Jumbo lists wheat, barley and soya for Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel, and says it may contain sesame. If you're taking bread to childcare or school, check the rules there too.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren't required to use baker's salt. Check the ingredients or ask your baker which salt was used in the bread.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you don't need to add a topping when your baby is first trying solid foods. Start by considering which bread and texture are right for your baby.
