Parents introducing bread
If your baby is still getting used to bread and chunkier foods, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice can help you choose brown or wheat bread without seeds for their first bread.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents gradually introducing new textures
Once your baby is used to softer bread, you may want to consider whether a different texture is right for the next step. Always stay with your baby while they eat, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Parents choosing bread for childcare
If allergens or childcare arrangements are a factor, the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging matter more than the name of the bread. Also check the policy at your childcare setting.
What should you look for when choosing?
For your baby’s first taste of bread, focus on its texture and ingredients. Compare the nutritional information for multigrain breads only after checking whether the bread is right for your baby’s current stage.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| First bread texture | Before you start, check that the brown or wheat bread doesn’t contain seeds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this as a starting point from 6 months. | If my baby is still getting used to bread and chunkier foods, I want to start with a simple bread texture; around 46% of consumers prioritise this first texture. |
| Fibre and multigrain | Check the ingredients and texture first; then, for suitable breads, compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information. | Once my baby is used to bread, I want to introduce a new texture gradually rather than choosing based on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. For around 27% of consumers, this gradual progression is the main priority. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the current ingredients and allergen list every time you buy bread, including for sesame and cereals containing gluten. If you’re buying bread for childcare, ask about the setting’s arrangements. | If I need to consider allergens or childcare arrangements, I want to know what’s in this particular bread; around 27% of consumers give this check top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming multigrain means it’s suitable as a first bread
Multigrain bread may contain seeds, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends starting with brown or wheat bread without seeds.
Read the ingredients list and check the bread’s texture before choosing based on its product name.
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Looking only at the fibre content
Fibre per 100 g doesn’t tell you whether a bread contains seeds or relevant allergens. Nor does the nutritional value alone tell you about its texture.
First check whether the bread is right for your baby’s current stage, then use the nutritional information to compare specific breads.
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Relying on the label from a previous purchase
Albert Heijn points out that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change. So even if you recognise the name of a bread, check the current packaging.
Check the ingredients and allergens again every time you buy bread, especially if you need to consider an allergy or childcare arrangements.
Brands and ranges to explore
These supermarket ranges show how much multigrain breads can vary. A supermarket’s name doesn’t tell you whether a particular bread is suitable for your baby.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn features several multigrain breads in its online range.
- Useful for looking at individual multigrain options.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change; check the packaging for seeds and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers both wholemeal multigrain bread and a separate bread with seeds.
- Product pages give nutritional information per 100 g for some breads.
- The presence of seeds varies from one bread to another, so compare the specific option.
Lidl
Lidl describes one multigrain bread as containing a blend of grains and seeds.
- The product description makes it clear that this option contains seeds.
- Check the information for the bread you’re actually buying for its ingredients and allergens.
ALDI
ALDI describes multigrain bread in its fresh daily range, as well as a separate multigrain baguette with seeds.
- The descriptions can help you identify breads containing seeds.
- When choosing a first bread, assess it based on its own ingredients and texture.
PLUS
PLUS provides detailed product information for some Korenlanders breads.
- One specific dark multigrain bread lists sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients.
- That ingredient list applies to that product, not every multigrain bread from PLUS.
Dirk
Dirk’s search results include different types of bread, including multiseed bread.
- The different names can help you tell product options apart.
- Check the information for each individual bread for its ingredients and allergens.
Related products on Joybuy
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Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread with seeds suitable as a first bread for baby-led weaning?
Not as a first choice, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, which advises starting from 6 months with brown or wheat bread without seeds. Gradually introduce new textures afterwards, and stay with your baby while they eat.
Should you remove the crust when your baby first has bread?
For a baby’s first bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends bread without the crust, once they’re used to tasting foods and eating chunkier bites. From 7 months, bread with the crust can be a next step as your baby learns to chew; consider your baby’s development.
Can you tell from the name ‘multigrain bread’ whether it contains gluten or sesame?
No. The name ‘multigrain bread’ doesn’t give you the full ingredients and allergen information for a specific loaf. For example, one dark multigrain bread from PLUS lists cereals containing gluten and sesame seeds, but ingredients vary by product. Always check the current ingredients and allergen list on the packaging.