Parents keen to start with bread
You want to know when your baby can manage larger pieces and which bread to offer first. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says larger pieces are suitable when your baby can sit upright, swallow and chew.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents who want to skip sweet toppings
You’re looking for a first bread snack without chocolate sprinkles. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says toppings aren’t needed during the first-tastes stage.
Parents who check food labels
You want to check the ingredients and allergens in the bread and topping separately, for example when packing food for your baby to take to childcare. The use of baker’s salt also varies between bread products.
What should you look for when choosing?
When choosing a first bread snack, start by considering your baby’s eating skills, then choose the bread and only afterwards decide whether a topping is needed. The term ‘medium sliced’ doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether a piece is suitable to offer.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Eating skills and texture | Before offering larger pieces, check that your baby can sit upright and swallow and chew well. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown bread or wheat bread without seeds as a starting point from 6 months. | When my baby picks up pieces independently, I want the texture to suit what they can chew and swallow. Eating skills are the top priority for around 46% of consumers when making this choice. |
| Toppings for first tastes | Check whether a topping is needed: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bread doesn’t need a topping during the first-tastes stage. If you’re considering chocolate sprinkles, compare the sugars per 100 g on the label of the specific product. | I want to offer bread without adding unnecessary sweet toppings. Avoiding these toppings is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the labels for the bread or rusk and the topping separately. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask the baker whether baker’s salt has been used. | When choosing food for my baby or for childcare, I want to know the ingredients and allergens in each item. Checking labels is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing slice thickness with eating skills
‘Medium sliced’ doesn’t describe a stage of development. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says babies should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well before they’re given larger pieces.
Consider your baby’s eating skills and the texture of the food, offer pieces that are suitable and stay close while they eat.
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Adding chocolate sprinkles to make bread more appealing
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says toppings aren’t needed during the first-tastes stage. Product information from Albert Heijn lists 64 g and 69 g of sugars per 100 g for the De Ruijter and Venz chocolate sprinkle products reviewed, respectively.
Start with bread that suits your baby’s eating skills, without chocolate sprinkles. If you want to spread something on it, soft margarine is one option recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
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Assuming the topping’s label covers the whole snack
Bread or rusks and chocolate sprinkles each have their own ingredients. Allergen information also differs between the chocolate sprinkle products mentioned.
Check both products separately. If you’re packing food for childcare or school, take account of their allergy policy.
Brands to consider
These brands offer examples of chocolate sprinkles whose product information you can compare; their inclusion isn’t a recommendation to use chocolate sprinkles as a first bread topping. The details below apply to the specific products named.
De Ruijter
Chocoladehagel Puur is an example of chocolate sprinkles used as a bread topping.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this product contains 64 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The product lists milk and soya as allergens; check other De Ruijter products separately.
Venz
Hagelslag Melk is a milk chocolate variety whose label details you can check.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this product contains 69 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The product information lists lactose, milk and soya; this doesn’t make it suitable as a first-tastes option.
AH
AH Hagelslag Puur is a supermarket own-brand product in the chocolate sprinkles category.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this product contains 64 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- The product information lists milk and lactose. A gluten-free label on the chocolate sprinkles says nothing about the bread or rusks underneath.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will appear soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can my baby try bread with baby-led weaning?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown bread or wheat bread without seeds as a starting point from 6 months. Only offer larger pieces once your baby can sit upright and swallow and chew well, and stay close while they eat.
Should I put chocolate sprinkles on my baby’s bread?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says toppings aren’t needed during the first-tastes stage. Soft margarine is an option if you want to spread something on the bread; chocolate sprinkles aren’t a necessary part of learning to eat bread.
Does bread always contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says Dutch bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other baked goods through the addition of baker’s salt. Check the label or ask the baker if this is important to your choice.
How should I store an opened pack of rusks?
Keep opened rusks in a tightly sealed pack in a cool, dry place. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping an opened pack in a kitchen cupboard for about a month; also check for changes in smell and texture.