For an everyday snack for a baby or toddler, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing fruit, vegetables, a little wholemeal bread or a suitable wholegrain cracker rather than a syrup waffle or digestive biscuit. If you do want to offer a biscuit occasionally, pay attention to the portion you actually serve: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 74 kcal for a 15 g digestive biscuit and 189 kcal for an extra-large 40 g syrup waffle. Also check the allergens on the packaging of the variant you choose.
For a regular snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables or a little wholemeal bread. A biscuit is not an equivalent substitute.
When offering a biscuit now and then, the amount you actually serve matters. The weight and nutritional information per biscuit are more helpful when making your choice than simply going by the name syrup waffle or digestive biscuit.
If your child has a diagnosed allergy, coeliac disease or other medical dietary instructions, the packaging of the exact variant is what matters. The products reviewed list ingredients including wheat or gluten; some syrup waffles also list soya or milk.
First decide whether you need a regular snack or a biscuit for an occasional treat. If you choose a biscuit, consider the amount you serve and the ingredients in that specific variant.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| A regular snack | Consider fruit, vegetables, a little wholemeal bread or a suitable wholegrain cracker, in line with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice for babies and toddlers. | I’m looking for something for a regular snack without making biscuits a daily habit. This would be the first consideration for around 50% of consumers. |
| An occasional biscuit | Compare the amount you actually serve and the kcal per biscuit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 74 kcal for a 15 g digestive biscuit and 189 kcal for an extra-large 40 g syrup waffle. | If I offer a biscuit now and then, I want to be able to decide how much my child gets. Keeping the treat to a set amount would come first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you buy; check for any warnings about traces too. | If my child has a relevant allergy, I want to know what the chosen variant contains before offering it. Checking allergens would be the most important buying requirement for around 20% of consumers. |
A digestive biscuit is still a biscuit. According to Jumbo, the Jumbo variant reviewed contains 72 kcal, 2.9 g of sugars and 0.19 g of salt per 15 g.
Choose something else for a regular snack; use the nutritional information per biscuit when offering one occasionally.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 189 kcal for an extra-large 40 g syrup waffle. So the size of the piece you offer matters.
Check the weight and nutritional value of your syrup waffle, and decide in advance how much you want to give your child.
The syrup waffles and digestive biscuits reviewed have different allergen information. A product name doesn’t tell you which ingredients or warnings appear on the packaging you have.
Check the label of the exact variant every time you buy it. If your child has a medical dietary requirement, follow their healthcare professional’s advice.
VeiligheidNL highlights the risk of choking on food for young children. Even when offering a small treat, you need to supervise your child while they eat.
Make sure your baby or toddler is sitting calmly, stay with them, and offer a suitable size and amount.
A branded syrup waffle for those considering an occasional treat.
Own-brand syrup waffles for which it’s important to check the packaging of the exact variant.
The Krokante Digestive Biscuit reviewed is an alternative for an occasional, measured treat.
Own-brand syrup waffles; the wrapper reviewed is labelled as a 480 g pack.
According to ALDI, the pack of syrup waffles reviewed contains 12 biscuits with a total weight of 378 g.
For an everyday snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables or a little wholemeal bread. Save biscuits for an occasional treat.
No. Compare the portion you actually serve, not just the type of biscuit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 74 kcal for a 15 g digestive biscuit and 189 kcal for an extra-large 40 g syrup waffle; other sizes and variants may differ.
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the variant you choose. The syrup waffles reviewed list ingredients including wheat or gluten and soya, and some also list milk; the Jumbo digestive biscuit reviewed contains wheat and gluten. If your child has a relevant allergy, check for any warnings about traces too.
Make sure your child is sitting calmly and stay with them while they eat. VeiligheidNL recommends supervising children while they eat; also choose an amount and size that are right for your child.
