Who is this relevant to?

Parents of a baby just starting to eat bread

Your baby is getting used to lumpier foods and you’re looking for a soft finger without a hard crust. The Voedingscentrum recommends brown or wheat bread without seeds as a starting point from 6 months.

Parents who want to cut a finger themselves

You want to choose the shape of the finger yourself rather than relying on a standard pre-sliced loaf. Check whether you can cut the bread as you like, and whether the crust and crumb are suitable for your baby’s stage of eating.

Parents weighing up bread types and allergens

You’re comparing brown and wholemeal tiger bread, but also want to know which grains and potential allergens are in the variety you choose. Check the current label, and if you’re taking bread to your childcare setting, check their allergy policies too.

What should you look for in tiger bread?

Start with your baby’s stage of eating. Then choose the type of bread, and only then check whether its shape will let you cut the finger you want.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Stage of eating and crust Feel how firm the crust and crumb are. When first introducing bread, check whether it can be served without the crust or any seeds. If my baby has only just started eating lumpier foods, I want to be able to adapt the finger rather than judge it by its thickness; this is the main consideration for around 50% of consumers.
Type of bread and label For each variety, compare the type of bread, ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt per 100 g on the current label. When choosing between brown and wholemeal, I want to know exactly what’s in the bread; around 30% of consumers prioritise this comparison of ingredients and nutritional values.
Cutting it yourself Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and whether you can cut a finger of the shape you want. I want to be able to shape the finger myself so my baby can hold it; this practical choice is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

A product name such as ‘whole’ doesn’t tell you whether the bread is unsliced: ALDI describes its Boeren tijger volkoren Heel as pre-sliced. The type of bread alone also tells you nothing about how firm the crust is. If you have allergies, always check the information for the variety you choose, including any warnings about cross-contamination.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a thick slice means a suitable crust

    The thickness doesn’t tell you how firm the tiger crust is. The Voedingscentrum recommends bread with the crust from 7 months as a way to practise chewing.

    Assess the crust and crumb separately. If your baby is still having bread without the crust, remove it before making a finger.

  • Thinking ‘whole’ means unsliced

    ALDI describes its Boeren tijger volkoren Heel as pre-sliced. So the product name doesn’t confirm that you can choose the thickness of the slice yourself.

    Check the packaging or ask at the bakery counter whether an unsliced loaf or a different cut is available.

  • Choosing wholemeal without considering your baby’s eating experience

    The general preference for wholemeal and brown bread doesn’t mean every baby just starting to eat bread should immediately have wholemeal tiger bread with the crust.

    The Voedingscentrum recommends brown or wheat bread without seeds as a starting point from 6 months. Choose a type and texture that suit what your baby already eats.

  • Looking only at the type of bread

    Tiger bread varieties can contain different gluten-containing grains and other allergens. Salt levels also vary by product; the Voedingscentrum points out that young children can’t have much salt.

    Check the current label every time you buy, even for a familiar variety. According to the Voedingscentrum, you don’t need to add a topping during the first stage of trying foods; in any case, avoid salty toppings.

Brands with relevant tiger breads

These brands offer different types of tiger bread. Compare the information for the exact variety you choose; neither the type of bread nor the product name confirms a suitable slice thickness or crust.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers brown and wholemeal tiger breads under its own brand.

  • According to Albert Heijn, AH Extra Lang Lekker Tijger Bruin Heel contains 33% wholemeal wheat flour, 5.2 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g; iodised salt is listed among the ingredients.
  • Check the label on the loaf you buy: Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information may change. Assess the slice and crust separately.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers farmhouse tiger bread in brown, white and wholemeal varieties, including whole and half loaves.

  • Jumbo lists 5.3 g of fibre and 1.05 g of salt per 100 g for Boeren Tijger Bruin; Boeren Tijger Volkoren contains 7.5 g of fibre and 0.95 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The wholemeal variety contains wheat, rye and barley. Jumbo also warns of possible cross-contamination, so check the allergen information on the packaging you choose.

PLUS

PLUS offers products including Korenlanders Boeren Tijger Volkoren 1/2, a part-baked loaf that needs to be finished in the oven at home.

  • This loaf offers a wholemeal option if you want to finish baking it at home.
  • Reassess the crust after baking. PLUS lists wheat and barley and warns that this variety may contain other allergens.

ALDI

ALDI offers white, brown and wholemeal farmhouse tiger breads.

  • ALDI describes Boeren tijger volkoren Heel as pre-sliced.
  • Don’t rely on ‘heel’ if you want to choose the slice thickness yourself; check the cut and label of the variety you choose.

Dirk

Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker Boeren Tijger Wit Heel and lists tiger brown bread in its bread category.

  • The white variety is easy to identify as a separate product when you’re comparing types of bread.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and cut when you buy it; ‘heel’ doesn’t confirm that you can slice the bread yourself.

Lidl

Lidl offers a tiger roll and provides an ingredients and allergen guide for fresh oven-baked bread.

  • The guide gives you a place to check the information for fresh oven-baked bread.
  • A tiger roll isn’t the same as a loaf you can cut a wide slice from; check which product and ingredients you have.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I give my baby a thick finger of tiger bread for baby-led weaning?

That depends on your baby’s stage of eating and the texture of the bread, not just its thickness. From 6 months, the Voedingscentrum recommends brown or wheat bread without seeds as a starting point; consider whether you need to remove the crust before making a finger.

When can the crust be left on the finger?

The Voedingscentrum recommends bread with the crust from 7 months as a way to practise chewing. Also check the crust on the specific tiger bread: age alone doesn’t tell you how firm it is.

Is wholemeal tiger bread the best choice to start with?

Not for every baby just starting to eat bread. Although the Voedingscentrum’s general bread advice favours wholemeal and brown bread over white bread, it recommends brown or wheat bread without seeds as a starting point from 6 months. Also consider the texture and what your baby already eats.

How do I check for gluten and other allergens?

Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging for the variety you choose. The tiger breads described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain wheat or other gluten-containing grains; some varieties also list other potential allergens. If you’re taking bread to your childcare setting, check their allergy policies.

Does your baby’s first finger of bread need a topping?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, a topping isn’t needed during the first stage of trying foods. Also bear the salt in the bread in mind and avoid salty toppings: the Voedingscentrum points out that young children can’t have much salt.