Don’t automatically start with wholemeal bread when your baby tries bread for the first time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends starting from 6 months with brown or wheat bread without seeds or kernels; if that goes well, you can gradually switch to wholemeal bread. Consider the texture your baby can manage, and check the label for ingredients and allergens.
If your baby is still getting used to bread and coarser textures, choosing a manageable first bread is the priority. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends starting from 6 months with brown or wheat bread without seeds or kernels, followed by a gradual switch to wholemeal.
If you want to eat wholemeal bread at home, you can assess separately whether your baby is ready for bread and coarser foods. Then compare the type of bread and its ingredients, rather than simply choosing the one with the highest fibre content.
If your baby has a known food allergy or their childcare setting has specific requirements, the current packaging matters more than the name of the bread. Product information from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS shows that allergens present, or that may be present, vary between breads.
For baby-led weaning, first decide whether you’re choosing a first bread or taking a gradual step towards wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends starting with brown or wheat bread without seeds or kernels. For the next bread, consider its texture and check the current label too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Eating skills and texture | For a first bread, choose one without seeds or kernels. Consider whether the crust and firmness are suitable for what your baby can already eat. | If bread is still new, I want to start with a texture my baby can manage. For around 42% of consumers, this first step with bread takes priority. |
| A gradual switch to wholemeal | Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre content per 100 g across bread products. | Once bread is going well, I want to know whether my next choice is genuinely wholemeal without rushing the transition. Around 33% of consumers prioritise making this switch gradually. |
| Allergens and labelling | Read the ingredients and check the separate ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. If the bread is for childcare or school, ask about their policy. | If my child has a known allergy or their childcare setting has rules, I need to be able to assess which bread I send with them. Checking the label comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
The colour doesn’t tell you whether the bread is made from the whole grain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread can also contain a combination of wholemeal flour and white flour.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ before comparing the nutritional information and ingredients of different breads.
A higher fibre content doesn’t tell you whether a bread is suitable for a baby who is still learning to eat bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends starting with brown or wheat bread without seeds or kernels, then gradually switching to wholemeal.
Choose a first bread that suits what your baby can already eat. Save comparisons of extra-high-fibre varieties for a later stage.
Breads with similar names can contain different allergens, or different allergens that may be present. Product information and recipes can also change.
Check the current packaging when you buy, including the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements.
A useful reference for comparing the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens of individually packaged breads.
A useful reference if you want to look at the details of a fine wholemeal bread.
A useful reference for families looking at a bread made with more finely milled wholemeal flour.
A useful reference for families comparing an extra-high-fibre wholemeal option with a standard wholemeal variety.
A useful reference for comparing the ingredients and allergens in a wholemeal baguette.
These bread products are most useful to compare once your family is looking beyond those first tastes of bread. The product names alone don’t confirm that the texture or allergens are suitable for your baby; assess each bread and its current packaging separately.
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An option to consider once your baby is used to eating bread. Before serving it, check that the texture is manageable and supervise your baby while they eat.
Check the current packaging for ingredients, any seeds or kernels, and allergen information.
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Only compare this rye bread roll once your baby is comfortable with bread and different textures. The product name alone doesn’t make it an obvious first choice for a baby.
The 500 g pack sets this variety apart. Check the current ingredients, allergens and whether it contains any seeds or kernels.
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This pack of two loaves is an option for a family that is already used to eating bread. Remember to bake and cool the bread, and check that the crust is suitable for your baby’s eating skills.
Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
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This 550 g loaf is a separate option for a family that is already used to eating bread. Remember to bake and cool it, and check the crust before offering it to your baby.
Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens. Compare fibre and salt only once you know whether the values are per 100 g or per portion.
If bread is still new, it’s best to start with brown or wheat bread without seeds or kernels. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this from 6 months. If it goes well, you can gradually switch to wholemeal bread.
Choose a crust that suits what your baby can already eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests crustless bread as an option while your baby gets used to solid foods, and bread with the crust later on as practice for chewing. Stay with your baby while they eat.
For a first bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing one without seeds or kernels. Check the ingredients of the bread you buy, even if the product name says ‘fine’ or ‘wholemeal’.
A wholemeal label doesn’t mean that bread is gluten-free. Wholemeal wheat bread contains gluten. Check the ingredients and allergen statement for each specific product, especially if your child has coeliac disease or a diagnosed allergy.
Read the current allergen information on the packaging and ask the childcare setting or school about its policy. Also look out for ‘may contain’ statements, as these can vary between breads.
