First foods database
🍞 Bread for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat bread? Yes, from about 6 months. Lightly toasted bread fingers with a spread are a classic first finger food. Bread contains wheat (gluten), and some loaves are fairly salty, so check labels and keep portions modest.
Good source of: Carbohydrate, Fibre, Calcium, Iron
How to serve bread by age
6 to 9 months
Lightly toast a slice and cut into fingers about the width of two adult fingers. Spread thinly with smooth peanut butter, mashed avocado, hummus or soft cheese. Introduce wheat on its own early on.
9 to 12 months
Bite-sized toast pieces, soft sandwiches cut into small squares, and eggy bread.
12 months and up
Sandwiches, toast and bread with soups and meals.
Choking safety
Soft fresh bread can squash into a sticky ball that is hard to clear. Lightly toasting it reduces this. Avoid very crusty or seeded loaves for young babies.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Wheat is an allergen.
- Bread contributes salt: compare labels and choose lower-salt loaves.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains gluten, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce gluten
Easy ideas
- Toast fingers with smooth peanut butter
- Avocado toast fingers
- Eggy bread strips
Goes well with
Recipes with bread
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat bread?
Can babies eat bread? Yes, from about 6 months. Lightly toasted bread fingers with a spread are a classic first finger food. Bread contains wheat (gluten), and some loaves are fairly salty, so check labels and keep portions modest.
Can babies eat bread at 6 months?
Yes. Lightly toasted fingers with a spread are an ideal early finger food.
Is white or wholemeal bread better for babies?
Both are fine. Wholemeal has more fibre, so mixing the two is a good balance.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).