First foods database
🍞 Sourdough bread for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat sourdough bread? Yes, from about 6 months, once wheat has been introduced. Sourdough is fine for babies, but its chewy crust and open crumb can be tough, so lightly toasting and cutting into fingers makes it easier to manage.
Good source of: Carbohydrate, B vitamins, Fibre
How to serve sourdough bread by age
6 to 9 months
Lightly toast a slice, remove the hard crust if very thick, and cut into fingers about the width of two adult fingers. Spread thinly with mashed avocado, smooth peanut butter thinned with a little water, or unsalted butter.
9 to 12 months
Offer toast fingers or small squares with spreads such as hummus, mashed egg or soft cheese. Soft-crusted sourdough can be served untoasted torn into small pieces.
12 months and up
Serve as sandwiches, toast soldiers with runny British Lion eggs, or croutons in soup. Compare salt levels on labels, as some artisan loaves are quite salty.
Choking safety
Soft fresh bread can form a gummy ball in the mouth. Lightly toasting helps it break into pieces. Avoid big chunks of dense crust and very hard baked croutons for younger 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
- Contains wheat (gluten).
- Bread contributes salt; offer as part of a varied diet and compare labels.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains gluten, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce gluten
Easy ideas
- Sourdough toast fingers with smashed avocado
- Sourdough soldiers with a runny British Lion egg
- Mini cheese and tomato sourdough toasties
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat sourdough bread?
Can babies eat sourdough bread? Yes, from about 6 months, once wheat has been introduced. Sourdough is fine for babies, but its chewy crust and open crumb can be tough, so lightly toasting and cutting into fingers makes it easier to manage.
Is sourdough better for babies than other bread?
It is a good choice, and some families find it easier to digest, but ordinary wholemeal or white bread is fine too. It still contains gluten.
Should I remove the crust?
Thin crusts are fine once toasted. Very thick, hard crusts can be removed for young babies.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: What to feed young children
- NHS: How to stop a child from choking
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
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).