First foods database

🍞 Wholemeal bread for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat wholemeal bread? Yes, from about 6 months. Lightly toasted wholemeal fingers are a classic first finger food and a handy base for spreads like nut butter, hummus or avocado. Bread does contain some salt, so keep portions sensible.

From 6 monthsAllergen: GlutenTake care with shape and texture

Good source of: Fibre, Iron, B vitamins, Magnesium

How to serve wholemeal bread by age

6 to 9 months

Lightly toast a slice and cut into strips about the width of two adult fingers. Spread thinly with smooth peanut butter, mashed avocado, hummus or soft cheese. Toasting firms the bread so it breaks into pieces rather than forming a gummy ball.

9 to 12 months

Offer toast squares with toppings, soft sandwiches cut into small pieces, or eggy bread fingers made with a Lion egg and whole milk.

12 months and up

Serve bread as part of family meals, sandwiches and breakfasts. Compare labels and choose lower-salt loaves where you can.

Choking safety

Very fresh, soft bread can clump into a sticky ball in the mouth. Light toasting helps it break up. Avoid very crusty or seeded loaves with hard seeds for young babies, and spread toppings thinly.

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

Introducing it as an allergen

It contains gluten, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce gluten

Easy ideas

Goes well with

🥜Peanut butterFrom 6 months · Peanut🥑AvocadoFrom 6 months🥚EggFrom 6 months · Egg🥣HummusFrom 6 months · Sesame

Recipes with wholemeal bread

🥑Avocado and egg toast fingersFrom 7 months · Breakfast · 15 min🥑Avocado and tahini toast fingersFrom 6 months · Breakfast · 7 min🍞Cinnamon French toast fingersFrom 7 months · Breakfast · 11 min🍌Peanut butter and banana toast soldiersFrom 6 months · Breakfast · 5 min🐟Salmon and cream cheese toast fingersFrom 7 months · Breakfast · 17 min🐟Sardine and avocado smash on toastFrom 9 months · Breakfast · 7 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat wholemeal bread?

Can babies eat wholemeal bread? Yes, from about 6 months. Lightly toasted wholemeal fingers are a classic first finger food and a handy base for spreads like nut butter, hummus or avocado. Bread does contain some salt, so keep portions sensible.

Can babies eat bread at 6 months?

Yes. Lightly toasted fingers are a good start and a useful way to introduce wheat.

Is wholemeal better than white bread for babies?

Wholemeal has more fibre and some extra nutrients, but white bread is fortified with calcium and iron in the UK, so a mix of both is fine.

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).