Bread

Yes—when consumed as part of a balanced diet. All bread offers plenty of carbohydrates plus some fiber and protein, too. However, nutrition varies widely depending on the type of bread, with some offering more nutrients than others.

Among the most nutritious breads are those made from fermented or sprouted grains. Sprouted grains have begun the germination process, meaning that the seeds have started to sprout from exposure to water and warm temperatures. This process can make the grains easier for the human body to digest and absorb nutrients. And often breads made with fermented and sprouted grains offer more nutrients than breads made with whole grains.

Breads made entirely of whole grain are also an excellent choice for babies as they offer much more fiber, protein, and nutrients than breads made of refined flour. When you want to give baby an extra boost of nutrition, choose breads labeled “100% whole grain” over those labeled “whole wheat” or “whole grain”, which are misleading terms as these breads often contain a mixture of whole grain flour and refined flour, which offers less nutrition than 100% whole grain.

★Tip: When shopping for bread, read the ingredient list closely. Some breads contain common allergens such as dairy, egg, sesame, soy, and tree nuts and many have added sodium and sweeteners. When you can, opt for bread made with fortified or enriched flour with less than 100 milligrams of sodium per serving and no added sugar. Learn more about navigating sodium and sugar in a baby’s diet.

It can be. Bread can be tricky for babies as can soften and stick together, forming a large mass in the mouth that can cling to the tongue and roof of mouth. To minimize the risk, toast bread before serving to young babies and consider adding a thin layer of a smooth spread mashed avocado, fresh ricotta cheese, hummus, labneh, or yogurt to aid swallowing. As always, make sure to create a safe eating environment, to stay within an arm’s reach of a baby during mealtime, and check out our age-appropriate serving suggestions. For more information, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with common choking hazards.

Yes. Bread often contains common allergens like milk, egg, sesame, soy, tree nut, and wheat. Read labels closely and wait to introduce breads until all common allergens on the ingredient list have been safely introduced.

Wheat is one of the most common food allergens in children. Fortunately, two-thirds of children outgrow the allergy by their 12th birthday. Individuals with Oral Allergy Syndrome (also known as pollen food allergy syndrome) may be sensitive to wheat, particularly those who are allergic to grass pollen. Oral Allergy Syndrome typically results in short-lived itching in the mouth. It is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction.

While rare, some individuals have a condition known as wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis, which can result in a severe allergic reaction if the person exercises within a few hours after eating wheat. These patients should avoid eating wheat in the four hours before strenuous activity.

It is important to note that wheat allergy is not the same as celiac disease. While a wheat allergy may be outgrown, celiac disease requires a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet and lifestyle. A gluten “allergy” is typically a misnomer, often in reference to celiac disease.

If your baby has a family history of allergies or you suspect your baby is allergic to wheat, talk to a pediatric health care provider before introducing bread at home. As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity for the first couple of servings and watch closely for any signs of an allergic reaction. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the amount over future servings.

Recommended Guide: Introducing Allergens

In our professional opinion, it’s hard to beat breads made with fermented grains or sprouted grains. These breads offer so much more nutrition than breads made with refined grains that are stripped of the nutrient-rich parts of the seed kernels.

Breads made of sprouted grains (brands like Angelic, Dave’s Killer Bread, Ezekiel Bread by Foods for Life, and Silver Hills) are packed with protein and fiber. They also offer lots of B-vitamins and minerals like iron and selenium. Sometimes sprouted grain breads even contain legumes like lentils, mung beans, or soybeans, which offer an extra nutritional boost. Just be sure to watch out for whole seeds and nuts that may be added.

Bread made from traditional lactic acid fermentation (such as broa, injera, kisra, and sourdough) are also an excellent choice as they contain beneficial bacteria that help babies build a healthy gut. Nutrition varies based on the ingredients and style of baking, yet studies have found that generally fermented breads are easier to digest than breads made with dry yeast, plus their nutrients are more easily absorbed by the human body.

★Tip: Choose breads made of organic wheat when budget and access allow for it—or opt for breads made of alternative grains, such as like amaranth, buckwheat, emmer, Khorasan wheat, quinoa, or spelt. Breads made with conventionally-grown wheat that is heavily sprayed with pesticides can negatively impact human and environmental health.

Bread is considered a grain food and, similar to dairy products, recommendations for grain foods are given in servings per day and will vary by age and a child’s individual needs. One serving of a grain food for a child is generally given in 1-ounce (~28 g) equivalents (but please, don’t measure this out, it is fine to eyeball) and looks like: 1 regular slice of bread, 1 mini bagel or about ¼ of a large bagel, 1 small corn tortilla, ½ cup of cooked grains (like rice, bulgur, barley, or oats) or cooked pasta, or around 1 cup of dry cereal. While all of these foods don’t technically weigh 1 ounce, they are all considered 1 serving of grain foods.

When it comes to amounts recommended by age, remember that the goal here is just to make sure the child doesn’t overly fill up on bread and grains and not have space for other foods, like proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Any child may eat more or less than what’s recommended, depending on their appetite, age, and general needs, and that is totally normal and okay! Remember, as the adult, it’s your job to decide which types of food to offer and when, but it’s up to the child to decide how much they eat.

Grain servings by age:

6 to 12 months old: No set recommendations. Time to explore and gradually learn how to eat grain foods! Opt for whole grains where you can, but don’t sweat it if that’s not always possible.

12 to 23 months: Total of 1.75-3-ounce equivalents daily, which could look like ~2-3 slices of bread OR about ~1-1.5 cups of cooked grains or pasta daily. Over the course of 1 day, this could look like 1 small wheat roti, ¼ cup of cooked bulgur, and ½ cup of cooked oatmeal.

24 to 36 months: Total of 3-5-ounce equivalents daily. This could look like ~3-5 slices of bread OR about ~1.5-2.5 cups of cooked grains or pasta daily. Over the course of 1 day, this could look like 1 small corn tortilla, ½ cup of cooked bulgur, ½ cup of cooked oatmeal, and 1 cup of dry cereal.

Bagels may be introduced as soon as baby is ready for solids, around 6 months of age as long as it is free of honey. While babies are unlikely to consume much of the bagel, the chewy, resistive texture is great for developing baby’s biting and tearing skills along with overall jaw strength. Note that bagels can contain several allergens (wheat, eggs, sesame, dairy) so read labels carefully. Avoid “salt”-variety bagels and opt for spreads that are naturally low in sodium such as labneh cheese, mascarpone, ricotta cheese, or unsalted butter.

You can offer baby flatbreads (the soft kind, not crackers) around 6 months of age, although toasting them can help prevent the bread from gumming up in baby’s mouth. You can also roll up a piece of flatbread into a stick shape, to make it easier for baby to hold. When baby’s pincer grasp develops, closer to 9 months, you can offer bite-size pieces of flatbread. Flatbreads are popular across the globe: arepa, focaccia, frybread, lavash, lefse, pita, and roti, to name just a few. These varieties are made with different ingredients and different methods, which means that they may or may not contain common allergens. Read the labels when purchasing store-bought flatbreads for allergen information, and try to choose brands with lower levels of sodium when serving to baby.

Yes—as long as a child does not have wheat allergy, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or celiac disease. Gluten is simply a type of protein in wheat and other grains such as barley, rye, and some oats. Gluten is edible, but it becomes problematic for individuals with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, characterized by damage of the small intestine when gluten is consumed. Some individuals may be sensitive to gluten but may not have an allergy or celiac disease. In some cases, this may be non-celiac gluten sensitivity. However, gluten-containing grains can also contain certain carbohydrates that are difficult for some individuals to digest.

Talk to a health care provider if you are concerned about issues related to gluten and digestion.