15 Toast Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

15 Toast Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

Sure, avocado toast may be a trendy breakfast for grown-ups, but toast is actually an ideal finger food for babies and toddlers. Cut into thin strips for baby-led feeding, it is easy for babies to grasp. It’s a cinch for busy parents to make. It can serve as breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner (how many foods can you say that about?), and it’s the perfect vehicle for a variety of healthy and delicious toppings.

All of that is great, but I really love toast for babies because it’s a simple, fuss-free way to introduce potential allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame. Just spread a thin layer on lightly toasted bread, cut into strips and serve. At first, your baby likely won’t ingest an awful lot of the topping (or the toast), but she’ll be exposed to the potential allergen. And pediatricians and allergists now recommend exposing babies to allergens early on, between 4-6 months. If your baby is at high risk of developing allergies (there are food allergies in the family or she has eczema) speak with your pediatrician before offering these foods to your baby.

Here are my favorite toast toppings for babies and toddlers. Some are potential allergens, others are novel ways to introduce new flavors, and the rest are just plain delicious.

1. Peanut butter
2. Almond butter
3. Sunflower butter
4. Tahini (sesame seed paste)
5. Cream cheese topped with finely chopped fruit
6. Unsalted butter (full of healthy fats!)
7. Hummus
8. Mashed banana sprinkled with cinnamon
9. Mashed avocado (naturally) with a squeeze of lemon or lime
10. Ricotta cheese mixed with virtually any fruit or veggie puree (I especially like pea and beet)
11. Pesto
12. Goat cheese
13. Smashed hard-boiled egg mixed with plain Greek yogurt
14. A drizzle of olive oil with lemon or orange zest
15. N0-sugar fruit sauce (check my Reels for instructions!)

Finally, make sure to start with bread that isn’t too hard or chewy. This is one case where sliced sandwich bread is probably your best bet. Look for a variety low in sugar (preferably 2 grams or less per slice, but definitely 3 grams or less) where the first ingredient is a whole grain, likely whole wheat. My favorite is Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Bread. It’s sugar free, and there’s a low-sodium version available. Look for it in the freezer section, not with the other shelf-stable sliced bread.

Tell me what toast toppings I forgot, and happy eating!

Looking for more baby-led weaning ideas and family feeding tips? Sign up for my newsletter! I’ll send two emails a month, including one with a recipe. And, when you sign up, I’ll send you three of my favorite healthy smoothie recipes for the whole family. I look forward to being in touch! And for lots more easy, healthy finger foods for baby, check out my best-selling cookbook Baby-Led Feeding.

Photo by Lauren Volo from Baby-Led Feeding.