Can Babies Eat French Toast?
Yes, the simple version. French toast is a great finger food from around 8 months, made with no sugar and cut into soft fingers. Cook the egg through, use lower-salt bread, and skip the syrup. It is a tidy way to serve egg, bread and milk all at once.
French toast sounds like a treat, and the drenched-in-syrup version certainly is. But the basic idea, bread dipped in egg and cooked, is a genuinely useful baby food. Cut into fingers, it is soft, easy to hold, and quietly delivers three common allergens in one go. Keep it plain and it earns a place on the weaning menu.
What is French toast?
French toast is bread soaked in beaten egg and milk, then fried until set and golden. It goes by many names around the world, such as eggy bread. For babies, the plain version, with no sugar, no syrup and the crusts trimmed, is exactly what you want.
French toast is a natural next step once your baby is happy with its parts. If they have already had egg and bread on their own, this brings them together, and a little fruit on top does the rest.
French toast nutrition for babies
French toast combines carbs from the bread with protein and fat from the egg and milk.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g (plain) |
|---|---|
| Energy | 196 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 21 g |
| Protein | 7 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
Typical values for plain French toast. Home-made with no added sugar is best for babies. Source: USDA FoodData Central.
When can babies eat French toast?
French toast suits babies from around 8 months, once egg and bread are familiar:
Cook it until the egg is fully set, trim the crusts, and cut it into soft finger-sized strips.
Offer small pieces topped with a little fruit puree or soft fruit instead of syrup.
French toast becomes a full breakfast now, with fruit on top. Keep the sugar and syrup off the plate.
Tip: add a pinch of cinnamon or a mashed banana to the egg mix for flavour without sugar. It smells like a treat and tastes like one, minus anything a baby should not have.
Health benefits of French toast for babies
Protein
The egg and milk give protein, making French toast a more filling and balanced finger food.
Easy to hold
Cut into fingers, it is firm enough to grip but soft enough to chew, great for self-feeding.
Introduces allergens
It brings egg, wheat and milk together, helping keep these common allergens in the diet.
French toast is a lovely base for fruit. Serve the fingers with soft banana slices, or a spoon of berry puree for dipping.
How to serve French toast safely
Do
- Cook the egg through fully.
- Use lower-salt bread and no sugar.
- Trim crusts and cut into fingers.
- Top with fruit instead of syrup.
Avoid
- Sugar, syrup and sweet toppings.
- Undercooked, eggy centres.
- Large pieces or thick crusts for young babies.
- Salty bread or added salt.
Risks and safety
The points to watch with French toast are cooking the egg properly, keeping the sugar out, and remembering it contains egg, wheat and milk. If your baby has already had those foods, this is an easy, safe finger food. Cut it small and soft, and skip the crusts early on.
Cooked egg and no sugar: the NHS advises cooking egg thoroughly for babies and keeping added sugar out of their food, both of which apply to French toast.
Easy French toast recipe (8 months)
Simple French toast fingers for baby
Makes 2 baby portions, from 8 monthsIngredients
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp whole milk
- 1 slice of lower-salt bread
- A little unsalted butter for the pan
Method
- Beat the egg with the milk and dip the bread in to soak both sides.
- Cook in a little unsalted butter over medium heat until the egg is fully set and golden on both sides.
- Cool, cut off the crusts, and slice into finger-sized strips before serving.
French toast FAQ
When can babies eat French toast?
Babies can have French toast from around 8 months, made without sugar and cut into soft fingers. It is a handy finger food that brings together egg, bread and milk, so cook the egg through fully.
Is French toast healthy for babies?
Made simply, yes. Using lower-salt bread, egg and milk, with no sugar or syrup, French toast is a nutritious finger food with protein from the egg. The sugary, syrup-drenched version is one to avoid for babies.
Does French toast contain allergens?
Yes. French toast is made from egg, bread and milk, so it contains egg, wheat and milk, three common allergens. It is a useful way to serve them, but make sure each one has been introduced safely first.
How do you serve French toast to a baby?
Cook it until the egg is fully set, let it cool, cut off any hard crusts and slice it into finger-sized strips. Skip the sugar and syrup, and top it with fruit if you want a little sweetness.
Sources
- French toast, Wikipedia.
- FoodData Central, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Weaning and feeding, National Health Service (UK).
This article is general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. Talk to your doctor, health visitor or paediatrician about your own baby, and about starting solids or any allergy concerns.
