Don’t choose a family hot chocolate powder to start weaning your baby. According to Manger Bouger, from birth to 4 months, babies should be fed exclusively on breast milk or infant formula; weaning then begins gradually between 4 and 6 months. If you’re asking about an older child and considering a chocolate drink, first check whether it has a place in their diet, then look at the ingredients, sugars, allergens and how much you prepare.
You want to know whether chocolate powder has a place among your baby’s first foods. According to Manger Bouger, from birth to 4 months, babies should be fed exclusively on breast milk or infant formula; weaning then begins gradually between 4 and 6 months.
You’re considering a family drink rather than a first weaning food. If it has a place in your child’s diet, the exact recipe, sugars, allergens and amount used matter more when comparing products than the logo on the front of the pack.
First, check whether the product is suitable for your child’s age and stage of feeding. Only then compare recipes and pack sizes, if you’re considering a family drink.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Age and weaning | Check your child’s age and what the product is intended for. According to Manger Bouger, before 4 months, babies should be fed only breast milk or infant formula; family chocolate powder is not a substitute for either. | Before considering chocolate powder for my baby, I want to know whether it’s suitable for their age and diet. Around 42% of consumers would put this suitability first. |
| Sugars, ingredients and allergens | If you’re considering a product for an older child, compare the sugar content on the same basis, such as per 100 g of powder, then check how much you actually use. Also read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. | For an older child, I want to understand what’s in the powder and the prepared drink. Sugars, ingredients and allergens would be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Convenience for the family | Consider the pack size and packaging only after distinguishing a family drink powder from a product intended for infants. | In a household that already makes chocolate drinks, I want convenient packaging without confusing this with weaning. Convenience would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
These products are intended for different uses. Manger Bouger says that, from birth to 4 months, babies should be fed exclusively on breast milk or infant formula.
For a baby under 4 months, don’t choose hot chocolate as a substitute for or addition to their usual feed.
France’s Ministry of the Economy explains that displaying the Nutri-Score is optional in France. Whether or not it appears on the pack, this logo doesn’t tell you whether a chocolate powder is suitable for a child’s stage of feeding.
When comparing products for an older child, check the nutrition declaration, ingredients list and allergen information for each product.
These claims distinguish between recipes, but don’t mean a product is suitable as a first weaning food. Unsweetened cocoa and sweetened chocolate powder have different ingredients and should be considered separately.
First decide whether this type of drink is being considered for the child in question; then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the products you’re looking at.
These brands offer examples of different family drink powders and cocoa powders. Their inclusion here does not mean they’re suitable for use during weaning.
Carrefour France lists Nesquik chocolate powders in several pack sizes, including one product labelled “less sugar”.
Auchan France’s range includes Poulain chocolate powders, including varieties labelled “less sugar”.
Banania’s Original recipe is a chocolate powder that contains sugar, cocoa and cereals, among other ingredients.
Carrefour France lists Carrefour Classic' chocolate powder in a range that includes several types of chocolate powder and cocoa.
Auchan France’s range includes unsweetened 100% cocoa as well as chocolate powders.
No, not as a drink to replace or supplement their usual feed. According to Manger Bouger, from birth to 4 months, babies should be fed exclusively on breast milk or infant formula.
Family chocolate powder shouldn’t be chosen as a first weaning food. Manger Bouger says weaning starts between 4 and 6 months, with foods introduced gradually. If you’re considering a chocolate drink for your child, ask the healthcare professional who advises you about their diet.
No. According to France’s Ministry of the Economy, displaying it is optional; separate rules apply to the nutrition declaration on relevant pre-packed foods. To compare two powders, read their nutritional information and ingredients lists, even if one displays a Nutri-Score.
Check the allergen information on the powder you choose, as well as on the product used to prepare the drink. For example, Banania says its recipe may contain traces of milk and soya; don’t assume the same applies to other products.