Who are these criteria for?

Parents of toddlers exploring different textures

First, you’re looking for a texture your child can manage. Before considering the size of the lolly or its premium presentation, check the coating and whether it contains any pieces.

Parents considering an occasional ice cream treat

You want to serve a small amount without making an ice lolly a regular snack. An individually wrapped lolly can help you control the portion, but you should also check the nutritional information for the recipe you choose.

Families mindful of allergens

Check the specific pack you’re buying. Depending on the recipes listed by brands and retailers, ingredients or possible traces may include milk, soya, nuts or certain cereals.

What should you check before buying?

If you’re offering ice cream to a toddler occasionally, start by checking the texture and allergens in the exact recipe. Then compare the nutritional information per portion and the pack size. Don’t assume that a product labelled “mini” or “for children” is suitable for your child’s age.

Criteria What to check Relevant shoppers
Age and texture Check the coating and any inclusions, then consider the textures your child can chew and swallow. Don’t automatically choose a recipe with pieces they may struggle to manage. While my child is still exploring different textures, I want to avoid pieces they can’t manage; around 36 % of shoppers would make this their priority.
Occasional treats Compare the sugars and saturated fatty acids in the portion you’ll actually serve, as well as the figures per 100 g where these help you compare two recipes. If I offer ice cream from time to time, I want to control the portion without making it a regular snack; around 29 % of shoppers would put moderation first.
Allergens Check the ingredients, declared allergens and any precautionary “may contain” warnings on the pack for the flavour you’ve chosen. If my child has an allergy, I need to identify the ingredients in the exact recipe before choosing; around 21 % of shoppers would prioritise this check.
Portions and packaging Check the volume or weight of each lolly and the number of units, rather than relying on the word “mini” alone. When sharing a pack with the family, I look for individual portions in a size that suits me; around 14 % of shoppers would prioritise this.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming an “ice lolly for children” or a “mini” is a suitable snack

    These labels describe the presentation or size, not whether it’s a balanced snack. France’s Assurance Maladie recommends limiting sugar and fatty foods for young children, while Santé publique France includes a snack in the daily eating routine from the age of one.

    Save ice lollies for occasional treats and choose everyday snacks in line with the dietary guidance for your child’s age.

  • Choosing a crunchy recipe without checking the pieces

    A coating or inclusions can affect the texture your child needs to manage. France’s Assurance Maladie warns of a choking risk from whole nuts for young children; this doesn’t mean all ice creams should be judged in the same way.

    Check the recipe and don’t offer pieces your child can’t manage. Stay close while they’re eating.

  • Relying on the label for a different flavour

    Ingredients and possible traces vary from one product to another, even within the same range. A small portion doesn’t remove the need to check allergens.

    Check the details on the pack you’ve bought every time you choose a different recipe. If your child has a known allergy, follow the advice of their healthcare professional.

Brands and ranges to compare

These examples show different formats and recipes to check individually. Being stocked in the children’s ice cream aisle or positioned as a premium product doesn’t prove that a lolly is suitable for a toddler.

Magnum

The range includes chocolate-coated ice cream bars, including Mini Classic, in a 55 ml portion.

  • The individual size tells you the volume of the lolly before you serve it.
  • For Mini Classic, Magnum lists 12 g of sugars and 6 g of saturated fatty acids per portion. The recipe contains milk and may contain nuts: “mini” doesn’t mean it’s suitable for children under 3.

Carrefour

Carrefour’s “children’s ice cream” range includes various formats, such as ice lolly bars and minis.

  • The range makes it easy to spot several types of individual portion.
  • The product’s place on the shelf alone tells you nothing about the ingredients, nutritional information or texture of a specific item.

Auchan

Auchan offers, among other things, an assortment of 12 vanilla and chocolate ice lolly bars.

  • The product details for this assortment list its ingredients and nutritional information, which are useful to check before buying.
  • The example lists hazelnuts and soya. Check the ingredients and texture of each lolly before considering offering one to a toddler.

E.Leclerc / Eco+

The Eco+ product mentioned is a pack of 16 vanilla and chocolate ice lolly bars.

  • The number of units and nutritional information make it possible to compare the pack size and recipe with other ice lolly bars.
  • E.Leclerc lists 24 g of sugars per 100 g for this product, which contains milk and soya. A large pack doesn’t remove the need to check every selection criterion.

Lidl / Bon Gelati

Lidl sells ice cream under the Bon Gelati brand.

  • This range offers another type of pack to consider, depending on the product available in store.
  • For a specific lolly, check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and any useful details about its texture on the packaging.

Aldi / MUCCI

Aldi offers, among other things, MUCCI mini ice lolly bars and bars with a double coating.

  • The pack of mini ice lolly bars listed by Aldi contains 12 units and weighs 429 g, making it easy to distinguish from packs of larger bars.
  • Recipes and textures vary between MUCCI packs. Check the specific product you’ve chosen rather than assuming that the features of one mini lolly apply to the whole range.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can a premium ice lolly replace a toddler’s usual snack?

No. Its premium positioning doesn’t make it equivalent to an everyday snack. France’s Assurance Maladie recommends limiting sugar and fatty foods for children aged 0 to 3; Santé publique France notes that from the age of one, children’s daily routine includes three meals and one snack. Ice cream is better treated as an occasional treat.

Is a mini ice lolly necessarily suitable for a child under 3?

No. “Mini” describes the size, not whether it’s suitable for your child’s age. Magnum lists Mini Classic as 55 ml, with 12 g of sugars and 6 g of saturated fatty acids per portion; you should also check its allergens and texture.

What should you do if the ice cream contains crunchy pieces?

Before offering it to a toddler, check what the pieces are and how large they are, taking into account the textures your child can manage. France’s Assurance Maladie warns of a choking risk from whole nuts for young children. Assess an ice cream with inclusions based on its exact recipe, without assuming that all pieces are the same.

What should you check on the label before choosing a flavour?

Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens, any precautionary “may contain” warnings and the nutritional information on the pack you’ve chosen. France’s DGCCRF says that allergenic ingredients must be identified on the label; don’t assume that another flavour from the same brand has the same ingredients.