Just like for adults, bananas are also good for your baby, and there are few ways you can prepare them. Below you will find ways to make bananas for babies 4 months and older.
Bananas are full of healthy nutrients, which are necessary for a growing baby. This is why parents choose bananas as their baby’s first food. That is why we have found 8 fun and easy ways to include bananas into your baby’s diet.
Table of Contents
What are the benefits for the baby from eating bananas?
Bananas are full of nutrients, including vitamin B6, manganese, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. All of these are important for a growing baby.
Loaded with potassium: this nutrient is crucial for active babies because the potassium is acting like an electrolyte, which is important in managing the hydration levels and also makes way for the oxygen to reach their cells.
Improves and helps digestion: the fiber that is found in the bananas can prevent bloating, constipation, and other digestive problems that the baby might have.
Can improve the baby’s mood: there is this amino acid that is found in the bananas which can boost the happy hormones, and who doesn’t want a content baby.
If you wonder when it is the right time to introduce bananas into your baby’s diet, the answer is when the baby is at least 4 months old, and below, you will find few ways how to serve it.
1. The smooth puree
This one is probably the easiest to make, and it will take only a few seconds.
Just take one or two bananas, remove the peel, put them in the blender, and blend them until they are creamy and smooth. If you plan to make more and you want to freeze some, just add a little bit of lemon juice. It will keep the puree from browning.
2. Banana with cinnamon and baby cereal
Simply add a little bit of cinnamon and baby cereal to the banana puree, and it will make it tastier.
All you are going to do is add some baby cereal into the banana puree (like the one we mentioned above) and add a pinch of cinnamon and mix it until it is all combined.
3. The chunky puree
This is one of the best ways to introduce small chunky food to your baby, plus it is you who controls the size of it. It is a good way to get your baby ready for, what we call, finger foods, and the baby can start feed himself.
4. The broken into chunks banana
Take a banana, and instead of cutting it with a knife, use your fingers to break it into chunks. This will make the banana chunks less slippery, and the baby won’t have trouble holding it. Super easy!
5. The handheld banana
What you are going to do is cut around a 10cm section of the top of the banana. Do the cutting around the peel and leave 5cm of the banana exposed. Avoid cutting the banana all the way, just cut the peel. Hand the banana to your baby after you have peeled the peel away.
6. The strips rolled in some hemp seeds
Now, this is a fun way for the baby to discover different tastes and textures. Cut down strips from the banana, and you can roll them in hemp seeds, crushed puffs, crushed cheerios, or even breadcrumbs. On the first try, it will take a little bit of the toppings, and if your baby likes it, you can add more.
7. The banana smoothie
If your baby is drinking from a baby cup or a sippy cup, this will be a perfect smoothie to try. Alongside the banana, you are going to need some ice, a little bit of formula, or breast milk.
Take your blender and put the ice and the banana in it and blend it unlit it becomes liquid. If you want, you can also add a pinch of cinnamon or half a spoon of nut butter and blend it all again. The smoothy should not be too thick, or the baby won’t be able to drink it.
8. Super easy banana pancakes
You are going to need only three ingredients for this recipe, and it is good not just for your baby but also for older kids. You can serve them with a little bit of cream cheese, nut butter, avocado, or plain.
Take a bigger bowl and mix an egg, whole wheat flour, and mashed banana. For more flavor, you can add pumpkin spice or cinnamon. Cook the pancakes as you cook any other pancakes and serve them.
Let’s go into more details about the recipes we mentioned above.
All the ingredients you are going to need for the recipes above are:
For the smooth banana puree, you are going to need 1-2 bananas.
For the banana puree with cinnamon and baby cereal, you are going to need 1/2 banana, ¼ baby cereal, and a little bit of cinnamon.
For the chunky banana puree, you are going to need ½ banana.
For the banana chunks, you are going to need ½ banana.
For the handheld banana, you are going to need ½ banana.
For the banana strips with hemp seeds, you are going to need ½ banana, 1 tablespoon hemp seeds or crushed puffs or crushed cheerios, or breadcrumbs.
For the banana smoothie, you are going to need 1 banana, few ice cubes, ¼ cup of formula, water, or breastmilk. You can also add a little bit of cinnamon and half a spoon of nut butter, both of these are optional.
For the banana pancakes, you are going to need 1 mashed banana, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of whole wheat flour, and 1/8 tsp cinnamon.
Detailed instructions about the recipes:
1. The smooth banana puree
Put the banana into your blender and blend it for a minute or so until it becomes creamy and smooth. Scrape the sides of the blender if it is necessary. If the puree is too thick, you can add formula, breastmilk, or water. Add the liquid little by little until you get the desired consistency.
2. Banana with cinnamon and baby cereal
Mash the banana and put it in a bowl with the premade baby cereal. If you want, you can add cinnamon for more flavor.
3. The chunky puree
On your cutting board, place the banana and mash it with the back of your fork until the consistency is mixed but still chunky.
4. The broken into chunks banana
Take half of the banana and break it into chunks by using your fingers.
5. The handheld banana
Cut about 10cm section of the top of the banana. Do the cutting around the peel and leave 5cm of the banana exposed. Avoid cutting the banana all the way, only cut the peel. Hand the banana to your baby after you have peeled the peel away.
6. The strips rolled in some hemp seeds
Take 1 banana, cut it into strips, and roll the strips into a topping that your baby would like.
7. The banana smoothie
In your blender, put the banana, ice cubes, and the liquid and sled it for a minute or so. If you desire, you can add nut butter or cinnamon. You can always add more liquid if the smoothie is too thick.
8. Super easy banana pancakes
Take a bowl and mix an egg, whole wheat flour, and mashed banana. Preheat the non-stick skillet and pour 1/8 cup of the batter and cook it for 3 minutes on one side and 2 minutes on the other side. They should look golden.
Remember that all these recipes are for 4 months or older babies.
