Home » Feeding Style » Baby Food Purees » Stage Two » The Absolute Best Banana Baby Food
by Michele Olivier on April 15, 2021 (updated Sep 3, 2024)
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5 stars (6 ratings)Bananas are a great and versatile first food for babies. They are simple, healthy and can be made into aquick baby food puree, mashed into a chunky puree, used as afinger food, or prepared for baby-led weaning.This guide is perfect for babies 6 months and up!
Bananas for Baby
Looking for some easy recipes to make your baby with a single banana?
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Bananas were one of my kid’s favorite first foods! No matter how I served it to them, they would always aggressively use the sign for ‘more’ ‘more’ ‘ more’, getting frantic the longer I took to get them more! My oldest would love their banana mashed and warmed with a little cinnamon. My youngest loved just grabbing half of the banana and feeding herself. To this day, both of my kid’s still love bananas!
This guide will give you lots of ways to incorporate bananas 🍌 into your baby’s diet. You can serve them as a baby food puree, smashed, finger food for baby-led weaning, made into 3-ingredient pancakes, or even as a simple baby-friendly smoothie. These recipes are great for babies 6+ months old!
Watch How to Make Banana Baby Food Video
Benefits of Banana For Baby
Bananas are a great first food for babies because they are loaded with essential nutrients for a growing baby. They are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium, and they are high in vitamin B6.
- Good Source of Potassium: Potassium is a crucial nutrient for active babies as it acts as an electrolyte that manages hydration levels, helps nutrients reach cells, removes waste from cells, and helps maintain a normal heartbeat. It’s also important for muscle contraction.
- Great for Digestion Health: Banana fiber helps prevent constipation, bloating, and other unwanted digestive issues in babies.
- Boosts Mood: Bananas also contain the amino acid tryptophan and vitamin B6 that may help boost your baby’s happy hormones, and there is nothing better than a happy baby!
First time making homemade baby food?Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depthGuide on how to Make Homemade Baby Foodor if you are doingBaby-Led Weaning, then be sure to check out myComplete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning. Also, be sure to check out my best-sellingcookbookfor even more information and recipes!
How to Introduce Banana to Baby
There are several ways to prepare bananas for your baby. Here are 8 of my favorite ways:
- Smooth Baby Puree (6+ months) – This is an easy, 10-Second Stage One puree recipe for your baby!
- Chunky Baby Puree (6+ months) – a great chunky stage 3 baby puree.
- Baby Cereal with Banana & Cinnamon(6+ months) – Add a little baby cereal and a pinch of cinnamon to the pureed banana for an effortless yet tasty meal.
- Broken into Chunks (6+ months) – When you break the banana up into chunks instead of cutting with a knife, the chunks will not be as slippery, and your baby will have an easier time holding onto them.
- Handheld Banana (6+ months) – This handheld version of a banana is an ideal way for your baby to have a handle for the banana as they eat the other end.
- Banana Strips with Hemp Seeds (9+ months) – You can roll strips of banana in hemp seeds, crushed cheerios, puffs, or breadcrumbs.
- Banana Smoothie (9+ months) – This simple smoothie is perfect for babies that are drinking from a sippy or baby cup.
- Easy Banana Pancakes (6-9+ months) – great recipe for baby-led weaning or for babies in the finger food phase.
More Banana Baby Food Recipes
No-Cook Banana Peach Baby Food Puree
5 stars (1 rating)
When you are short on time and want to give baby something tasty and healthy, this banana peach baby food puree is a life saver. It takes minutes to make with only 2 simple ingredients.
Get the recipe
Peanut Butter Banana Melts for Baby + Toddler
5 stars (22 ratings)
These peanut butter banana melts are a perfect healthy frozen treat for baby. Made with 3 ingredients, they are quick to make and are great for baby-led weaning and can help relive teething pains.
Get the recipe
4.95 stars (17 ratings)
Looking for naturally sweetened muffins for baby-led weaning? Babies, toddlers, and even big kids love these soft and sweet ABC Muffins made with Apple, Banana, and Carrots! Perfect for 6+ months.
Get the recipe
Get the recipe:Banana for Baby: Puree & BLW
5 stars (6 ratings)
Bananas are a great first food for baby and can be made into a baby food puree, smashed, used for finger foods or for baby-led weaning.
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Baby Food
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Ingredients
Smooth Baby Food Puree
- 1-2 bananas
Baby Cereal with Bananas & Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup pre-made baby cereal (from a box or homemade)
- 1/2 banana
- 1 pinch cinnamon
Chunky Baby Food Puree
- 1/2 banana
Chunks of Banana
- 1/2 banana
Handheld Banana
- 1/2 banana
Banana Strips Rolled in Hemp Seeds
- 1/2 banana
- 1 tbsp hemp seeds, crushed cheerios, puffs or breadcrumbs.
Banana Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 4-5 ice cubes
- 1/4 cup liquid (breastmilk, formula or water)
- 1/2 tsp nutbutter (optional)
- 1 pinch cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
Smooth Baby Food Puree
Place the banana into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth and creamy, roughly 60-90 seconds, scraping down sides if needed. If the puree is too thick, add in some liquid (breastmilk, formula or water) in tablespoon increments until you have your desired consistency. If you want to freeze the puree, add a small squeeze of lemon juice into the puree to help keep it from browning.
Baby Cereal with Bananas & Cinnamon
On a cutting board, mash a banana. In a small bowl, add the mashed banana to the made baby cereal. Add a pinch of cinnamon to the top and serve.
Chunky Baby Food Puree
Place the banana on a cutting board and mash with the back of a fork until mixed but yet still chunky. Spoon into a baby bowl and serve.
Chunks of Banana
Peel half of a banana and using your fingernails, break the banana into chunks along the seem of the banana. It should easily break into chunks
Handheld Banana
Cut a 4-5 inch section of banana off from the top. Cut off the peel, leaving roughly 1-2 inches of exposed banana. Do not cut all the way through the banana, just the peel. Then you can remove the peel away and hand the stem of the banana to baby.
Banana Strips Rolled in Hemp Seeds
Cut a banana into strips and roll them in a little bit of topping of your liking.
Banana Smoothie
Place banana, ice cubes and liquid into a blender. Add in cinnamon and nut butter, if using. Blend for 60 seconds and serve. If the smoothie is too thick, add in additional liquid as you don’t want it too thick or baby might have a hard time drinking it.
Easy Banana Pancakes
In a medium bowl mix together mashed banana, an egg, whole wheat flour and cinnamon. In a large non-stick skillet preheated on medium heat, pour 1/8 cup of batter into the skillet. Let cook roughly 3 minutes on the first side, flip and cook for 2 more minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
Age: 6 months and up
Picking Bananas: When selecting a banana for your baby, look for one that is ripe, yellow, soft (but not mushy), and has a few small brown spots on it. Do not serve your baby green or underripe bananas.
Freezing Banana Puree: You can freeze pureed or mashed bananas. The key is to freeze the bananas right away and add a few drops of fresh lemon juice to help prevent them from getting discolored.
Adding Spices: While the most popular option is adding cinnamon to a banana baby puree, you can also add a pinch of cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, fresh mint, fresh basil, freshly grated ginger, or even allspice. If you’re serving baby chunks of banana, you can sprinkle a small pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves on top.
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Medically reviewed and cowritten byJamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
FAQs about Bananas
When can you serve banana to baby?
Whether you are starting your baby on purees or doing baby-led weaning, bananas are an amazing first food for your baby! When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age for purees and at or after 6 months for baby-led weaning. Some of the developmental milestones your baby need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled their birth weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Are bananas a choking hazard for babies?
No. Since bananas are inherently soft, they are not typically included among the foods that are a common choking hazard for babies. However, if the banana is not ripe and ready to eat, the flesh will be harder and pose a higher choking risk for your baby. Therefore, it is best to serve your baby strips of banana or mashed banana. When selecting a banana for your baby, look for one that is ripe, soft (but not mushy), and has a few small brown spots. As with any food, make sure you supervise your baby while they are eating.
Do bananas cause constipation?]
Yes and No! Super clear answer, I know 😉. Unripe green bananas are high in resistant starch, which are resistant to digestion and may cause constipation in babies. But ripe yellow bananas with a few brown spots actually have the opposite effect due to higher sugar content and may even help your baby go to the bathroom. Just remember to serve bananas in moderation to your baby, as too much fiber can plug your baby up.
6-9 Months 9-12 Months Baby Led Weaning Breakfast Dairy Free Egg Free Finger Foods Food Healthy Kids Nut Free Smoothies Stage One Stage Three Stage Two Toddlers Vegan Vegetarian
originally published on April 15, 2021 (updated Sep 3, 2024)
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5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)
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Roxy —Reply
Just wondering… if I forgot to add the lemon juice before freezing… can the discolored banana still be eaten? Or is it trash now?
Michele Olivier —Reply
The lemon helps to keep their color during the freezing process. I would try again!
Em Aracid —Reply
Hello,
Just curious if half of banana is enough for baby to consume for single meal?
Though, I have tried your banana, cinnamon, and sweet potato. My now 7 month-old baby likes it.
Thanks in advance. XO.
Michele Olivier —Reply
At 7 months, a banana is enough for a meal. But you can always add in other purees or finger foods as your baby gets older.
