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Home › Articles › Infants and Toddlers › Goin' Bananas

Goin' Bananas

Satisfying Baby's Sweet Tooth

By Donna Smith

Pages:  1  2  

Many babies can be hesitant to try any new foods, but bananas may be one of the easiest because of their sweetness and texture. "The sweet taste of a banana is something that is easily accepted by a baby, as babies are born with a natural affinity for sweet foods," O'Shea says. "To encourage a baby to taste the banana if there seems to be a hesitance, you can also try mashing it with either breast milk or formula in order to incorporate a taste the baby is already familiar with."

Don't Monkey Around
For first eaters, select very ripe bananas and mash them into a very soft consistency. Even though bananas are soft and many parents don't consider them to be a choking hazard, they are. "Bananas can also be somewhat 'paste-like' in consistency, which can contribute to [the] choking hazard," O'Shea says. "Therefore, it may also be helpful to stir in some breast milk or baby formula (whichever the baby is used to) in order to make the consistency more easily tolerated. It is important to remember that for the first several months of life a baby has only had a 'liquid' diet, and this shift in mouth and swallowing function can also take some development."

As Baby grows, bananas are a wonderful "finger food," but O'Shea reminds parents that banana slices should not be given whole. "For a toddler, it is important to make sure that bananas are not cut simply in slices [circles] but that they are then cut in half and even in half again so that they are not likely to get lodged in the esophagus, as they are swallowed if not chewed properly," she says.

Easy First Foods Recipes

Here are some easy banana recipes to try on your baby and toddler!

Oatmeal and Bananas
Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup instant oats
  • 1/2 cup water, formula or breast milk
  • 1/4 cup mashed banana

Directions:
Combine the oats and 1/2 cup water, formula or breast milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the mashed banana. Pour into a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth, adding water, formula or breast milk until desired consistency is reached.

For older babies, serve without blending in food processor or blender. Stir in diced fruit, such as apples, peaches or more banana.

Banana and Apple Mash
Ingredients:
  • 1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into slices
  • 1 banana

Directions:
Put the apple into a saucepan with a little water. Simmer until apple is tender, about 10 minutes. Remove and drain. Allow to cool slightly, then mash with a fork. Mash the banana and stir into the apples. (For younger babies, puree to a silkier consistency in a blender.)

Variation: For toddlers, spoon into a small serving bowl and top with crushed-up cereal for a healthy "sundae."

Strawberry-Banana Wrap
Ingredients:
  • 1 flour tortilla
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons strawberry jelly
  • 1 banana, peeled

Directions:
Toddlers will love helping you make this treat! To start, spread the peanut butter over the flour tortilla. Next, spread the strawberry jelly over the peanut butter. Place the banana on one side of the tortilla, fold the ends under and then roll up. If desired, you can secure the ends with toothpicks. (Be sure to remove the toothpicks before serving!)


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