Banana Puree for Baby: How to Make and Tips

As a new mother, you must be eager to introduce solids to your baby as soon as he turns six months of age. There are enough more tasty and nutritious options in food that can be introduced to little ones once a baby is between 4 and 6 months. One such tasty option is banana puree for baby. Banana puree is sweet, and your little one will love its taste. It can be introduced to babies once they turn four months of age. If you want to learn how to make banana puree at home, read on to find out!

How to Select and Buy the Bananas

You must buy fresh and ripe bananas. When going shopping for fruits for your little one, pick the bananas of which the outer peels are smooth and yellow, and without any spots. Green bananas are unripe, whereas bananas whose peels start to have black spots on them are overripe. So you must pick the ones of which the peels are smooth and yellow in colour.

Ingredients Required to Make Banana Puree

• A ripe banana – 1 medium-sized
• Water as required
• Breast milk or formula-based milk

How to Make Banana Puree for Baby

Learning how to puree bananas for a baby is not rocket science; it’s quite simple, actually.

1. Prepare the Banana By Washing, Peeling, and Slicing It

Mix water with some vinegar and wash the banana with it. Washing with vinegar will remove the bacteria. Then, wash in cold water, dry the banana, and peel the skin. Slice the banana into small pieces and discard its ends.

2. Mash the Banana

A smooth and squishy texture of the puree is necessary for babies to consume it easily. Take the banana slices and mash them well in a bowl. Voila! Your homemade banana puree for baby is ready.

3. Add Texture or Flavour to It

Though the puree tastes pretty good on its own, adding another food item to it can enhance the flavour. Fruits like peach, plum, cherries, or even yoghurt are great options to mix the puree with. But you should mix only one fruit or ingredient at a time when making the puree for your baby and mash it well.

Another way to make the banana puree is by using a blender. Using a blender will ensure that the consistency of the banana puree is the same. A slight purplish-brown colour will start appearing in the puree. You may add water to thin the puree further. You can also use formula-based milk or breast milk to mix with the banana puree instead of water.

Things to Keep in Mind

Here’s what you should keep in mind while making the banana puree for your baby.

• Use your judgment for the puree texture. The smoother it is, the easier it is for the baby to consume it.
• Don’t offer an entire bowl of puree to your baby. Let him eat a few spoons of the banana puree first. If he likes it, you can increase the quantity gradually.
• Bananas don’t cause constipation. Hence, it is safe to give puree to your baby up to three times a week.
• Ripe bananas are the best for making puree. Not only do they taste better, but they are free from most allergens, too.

FAQs

1. What are the benefits of a banana for babies?

Banana puree is an excellent stage 1 food item for introducing solid foods for babies. It is sweet, soft, and has a very smooth consistency. Plus, it is low on the allergy scale. Bananas are also rich in potassium, which helps provide ample amounts of energy. Carbohydrates, antioxidants, folate, and vitamins B6 and C in bananas help support iron absorption, build the nervous system, and promote good skin health (1). Ripe bananas contain soluble fibre which helps with easy digestion (2) (3).

2. When can I introduce banana and banana puree to my baby?

Bananas can be introduced to babies when they are ready to eat solids, by around six months of age. You can start giving bananas to your baby in the form of a banana puree at 6 months of age.

3. Can I give a banana shake to my baby, and when?

Yes, you can give a banana milkshake to your little one when they are already comfortable with having solid and semi-solid foods and dairy, which usually happens by 8-10 months of age.

You are going to have a lot of fun with your little one once he starts on solids (or semi-solids). When introducing new baby food, make sure that your baby is not allergic to it. Banana puree is a healthy and yummy option that you can consider for your little one. But before introducing any food item to your baby, be it banana puree or anything else, it is suggested that you speak to your baby’s doctor since he might know of any potential allergy conditions your baby might have.

References/Resources:

1. Bananas; Harvard T.H. Chan; https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/bananas/

2. Zhang. P, et al.; Banana starch: production, physicochemical properties, and digestibility—a review; Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 59, Issue 4; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144861704004023; March 2005

3. Holscher. H. D; Dietary fiber and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota; Gut Microbes; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2017.1290756; February 2017

Also Read:

Apple Puree for Baby
Porridge Recipes for Infants
Carrot Puree Recipe for Baby
Vegetable Puree for Babies