If you ask any Mom which fruit was her baby's first, she's very likely to say 'Bananas'! This humble fruit is very common in India and nearly every household buys bananas on a weekly basis. But we tend to underestimate the health benefits of a banana, opting for exotic fruit like kiwi or peaches!
Also, when feeding babies, we need not restrict ourselves to plain banana puree or just cut banana pieces. There are many different recipes you can make for your baby, many of which are perfect for your older kids as well!
Nutritional Benefits of Bananas for Babies
- Rich in potassium, good for heart health
- Low in cholesterol
- Rich in Vitamins B2, B6, C
- Low in saturated fat
Why is banana such a common ingredient in baby food?
Bananas are naturally sweet, and this helps Moms make dishes without any sugar which is not recommended for babies under one. Bananas are soft when ripe, making them easy to mix with other ingredients and for babies to smash and eat by themselves. They are also among the least allergenic foods and are easy for babies to digest.
When choosing bananas for baby recipes, go for ones that are quite ripe, as they are easier to cook and sweeter to taste. Choose bananas that are generally eaten as is, except for the Raw Kerala Banana Porridge, which requires unripe plantains. The recipes below are suitable for most babies in the 6-8 months group onward, unless otherwise mentioned. In all the recipes, avoid milk, honey, salt or sugar wherever applicable, with baby-friendly substitutes.
Because of its mushy consistency, porridge regularly features among weaning babies' first foods. This banana coconut oats porridge isn't just any bland porridge, it's full of flavor and nutrition, but completely baby-friendly as well!
Baby cereals can actually come in very handy in several recipes, like this baby cereal pancake recipe from Wholesome Baby Food. Use any cereal of your choice along with the remaining ingredients for some really fluffy, soft pancakes.
One Handed Cooks has a very easy yet impressive recipe for baby banana toast. It's very simple to make, but it looks like baby's going to enjoy eating it for breakfast! Use breast milk or formula, or even almond milk if your baby's okay with it.
Just because he doesn't have teeth, your baby needn't be restricted to eating mush all day! These textured banana flapjacks from My Fussy Eater are perfect for babies advancing their way through weaning. Make your own apple juice to make the recipe completely safe.
Ripe bananas join hands with a fruit of your choice in these fruity egg muffins from Feeding Finn that are perfect for baby led weaning. You can use raspberries, blueberries or any other fruit that you know your baby has eaten and tolerated before.
These fingers from Thrifty Fun look like they need a lot of time to prepare, but they are in fact, no bake! Yes, with just three ingredients and two steps, these fingers will be ready for baby's chubby little fingers to tear apart and gobble up!
We've already featured baby cereal pancakes which use an assortment of things, but if you're short on time and ingredients, these two ingredient pancakes from My Fussy Eater will please your baby perfectly!
Claire's Little Tots has the perfect breakfast recipe for banana loving older babies, who can handle a bit of texture. While there are just three main ingredients, we'd recommend adding a tablespoon of Dry Fruits Powder for added taste and nutrition.
It's hard to believe that these banana biscotti rusks from The Road to Loving My Thermo Mixer are made only from bananas, flour and water! Yes, that's it and you can feed them to your 6-8 month old without any worry!
This powder is a traditional food for babies especially in South India, but you can make it at home too! The process involves slicing, drying, grinding and sieving and can be cumbersome, so if you can't manage it by yourself, you can always opt to buy some homemade raw Kerala banana powder.
These bread sticks from Wholesome Baby Food are a welcome change from cookies for a teething baby, who'll enjoy crumbling it with his gums! You can skip the brown sugar completely if you like, or substitute a little jaggery instead.
Nothing gives a teething baby comfort like something cold, hard and sweet! And when you add fruit to it, you can make them healthy too, like these strawberry banana teething pops from Boys Ahoy. Use water or apple juice to make them baby-friendly.
Banana and pear come together in these yummy teething biscuits from Kenji and Jen. A blender makes the job very easy, and you can even store them for a week - perfect for the busy Mom!
Breast milk ice cream? Now that's probably something new! However, as featured in Fit Mommy Diaries, with just an ounce of breast milk and bananas, you can make a healthy ice cream that you can feed your baby - guilt-free!
Want some yummy Indian dessert for your baby? Try this Banana Sheera from Bumps n Baby. We'd recommend skipping the sugar and adding this Dry Fruits Powder to make it suitable for weaning babies.
If your baby has just started weaning and has already tasted brown rice cereal, she's sure to love this one too! This banana brown rice from Steele House Kitchen has a tiny bit more texture than plain porridge and is the perfect stepping stone from purees!
Many Moms give their babies potato and sweet potato purees; once your baby is used to the taste, try out these banana sweet potato puffs from La Bellavia that are so yummy, you'll be tempted to munch on them!
This summer, your baby would appreciate a nice refreshing drink, so make her this lovely banana smoothie from GK Food Diary. With just three ingredients, making this is a breeze! Suitable for babies over 8 months.
You don't need to leave baby out when the whole family's having dosa; just add bananas to the dosa batter and you'll have yummy banana dosas as shown in GK Food Diary! Make homemade dates syrup as topping for the dosas.
This looks like a delicious little dessert that your little one will keep asking for! We know blueberries aren't that common in India, but if you do get your hands on some, do make this dish from Green Lite Bites for your baby!
Homemade Cerelac or Sathumaavu is an extremely popular food among Indian Moms and it can be used in various recipes besides being made into porridge. GK Food Diary has a unique recipe for a Sathumaavu Paniyaram that uses banana and coconut. You can skip the jaggery if you like since the bananas will be naturally sweet.
Got an infant who'd like to crunch and munch on something? Make him these fun biscuits from Boys Ahoy. Use 100% organic rice cereal to get a more wholesome taste and to ensure that he's eating truly healthy!
If your baby has been able to tolerate orange juice, then these three-ingredient bites from My Fussy Eater will be a breeze to make! All you need to do is mix everything, shape into cookies and bake for 10 minutes - how easy is that?
Here's another recipe to try if you get your hands on some blueberries! Banana blueberry fritters from Feeding Finn are pretty similar to pancakes, but they're smaller and fried till brown, so your baby has a nice snack to munch on!
This is a deliciously sweet recipe that is yummy enough to qualify for dessert! This recipe from Easy Baby Meals shows us how natural ingredients can avoid giving your baby a sweet tooth for chocolates and candy later in life. Add a baby cereal of your choice to make thicker and more of a baby meal, if you like.
In most of these recipes, you can easily substitute a little flour with our Multigrain Health Mix Powder. You can also add some extra taste and nutrients with a tablespoon of our Dry Fruits Powder. You know your baby best, so you can customize each recipe according to your little one's preferences!
If your baby is weaning, you may also like to check out these posts:- 50 Foods for Babies without Teeth
- 106 Baby Finger Food Recipes
- 15 Instant Porridge Recipes for Babies
- 10 Nutritious Fruit Puree Recipes for Babies
