Learn the easiest ways to serve bananas for babies from the time they start solids to when they’re into toddlerhood. Get tips on banana puree, baby-led weaning bananas, which bananas cause constipation (and don’t!), and banana recipes to try.

bananas cut up for baby on pink cutting board

Bananas for Baby

Banana is one of those classic easy baby foods since the flavor is mellow and mild and they are so easy to prepare. There are common questions when offering them. though, so I hope to help clear up any confusion.

This post is meant to offer ideas whether you do purees or baby-led weaning, have a baby just starting solids, an older baby, or even a toddler.

Bananas are rich in potassium, Vitamin B6, fiber, Vitamin C, among other nutrients. They range in flavor and sweetness—but they are a carbohydrate that’s classified as a “resistant starch” so they cause less glucose to be released into the bloodstream. Which basically means they don’t cause quick spikes in blood sugar since they are digested slowly.

(I mention that since many are wary of bananas due to their sugar content, but we actually don’t need to worry about the natural sugars in fruits—especially not when they’re naturally paired with fiber which helps slow the rate of digestion.)

Bananas should be stored at room temperature and are best eaten when ripe. Sometime it can be hard to know when a banana is ripe, but I look for yellow fruit with just some brown dots. You or your kids may prefer riper or less ripe bananas but it’s important to know that unripe green bananas can be constipating for kids.

Bananas with more brown spots have more natural sugars and flavor, which makes them a more flavorful option to offer. We love banana as a delicious first food for baby.

You usually want to use very brown bananas for baked goods that call for bananas.

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How to Prepare Bananas for Baby

There are a handful of ways to offer fresh bananas to baby depending on baby’s age and your comfort level with the style of feeding you’re doing. You can serve bananas to baby in the following ways:

  • Banana puree
  • Big piece of banana as a baby-led weaning food
  • Broken or cut into small pieces as a finger food
  • Mashed and stirred into oatmeal, baby cereal, yogurt, or another puree
  • Baked into muffins, banana pancakes, or another baked good
  • Blended into a smoothie

TIP: You may also like Apples for Baby and this guide to yogurt and babies.

banana-puree-in-white-bowl

Banana Puree

Classic banana puree is made by pureeing ripe banana in a blender until very smooth. This is an easy and delicious baby food option for babies in the Stage 1 baby food phase, or typically around age 6 months. You can progressively puree it less smooth or move to mashing with a fork so baby can adjust to a thicker texture.

You can mix with formula or breastmilk, if you like, and add a dash of spice such as cinnamon or nutmeg.

Banana Puree Baby Food
Use a ripe banana with at least some brown spots for the best flavor in this puree.
Banana Puree Baby Food
banana puree baby food
banana peanut butter puree in bowl

What to Mix with Banana Baby Food

You can use banana puree or mashed banana to make a wide range of baby food combinations. Some of my favorite purees and foods to mix banana with are:

Banana in different forms on red plate for blw banana.

Banana for Baby-Led Weaning

Banana can be a really easy baby-led weaning food.

You can cut a banana in half, then remove about 1 inch of the peel so baby has plenty of the fruit to try without being slippery since they can hold the peel. You can also help hold it for them as needed.

Easy BLW Banana
Learn how to serve BLW banana so it’s easy and safe for your baby to hold and feed themself baby-led weaning style. There are three easy options here so you can pick the one that works best.
Easy BLW Banana
Banana in different forms on red plate for blw banana
mashed banana in white bowl

Bananas for 6-Month-Old

For a 6- to 9-month-old baby, you can offer banana as puree, mashed smooth (or mostly smooth) with a fork, or baby-led weaning style as a large piece.

You can do one option or try more than one. There’s no one right way to start solids.

pieces of banana for baby on cutting board

Bananas for 9-Month-Old

At 9 months old, babies can typically eat soft finger foods including bananas. You can dice them up, or try slicing, then pushing a little to break into their natural segments. This is usually less slippery for baby to pick up with their fingers.

bananas-sliced-with-peel-on-for-toddlers

Bananas for 12+ Months

Over about a year of age, or when baby can take bites and manage larger pieces of food, you can serve bananas almost any way. We love to slice them with the peel on, then cut a little slit in the peel and let the kids peel them on their own.

That small amount of engagement with the food can really help a child become interested in it. Give them a place to put the peels, like a little bowl, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much banana can a baby eat?

A baby’s appetite should be trusted, so baby can have as much banana as you have to offer and they are interested in unless there is an adverse effect. Start with offering a smaller portion to avoid food waste and allow more as baby cues.

Can babies have banana at night?

Bananas contain a type of carbohydrate that is a slow releasing starch. This means that the natural sugars are digested more slowly so it’s less likely to cause a sugar spike. It is an easy and affordable bedtime snack.

Do bananas cause constipation?

Unripe bananas can aggravate constipation. It is less of a concern with very ripe bananas, which are rich in soluble fiber. (Pair it with liquids or healthy fats to help it move through the system if you are at all concerned.)

Banana Recipes to Try

Banana Puree Baby Food
Use a ripe banana with at least some brown spots for the best flavor in this puree.
Banana Puree Baby Food
banana puree baby food
Best Banana Yogurt
This recipe make enough for 2-4 servings of yogurt, depending on the appetite of your child. See the Notes at the bottom for storage tips if you have leftovers. You can also cut the recipe in half to make a smaller amount.
Best Banana Yogurt
banana-yogurt-with-slices
Best 2-Ingredient Baby Pancakes
Blend up a fruit or veggie with an egg for the fluffiest, easiest, healthy baby pancakes. These use just 2 ingredients, have four flavor options, and are a perfect texture for both babies and toddlers. See the NOTES at the bottom for the flavor variations.
Best 2-Ingredient Baby Pancakes
2-ingredient-pancakes-4-flavors
Favorite Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
Very ripe (with brown spots) bananas will give these Banana Oatmeal Pancakes the best flavor. Dice them up or serve whole, according to how the kids prefer to eat them.
Favorite Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
Oatmeal banana pancakes on plate with banana slices.
Best Banana Spinach Pancakes
This is a thin batter that makes tender, naturally sweet Banana Spinach Pancakes. Be sure to let the pancakes cook until the surface is almost entirely firm before you flip them over.
Best Banana Spinach Pancakes
spinach-banana-pancakes-on-white-plate
Quick Caramelized Bananas
You can easily double this recipe to feed more!
Quick Caramelized Bananas
caramelized bananas
Sugar-Free Banana Muffins
Be sure to use very ripe bananas (with lots of brown spots!) for the best flavor and natural sweetness. (I updated this recipe December 2020 to ensure the most reliable results. The original version of this recipe is the “Egg-free” option in the Notes if you loved that. In the main recipe, I reduced the oil, added an egg, increased the baking soda a smidge, and reduced the baking time. They’re great!)
Sugar-Free Banana Muffins
sugar-free-banana-muffins-on-pink-towel
Simple Green Smoothie
Frozen bananas give the smoothie a creamy, naturally sweet base, though you can make this with a fresh banana as long as the other fruit is frozen. It’s easy to add whatever berries or fruit you have on hand, so customize it for your kiddo. 
Simple Green Smoothie
green-smoothie-in-glass
Healthy Banana Cookies (to Share with the Kids)
These are an easy whole grain cookie to share with the kids—they're a great baby cookie! Try them for snack, dessert, or as a breakfast cookie
Healthy Banana Cookies (to Share with the Kids)
banana cookies on wire rack
Banana Bread Oatmeal (to Share with the Kids)
When you use a really ripe (or over ripe) banana in this recipe, it tastes so much like banana bread—but is much faster! See the options for which toppings make this even more delish.
Banana Bread Oatmeal (to Share with the Kids)
banana-oatmeal-in-three-bowls

Best Tips for Success

  • Follow baby’s lead when it comes to appetite.
  • Avoid underripe bananas if concerned about constipation.
  • Try Banana Puree, mashed bananas, or BLW-style bigger pieces of bananas for babies around age 6 months.
  • Once a baby is about 9 months and can pick up small pieces of food, you can offer smaller pieces of banana.
  • Banana pieces should be soft and ripe, rather than unripe and too hard.
  • Try bananas in smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, and muffins.
  • You may also like my Master List of Baby Food Recipes and store bananas in the freezer.

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bananas-on-pink-cutting-board

Bananas for Baby (Puree, BLW, Finger Food)

Learn the easiest ways to serve bananas for babies from the time they start solids to when they're into toddlerhood. Get tips on banana puree, baby-led weaning bananas, and banana recipes to try.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Baby Food
Calories 105kcal
Servings 1 -2

Ingredients

  • 1 banana (choose a ripe banana with some brown spots for best flavor)
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Instructions

Banana Puree

  • Peel the banana. Slice and measure out about 1 cup. Add to a blender. Blend until very smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Add a tiny pinch of cinnamon if desired. Serve immediately.

BLW Banana

  • Wash and dry the banana. Cut it in half, then remove about 1 inch of the peel so baby has plenty of the fruit to try. It won't be slippery since they can hold the peel.

Banana Finger Food

  • Peel and slice the banana. Break each slice into three segments by pushing slightly on the middle of the slice. This is usually less slippery than dicing up.

Banana Slices for Toddlers

  • Peel and slice the banana. Cut a slit in the side of each slice and let your toddler finish peeling.

Banana Smoothie

  • Add 1 ripe frozen banana to a blender with 1 cup milk. (Use nondairy milk for babies under age 12 months.) Add 1 teaspoon hemp seeds and a small handful of spinach if desired. Blend well. Serve in a straw cup or a reusable pouch.

Banana Milk

  • Add 1 ripe banana to a blender with 1 cup milk. (Use nondairy milk for babies under 12 months.) Blend well and serve in a straw cup or a reusable pouch.

Notes

  • Follow baby’s lead when it comes to appetite.
  • Avoid underripe bananas if concerned about constipation.
  • Try Banana Puree, mashed bananas, or BLW-style bigger pieces of bananas for babies around age 6 months.
  • Once a baby is about 9 months and can pick up small pieces of food, you can offer smaller pieces of banana.
  • Banana pieces should be soft and ripe, rather than unripe and too hard.
  • Try bananas in smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, and muffins.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5g, Calories: 105kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 422mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 76IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

This post was first published February 2022.

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