Bananas are wholesome and nutrient-rich and make the perfect first solid food for babies. However, you must look out for banana allergies in babies when introducing the fruit to your little one. The allergy may manifest as skin rashes, gastric disturbances, or even respiratory problems (1). It is wise to check with your pediatrician if you notice any such symptoms in your infant. Continue reading this post as we discuss the possible causes of banana allergy in your baby, its symptoms, and the measures you may take to deal with the condition.
What Causes Banana Allergy In Babies?
If you find your baby vomiting, having a rash on her face or reddish look in and around the mouth soon after you feed her a banana, then it means she is allergic to bananas. It might occur owing to various reasons.
1. Intolerance To Protein:
If your baby has a hypersensitive immune system, she might be allergic to bananas as her body would react in a different way. This is mainly because your baby’s immune system would have an intolerance to the protein (enzyme) found in bananas known as chitinase (2).
2. Presence Of Vaso Active Amines:
Sometimes, Vaso active amines also trigger the allergic reaction. These are substances similar to histamines that occur in bananas naturally. When this substance enters your baby’s body, it would cause an allergy if your baby’s metabolizing system lacks enzyme oxidizing ability (3).
Signs That Indicate That Your Baby Is Allergic To Bananas
If you are feeding bananas to your baby for the first time, make sure you keep an eye for the following symptoms or signs associated with an allergy. These signs can surface in your baby within a few minutes to a few hours of eating the fruit.
1. Symptoms On The Skin:
Skin symptoms are a common sign of a banana allergy in babies. Look out for the following signs on the skin of your baby soon after you feed her mashed bananas (1).
Hives Reddish bumps Eczema Itching sensation Inflammation of the tongue Face swelling Mouth inflammation
2. Gastrointestinal Tract Issues:
Few symptoms are associated with the gastrointestinal tract of your baby. Hence, your baby might experience one or more symptoms within a few hours of eating bananas (1).
Stomach pain Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Loose bowels Gas
3. Respiratory Tract Symptoms:
If your baby is allergic to bananas, she might experience a few issues related to breathing (4).
Shortness of breath Moodiness Chest tightness Wheezing Stuffy nose Cough Runny nose Fainting
If you notice any one or two of the above said baby banana allergy symptoms while feeding a banana, stop the feeding immediately and seek assistance from your doctor at once.
Follow The Wait Rule
As soon as you introduce a new food like banana to your baby, wait for 3 days to check whether your baby is exhibiting any signs of an allergy. This would help you understand whether this food is safe for your baby or not. In addition, it would be useful to inform your doctor to help him diagnose the allergic reaction easily with fewer tests.
Dealing With Banana Allergy In Babies
As soon as your baby is diagnosed with a banana allergy, make sure that you take extra care about what food you feed your baby every time.
If your baby is facing slight allergic reactions to bananas, your doctor would advise you to feed your baby with small pieces of banana. You can offer a cooked banana in small portions to your baby, as it is much safer than the raw ones. You can give foods like steamed carrots, as it is a safe first food for babies instead of bananas.
