Banana Allergy In Babies: Causes And Symptoms

Image: Shutterstock

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. Banana allergy, although rare, can lead to severe reactions in sensitive children, and therefore, knowing the causes, symptoms, and management strategies is crucial for parents to ensure their child’s safety. 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. Banana allergy is a type of food allergies in babies that might occur owing to various reasons.

1. Intolerance to protein

Image: Shutterstock

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 vasoactive amines

Sometimes, vasoactive amines also trigger allergic reactions. 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).

3. Other risk factors

Other risk factors, including a family history of pollen or latex food syndrome and existing allergies to other fruits or vegetables, can also increase the likelihood of banana allergy in babies. Therefore, consult your pediatrician if your baby shows signs of banana allergy (4).

Quick fact

Bananas and latex contain proteins that can cause allergic reactions in some people. Thus, babies with pollen food syndrome may be at risk for developing a banana allergy (4).

Signs That Indicate That Your Baby Is Allergic To Bananas

If you are preparing baby food with bananas for babies for the first time, make sure you keep an eye on the following symptoms or signs associated with an allergy or anaphylaxis.

These signs can surface in your baby within a few minutes to a few hours of eating the fruit. Statistics released by the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) show that about 7.7% of children under 18 years in the US have food allergies. It also states that about 40% of children with food allergies are allergic to more than just one type of food.

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 or Atopic Dermatitis
• Itchy skin
• Inflammation of the tongue
• Face swelling
• Mouth inflammation

2. Gastrointestinal tract issues

Image: Shutterstock

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 respiratory distress (4).

• Shortness of breath
• Moodiness
• Chest tightness
• Wheezing
• Stuffy nose
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Fainting
• Asthma

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 three days to check whether they exhibit 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.

Bananas can be used for flavoring several edible items, including medicines. Merri Lewis, whose son Sketch has a banana allergy, shares a word of caution. She says, “Do you know how many antihistamines have a natural banana flavor in it? And since banana is not a major allergen, the FDA does not require it to be posted on a label. So we had to call all these companies to ask. Yes, his Zyrtec has banana in it. Time to find a new antihistamine (i)!”

In such cases, it becomes vital to check with the pediatrician about the compounds or ingredients in your child’s medicines. This is even more important if your child is on long-term medication.

If your child has allergic reactions to bananas, it is essential to educate caregivers, family members, and babysitters about the allergy and the importance of avoiding bananas in the child’s diet. Also, check the food labels and inquire about ingredients when eating out.

Image: Shutterstock

Point to consider

A severe allergy to bananas is uncommon. Most of the allergens in bananas are present in the skin or the black seeds in the middle. Thus, offering the baby a peeled and deseeded banana might help prevent an allergic reaction (4).

Infographic: Symptoms Of Banana Allergy In Babies

Bananas are a great solid food for infants since they are nutrient-rich. However, watch out for allergies while introducing the fruit. Scroll through this infographic to find out the symptoms associated with banana allergy. Save and share it with parents of other infants too.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Banana Allergy In Babies - Causes And Symptoms

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Was this article helpful?

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our nurturing community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with fellow parents.

Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Priya ThomasMD

Dr. Priya Thomas is a board-certified pediatrician practicing in Alpharetta, Georgia, with over ten years of experience. She grew up in Kerala and completed her undergraduate degree at Georgia State University and Her medical education at Medical College of Georgia.

Read full bio of Dr. Priya Thomas

Jessica AlbertBE

Jessica Albert is a passionate writer who seeks to connect with her readers through wit and charm. Her work aims to invoke curiosity and keep the readers engaged through and through. She has two years of experience working with magazines and e-commerce establishments as a content marketer and editor.

Read full bio of Jessica Albert

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Vidya TadapatriMSc (Biotechnology)

Vidya did her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Her interest in scientific research and writing made her pursue a career in writing, in which she now has over five years of experience. She has done certified biotechnology-related training programs under renowned organizations such as Centre For Cellular & Molecular Biology and Department of Biotechnology.

Read full bio of Vidya Tadapatri