Banana Gagging?

I watch a little girl who also recently started on solids. She didn't like bananas either and would occasionally gag after tasting them. Keep trying. Kids often have to be introduced to new foods 10-15 times before they decide they like them. The little girl I watch now likes bananas...after about a month of trying them on and off throughout the month.

My son was the same way. I just stopped giving it to him for a couple months, and then he loved it. No worries. Happy feeding!
S.

My son did this with almost all foods. It usually is a texture thing. I would keep trying. It usually takes a lot to tries. Good Luck..:)

Bananas by nature are very sweet and may just be more than he is ready for. Try waiting a week or 2 and try again. Most children need foods introduced 10 times before they really decide to like it. The other thing isto try more vegetables so that he gets used to those before too much sweet fruits. Good Luck.

Hi N.,

My mom always says that I gagged and spit out bananas from the very beginning and I still can't stand them till this day (even the smell makes me sick). Your son might change his mind, but there are some things that babies just really don't like and no need to force them. I would wait a month or so and try again. And then wait longer and try again, but if he continues to gag, then move on to something else. At least he likes avocados (my son can't stand those)! Good luck.

Hi There, A lot of people have a mild allergy to bananas that makes their tongue feel itchy and funny. I would wait and try again later because it could just be a texture and taste thing. But on the other hand they say you have to introduce a food ten times before they really make a decision about it. With the gagging though I'd wait:) I know my son didn't like bananas as a baby and when he got old enough he told me it made his tongue hurt. Then I mentioned it to my husband who told me he was allergic to bananas mildly. Good luck! ~ A.

At that age, likes and dislikes can change. He may not like the texture right now. Wait a few weeks - try something else in the mean time. Doesn't mean he won't ever like bananas - too early to be able to tell, really. We tried to start our daughter on the baby oatmeal cereal when she was really young and she would always spit it out. It took a few tries, but she finally ate it, and now (at three) she loves oatmeal. We just tried something else and waited a month or so before trying the food she didn't like again. Chances are, this will not be the first food that he will have that reaction to at this age. Good luck!

Hi,
My first son gagged on bananas and also would have an allergic reaction to them. I kept them away from him until he was 2 and now he eats bananas like they are going out of style. If he doesn't like them, I would move to a different food.

Like Susannah, I have always gagged on bananas. My mom says I wouldn't ever even try banana cereal or any type of banana baby food as an infant. Every so often I try to take a bite to see if I have gotten over the aversion, but I still gag on them. I can barely stand the smell even, but both of my kids love bananas. I'm not sure what it is, but I guess some people are just that way. I'm actually glad to know Susannah has the same issue, I always thought it was just me! If you're worried about nutrition, I've heard avocado and cantaloupe have a lot of the same vitamins and nutrients. Good luck, solid foods are such an adventure!

my son did the same thing when we were introducing bananas! (and some of the other sweet foods-he only liked eating the veggie purees for a long time) don't even worry about it-they grow out of it. We didn't do banana's plain anymore but every now and then we'd try doing like a 3 to 1 mix of his rice cereal with banana's and eventually you can increase the amount of banana. I heard somewhere that you shouldn't give up on a food for any toddler/infant until they've had at least 10 times trying it. stick with it-He'll eventually like it. good luck :) tell me how it goes!

hey there! i know a few babies that were like that.... one that i have been friends with for years, who is now 14 still to this day cant stand bananas! try again in a couple of months. It could be a taste thing, which could change, or it could be texture thing, also could change, or it may never change! babies will always let you know. and dont force it. you dont want to wear it (along with other stuff) as you go out the door! LOL

i have a friend who is allergic to high amounts of potassium and when she eats bananas, her throat swells. i would hold off on the bananas for a month or so and try again. by then his tastes may have changed anyway, even if he's not allergic.

My kids did the same thing. I think it might be the texture. Keep trying. Good luck!!!

I would wait awhile and then try it again. My son absolutely loves bananas, but gaggeed the frist couple of times he had avacado. Then he ate avacado for awhile. Then not again. They do this sort of thing. Just offer it again after awhile and see whether or not he has changed his mind. Don't try to force it. You want only good associations with eating time. You don't want to turn it into a power struggle.

HI N.,
I used to mash avocado and banana together,my baby girl loved it.
She still wont eat banana on it's own and she is 3 1/2.
Good luck,
M..

Are you trying to give him banana that has just been mashed? Unless it is very thin and almost watery, he's too young to be eating such a "pasty" type food. . . it may be why he is gagging. Have you tried bananas out of the jar or blending the banana into a runny puree with breastmilk or formula? Frankly, bananas out of the jar make me gag but you might want to try a puree with milk or forumla.

The exact same thing happened with my son at about the same age. I just waited a few more weeks till he was more used to different textures. He's 8 months now and loves bananas.

He is being very normal. If he turned his head I would say stop the bananas as he may not like them, but gagging is a reflex they have little control over. Make sure it is blended up and mashed and give him smaller bites.
My daughter had a very strong gag reflex and I kind of waited to try textures with her, my son however had no issues and ate more texture by the time he was 6 mos.
Try applesauce, sweet potatoes as well.
Do not worry about bad food association, it is a normal reflex babies have. Mix this stuff with the cereal and see if that helps. Keep trying and good luck! I loved this stage when mine were little.

My daughter did the same thing! We gave her a 2 week break (per pediatrician recommendation) and then tried again. However, on the 2nd try, I mashed the bananas, added equal parts of water (to dilute) and then some oatmeal cereal to get the desired consitency. She loves this combination now. I think she gagged and pushed the mashed bananas away the 1st time because they were too sweet. However, once I watered them down, she took to it right away. Good luck!