First foods database
🍌 Banana chips for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat banana chips? It is best to wait until after 12 months, and even then offer them only occasionally. Shop-bought banana chips are hard, often fried and coated in sugar, unlike fresh banana.
Good source of: Potassium, Fibre
How to serve banana chips by age
6 to 9 months
Not yet. Hard banana chips are a choking risk for young babies. Offer soft fresh banana instead: mashed, or a peeled finger-length piece to hold.
9 to 12 months
Still best avoided. Fresh banana, or freeze-dried banana that melts in the mouth, is a better choice.
12 months and up
Small amounts occasionally, ideally unsweetened and baked rather than fried, broken into small pieces. Crush into yoghurt or porridge for a crunchy topping.
Choking safety
Banana chips are hard and brittle and can break into sharp pieces. Avoid for babies. For toddlers, break into small pieces and offer while seated.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Many brands are fried in coconut oil and coated with sugar or honey.
- Check labels for honey, which is not suitable under 12 months.
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat banana chips?
Can babies eat banana chips? It is best to wait until after 12 months, and even then offer them only occasionally. Shop-bought banana chips are hard, often fried and coated in sugar, unlike fresh banana.
Are banana chips healthy for toddlers?
They are a treat rather than a fruit portion, because most are fried and sweetened. Fresh banana is better.
Can babies have freeze-dried banana?
Freeze-dried pieces that melt quickly in the mouth are different from hard banana chips, but check for added sugar.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).