Bananas - friend or foe?

[Jiinx]

Hey there,
 Argh. I'm so frustrated with myself. When my lo was younger, she had issues with bananas. It would cause her tummy to be upset and she would cry. I thought it MAY have been coincidental or just reflux related.
 
 My daughter is starting to eat less. Way less in solids especially. She really enjoys bananas so I thought hey, at least she eats bananas. I've given her a bite in the morning here and there on sporatically but decided to give her almost a half a banana tonight. 

 After an hour, she was screaming. It was like nothing I've ever experienced. She was writhing in pain. She didn't want to be held and comforted  She didn't want her lovey. She didn't want to feed. She was crawling back and forth between me in her bedroom and the hallway. the pain would come in waves. I gave her some tylenol. Thankfully she seemed to settle down after a bit and I finally managed to put her to bed...

 Question is (got carried away there in my rant) - does anyone else's lo get a tummy ache from bananas? 

[LizzieN]

try taking the black seeds out of the centre...I think they can cause issues xx Sorry 1 handed typing, hugs to your poor darling xx

[~Sarah~]

We don't get that big of problem, but DS will get bound up in the poo department if he gets too much. And he can't have them everyday..not much help I ugess

[We Three]

Bananas are the devil in my eyes....my lo is chronically constipated, though...I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole!  That's odd though that your lo would have discomfort so quickly? Have you googled?

[Jiinx]

thanks ladies for the support and advice.

Anne - even when she was younger, it would happen about an hour after she ate. I've noticed with foods that cause her discomfort (like yogurt) it would occur after an hour. It is weird. Hence me thinking it's coincidental. Not sure what else it could be from though..

Haven't googled it....will try to find some key words to bring up something.

[LizzieN]

I don't think it's conincidence sweetie, I think you just notice it because you watch your LO very closely, it's almost like the timing with food poisoning (sorry ykwim?) happens very quickly and very obviously!.....I would steer clear until she is older and then try them again (if you want to) xx

[Jiinx]

mm no luck with the googling..found out it helps with constipation though.

thanks Lizzie. You've always got such kind words

[~*Nicole*~]

I googled (for my own curiosity) and not much came up. A few threads from various sites had people complaining of the same issue, but they have NO idea why it occurs. One site claims it is an allergy. http://www.xomba.com/why_do_have_stomach_pain_after_eating_banana but I don't know how much stock I put into that site, as I've never heard of it before.

Some other sites point out that you shouldn't eat bananas on an empty stomach?? http://www.heart-problems.net/myocardial_infarction/Eating_bananas_on_an_empty_stomach__Be_careful_myocardial_infarction_arrives__27.html

Hope this helps a bit.

[LizzieN]

Sarah it's funny that you found info to say it helps constipation as I've always been told that it can cause constipation (those little seeds in the middle) so removed the centre of the banana when I gave it to DS when he was little....

xx

[koe2moe]

oh hugs to you Jiinx.  From what I have read, bananas can cause constipation, that's why when LOs have diarrhea, putting them on BRAT diet can help because it bulks it up   But there are good source of soluble fibres in bananas which of course can help with bowel movement when the intake of vibres is insufficient. 

Is she constipated?  What if you try to eliminate banana for 3 days and see what happens?  Did she eat anything else? 

I found this.  Maybe she has banana intolerance like Nicole said.

[Mashi]

Bananas that are only just ripe (ie/ yellow and firm) will cause constipation and for me I do get a stomach ache as they seem to move through me in one huge lump.  Once the banana has ripened (ie/ the skin has thinned and there are brown spots on it) it is much sweeter and softer and wont cause constipation.  The riper they are the more sugars there are in the banana and the less it will constipate.

[LizzieN]

Gee there are intolerances to everything aren't there!!  That article was interesting koe2moe!!

Hugs xx

[Jiinx]

Thanks ladies. Thankfully, she slept fine and is doing better this morning..somewhat.

Nicole and koe2moe - thanks for the links! They were helpful. I didn't realize anyone could have an intolerance or allergy to bananas! I do know she was experiencing cramps as when she was standing and a wave of pain hit her, she squatted and screeched so loudly

Mashi - I agree! I gave her spotty bananas..they were so soft and mushy that I thought they would go over fine. I guess I gave her too much!

I think she's okay with banana flavoured things..maybe the real thing is too much for her sensitive tummy.

[~*Nicole*~]

Does she seem to have any trouble with the other foods mentioned related to a banana allergy/intolerance? Or the latex? I would be curious to see if that might be the case.

[Jiinx]

what a sweet picture, Nicole.

I never thought of that. I took a look at the possible culprits - she doesn't like avocados, she doesn't like mangoes but will drink it juiced, but haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary afterward, and she hasn't tried a kiwi. Not sure of a latex allergy nor tree pollen. Definitely will keep this on the back of my mind though.

Thanks