Traditionally, the BRAT diet has been protocol for kids with illnesses that produced vomiting or diarrhea. However, pediatricians often recommend different, more diverse foods these days to help get toddler tummies back under control. While bananas fall under the traditional BRAT heading, they also contribute something else for intestinal health: prebiotics. In addition, they are high in electrolytes.
The BRAT Diet
Bananas are a traditional food for children and adults alike who are recovering from diarrhea. Part of the BRAT diet, bananas not only help bulk up the stool, but they are also gentle on the tummy. However, while bananas are a helpful food for kids with diarrhea, pediatricians have moved away from restrictive diets like the BRAT because it is often not necessary to limit what your child eats during recovery. The other foods allowed in the BRAT diet are rice, applesauce and toast: hardly exciting fare for a toddler.
Bananas and Electrolytes
Bananas are rich in potassium, which is a type of electrolyte. Your child's potassium levels may be low if he has diarrhea, especially over a period of a few days. According to the Colorado State University Extension, bananas fall under the heading of "excellent source" when it comes to potassium: one medium banana contains more than 300 mg. Bananas are not the only source of potassium, however. Other excellent sources include avocado and yogurt, which are also recommended for diarrhea recovery by Pediatrician Dr. Ari Brown, co-author of "Toddler 411."
Bananas and Prebiotics
Bananas do have an advantage over some other high-potassium foods and electrolyte beverages designed for toddlers: they also contain prebiotics. Prebiotics are the building blocks of probiotics, which are the healthy intestinal bacteria that improve digestion. Prebiotics are starchy substances that encourage probiotics to proliferate the intestines. Brown recommends bananas, in addition to other prebiotics like whole grains and honey, as a part of a toddler's recovery from bouts of diarrhea.
Guidelines
Unlike many other alternative treatments, the only guideline for using a banana as an electrolyte replacement after your toddler has diarrhea is to simply offer a banana. If you want to maximize its other benefits, however, you can also include other gut-friendly foods along with that banana. Try serving some whole-grain cereal with banana slices on top, or offer your toddler a banana dipped in probiotic-rich yogurt. If your child is reluctant to eat a banana, try making a smoothie with whole milk, some berries, half a banana and a touch of honey. If your child's diarrhea does not clear up within a few days, however, give your pediatrician a call. Call sooner if your child seems lethargic or dehydrated, as these symptoms warrant medical attention.
References
- Colorado State University Extension; Potassium and Health; August 2008
- Riley Hospital for Children: Toddler's Diarrhea
- "Toddler 411"; Dr. Ari Brown, Denise Fields; 2011
