When introducing solid foods, parents learn about many foods that were initially banned, including foods that are choking hazards like grapes and hot dogs, hard-to-digest foods like milk, and high-sugar desserts. But unlike many other food restrictions in infancy, potential allergies and choking are not honey’s problems. Learn why babies can’t eat honey and learn when it’s safe to introduce natural sweeteners into their diet.
Why Can’t Babies Eat Honey?
Honey may contain spores of a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this can lead to botulism, a serious condition that attacks the body’s nerves.
Infants may experience symptoms of infant botulism for hours to days after ingesting honey. They include drowsiness, constipation, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, physical “weakness”, and weakened muscle control. Severe conditions can lead to dehydration and pneumonia.
Doctors diagnose botulism through a series of tests and are usually treated in an intensive care unit (ICU). Most babies make a full recovery.
When Can I Introduce Honey?
The presence of botulinum toxin (the cause of botulism) does not mean that your honey supply is contaminated. In fact, these bacteria are not harmful to adults and children over 1 year of age. But it can cause serious (and potentially fatal) illness in babies with poorly developed digestive and immune systems.
Pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is at least 12 months old before adding honey to your baby. You should even stay away from jars that claim to be pasteurized, as this process still can’t reliably remove all germs. Also, avoid foods that contain honey. Honey is often used as a sweetener in cakes and other baked goods, so ask before feeding your baby foods that may contain honey.