When Can Babies Have Honey Hint Over Age 1

The Problem with Honey for Babies

Honey is a no-go for kids under age one because it can cause a very rare, but serious, condition called infant botulism. While most foods not recommended for babies are due to choking hazards or allergy concerns, the deal with honey is completely different. Honey—especially raw honey, but pasteurized honey is not considered safe either—can contain a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria, when and ingested and multiplied, produces toxins that can cause something called infant botulism. This is a serious gastrointestinal condition, and while most babies do recover, almost all will have to be hospitalized. Once babies turn one, their immune systems are more developed and the risk of this issue go down and it’s generally considered safe to allow honey. TIP: This is a very rare condition and the risk can be minimized greatly simply by avoiding honey. (You might also like my Spaghetti Squash Baby Food, BLW meaning, and Watermelon for Babies.)

Infant Botulism Symptoms and Treatment

Infant botulism can happen anywhere from 3 to 30 days after exposure. It usually starts with constipation, but then can progress rapidly with your baby exhibiting floppy movements, difficulty sucking and feeding, loss of facial expressions, and weakness including a weakened cry. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox. If you suspect botulism AT ALL, call the pediatrician right away. Quick treatment, often using an antitoxin that will counteract the botulism, is crucial. The good news is that with the right treatment, most children do recover from botulism, but it can take a few weeks to months.

What to Use Instead of Honey

If you took anything away from the information above, hopefully, it’s that honey before age 1 is just really not worth the risk. However, obviously, a lot of parents like to use honey in their cooking or baking. Some healthy things that can be used instead include Apple Puree, Banana Puree, applesauce, maple syrup, fruit purees, apple butter, and date syrup. And if you need baby food ideas (that definitely do not include honey) checkout our homemade baby food archive. TIP: Honey should be avoided for babies under 12 months in both raw and cooked forms, so avoid using it in baked goods too as the high heat doesn’t eliminate the risk.

Best Tips for Babies and Honey

Honey should be avoided for babies under 12 months in both raw and cooked forms. Avoid using all types of honey (raw and pasteurized) in baked goods for babies under age one, as the high heat doesn’t eliminate the risk. Add flavor to baby food with applesauce, date syrup, fruit purees, or maple syrup (as needed—most baby food is great without added sweeteners!). Call your doctor right away if you suspect baby has had any honey. Once baby turns one, their immune system is stronger and it’s generally considered safe to use honey. Talk to your pediatrician if your baby has a compromised immune system as the advice for when honey is safe may vary. You may also like my post on when can kids have popcorn and an explainer on Babies and Salt.

I’d love to hear any additional questions you have on this topic, so please comment below to share.