Honey is not safe for babies under age 1. Consuming honey can cause infant botulism, a type of food poisoning that can be fatal for babies.
Risks of Giving Honey to Babies Early
The most serious risk associated with feeding honey to young infants is infant botulism. Although rare, infant botulism can be fatal. Therefore, honey should absolutely not be given to children under one year of age. Honey contains a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Since babies’ microbiomes are not sufficiently developed, botulinum spores can colonize in the intestines, leading to poisoning in babies. Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, dehydration, poor feeding, and weakness.
When Can My Baby Have Honey?
Babies over age 1 are no longer at risk of infant botulism. Although honey is a good alternative to table sugar, it is still a type of added sugar. While giving limited amounts of honey to babies over one year old may not pose a problem, ideally, children under two years old should not consume foods and drinks containing added sugars, including honey. Excessive sugar in children’s diets is associated with various health problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, tooth decay, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
How Much Honey Should I Give My Baby?
Honey can provide many nutritional benefits when consumed at a safe age and in the right amount. Its rich antioxidant content supports healing and exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.
While it is technically not recommended for children aged 1-2, small amounts of honey can occasionally be given. Children over the age of 2 should be limited to a maximum of 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day, including honey.
Resources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2018). Botulism. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/infections/Pages/Botulism.aspx
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2019). Added Sugar in Kids’ Diets: How Much is Too Much?https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/7331
- Samarghandian, S., Farkhondeh, T., & Samini, F. (2017). Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research. Pharmacognosy research, 9(2), 121–127. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8490.204647
