When Can Babies Have Honey?

Since 2008, lots of changes have been made to the rules of when babies can have certain foods. You might be surprised to learn that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has reclassified many foods that used to be no-nos for babies until they were older as fine for babies after they begin eating solid foods.

However, that is not the case with honey or products made from honey.

Safety Concerns

The reason to delay honey is not because of a concern over food allergies or choking hazards, but of a serious disease called infant botulism. Infant botulism is caused when a baby ingests spores from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.

This bacteria produces a toxin inside the baby's digestive tract that can be absorbed into the body and have serious effects on the baby's muscle control. In extreme cases, which are rare, the breathing muscles can become paralyzed. If mechanical assistance is not provided, the baby could die. Signs and symptoms of infant botulism include:

• Constipation
• Flat facial expression
• Lethargy in feeding or a weak sucking
• Weak cry
• Decreased movement
• Trouble swallowing or excessive drooling
• Muscle weakness
• Breathing problems

When It's Safer

Maybe you are wondering why honey is not safe for babies under age one but fine for everyone else. The answer lies in the maturity of the baby's digestive tract. Young babies do not have the intensity of acids in the digestive system which helps fend off the toxins that the bacteria produce. So while adults and children can handle small amounts of exposure, it is not the case with babies.

Wait to Introduce Honey

However, there are certainly those that would argue that these guidelines are overly cautious. They might point to the fact that other cultures outside the United States introduce honey to babies on a regular basis. Further, they might point out that the incidence of infant botulism from honey exposure is a very low risk.

In the United States, fewer than 200 cases are reported yearly, and most of these infants recover fully after treatment. If you are considering introducing honey before your baby turns 1 year old, be sure to talk with your pediatrician and listen to what they advise.

But the statistics certainly do teach us that caution may be prudent. Before guidelines for preventing infant botulism were advocated, 395 cases of infant botulism were reported to the Center for Disease Control from 1976 to 1983. Most of those babies required hospitalization in order to recover, and sadly 11 of the babies died.

Why risk something so serious, yet so preventable? Have your baby wait until after their first birthday to enjoy honey and foods containing honey.