Can my baby have honey?

Did you know September is National Honey Month? Seems like every month is promoting something (or ten somethings!) these days… Still I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss an important infant related topic.

​Can my baby have honey? No. At least not yet.
 
When can you give a baby honey?
According to kidshealth.org babies younger than one year old should NOT be fed honey. Not even a little taste. Additionally corn syrup isn’t a safe alternative sweetener either for the same reason that honey isn’t safe.

Why?
The short answer: there's a risk of botulism.
The long answer: A bacteria called Clostridium has the potential to contaminate certain foods with honey and corn syrup being very vulnerable targets. Your infant’s young digestion system hasn’t matured enough to protect their body from the harmful bacteria. The opposite is exactly why it is okay for older children: their digestive system is older and stronger.

What about things with a small amount of honey like honey cereal or honey graham crackers?
Nope, sorry, not those either. Same reason: the risk of botulism is still coming from the bacteria that could potentially be harbored in the honey. Just wait until your baby is one years old... then ask your doctor just to be safe (sometimes guidelines change so it's always best to consult your doctor to be sure).
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Your baby won’t be sad that they’re missing out on the sweet taste of honey. Their taste buds are still growing and developing too so most of the time they actually prefer food that is more bland. If you are still looking for something sweet to give your baby try some fruit. You can cook it first so that it’s nice and soft and easy for baby to enjoy. Or try mixing fruit puree into other recipes to make them sweeter.

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