When can a baby have honey?
You may have heard about some of the benefits of honey. Parents looking
for an alternative to sugar often turn to honey as a more natural choice.
However, you should not give honey to a baby if he is less than a year old. Honey
can cause botulism, a type of food poisoning, in children under the age of one.
Children should not eat honey in any form, even cooked in baking.
Learn about the dangers of honey in infants and when it is safe for your
child to eat honey. If given at the right age, honey can be part of a healthy
diet for your child.
Symptoms of botulism
Giving honey to babies under 12 months of age has been linked to a rare
but serious condition called infant botulism. Infant botulism is caused by
exposure to bacterial spores. Clostridium botulinum spores can grow and
multiply in your child's intestines. This produces a dangerous toxin that
causes infant botulism.
Infant botulism is most common in children under six months of age. Most
adults and older children have defense mechanisms in their gut that prevent
spores from germinating and multiplying. Honey is not the only source of spores
that cause botulism. These spores may also be present in soil or dust. Symptoms
of infant botulism can be mild or severe and may include:
- Overall weakness or floppiness
- Slow feeding
- Constipation
- Loss of facial expression
- Reduced gag reflex
Information about the nutritional value of honey
Because honey is a natural sweetener, many people find it healthier than
sugar. Honey contains traces of:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Electrolytes
- Enzymes
- Amino acids
- Flavonoids
However, to reap the benefits of these nutrients, you need to eat a lot
more honey than is healthy. Honey is sugar and contains a lot of calories.
Honey is considered an added sugar, so it should be consumed in moderation.
Experts recommend giving without added sugar to children under 2 years
of age. Sugar found naturally in fruits, whole grains, beans, or dairy products
is not considered added sugar. These natural sugars are essential for your
baby's growth and development. Added sugars can be labeled as sucrose,
dextrose, and yes, honey. They are associated with a higher risk of insulin
resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.
By the time your little one is two years old, experts recommend that
they consume no more than 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of added sugars per day.
Honey can be used instead of sugar if its amount does not exceed the
recommended rate.
Benefits of honey
- Cough suppressant. One of the obvious benefits of honey is its effectiveness as a cough suppressant. In a study of 105 children aged 2 to 18 with upper respiratory tract infections, honey was found to be more effective than cough medicine in relieving nighttime coughs.
- Wound healing. Honey has also been
shown to be effective in treating certain wounds and burns. Honey has
antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have
shown honey to be as effective as conventional remedies for acute wounds and
superficial partial burns. However, more research is needed to recommend it for
medical use.