Honey

When to start

Honey waits until after your baby's first birthday. Honey can carry spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. These spores can cause infant botulism, a rare illness that can be deadly. Toddlers can have honey safely. The highest risk sits with babies younger than a year.

If your baby tasted a food with honey, stay calm. It is most likely fine. Signs may show up between 3 and 30 days after exposure to the spores. Constipation is often the first. If your baby ever seems weak or sluggish, contact your pediatrician.

A little background

Honey is a food that bees make from flower nectar. Bees turn nectar into honey both in the wild and in hives.

Do not give honey between 6 and 11 months. After 12 months you can use honey in family meals, baked goods, sauces, and dressings. Give desserts and sweets made with honey in moderation. Change their shape if needed to cut the choking risk.

Ready-made foods can contain honey. Baked goods, breads, and cereals are examples. Processing methods vary, so do not give babies under 12 months store-bought foods that contain honey.

Honey for a cough

If you want to give honey for a cough to a child over 12 months, dissolve one spoon in lukewarm water or herbal tea. It may soothe the throat.

Plain honey does not usually cause choking. Candy and similar honey treats can, though. Serve foods with honey after the first birthday and in a form that suits your child's age.

Honeycomb is waxy and can turn gummy in the mouth. Cut it into small pieces. Do not give the next bite until your child has chewed and swallowed the last one. Stay near your baby while they eat and within reach.

Honey allergy is rare, but it does happen. Baked goods, desserts, and other foods made with honey often contain other common allergens too, such as wheat, egg, milk, and nuts. Introduce each common allergen one at a time before sharing prepared foods that hold several. That way you know your baby has already eaten the allergens in the dish. If a reaction does happen, it is also easier to narrow down the cause.

People often use honey at home for seasonal allergies. In one study, participants ate raw honey, store-bought honey or a placebo with honey flavor. The groups did not differ. In rare cases, honey can worsen symptoms in people with pollen or bee venom allergy, whether eaten or put on the skin.

Offer a small amount for the first few servings. If there is no reaction, raise the amount at later meals.

Honeycomb

People with pollen allergy can react to honeycomb. Beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly, which honeycomb holds in varying amounts, can cause allergic reactions from mild to severe. If you are sure there is no allergy, a small amount of honeycomb prepared for the child's age is fine after 12 months. Eating large amounts of honeycomb regularly has been linked to stomach blockage. Honey is also rich in sugar, so keep sugar intake limited.