From the Guidelines
Do not feed honey to babies under 1 year old. If a baby under 1 year has consumed honey, contact a healthcare provider immediately 1. Honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores that may cause infant botulism, a rare but serious illness that can lead to paralysis and breathing difficulties. A baby's immature digestive system cannot kill these spores, unlike in older children and adults.
Key Considerations
- The guidelines for infants from 0 to 12 months explicitly state that foods to avoid include honey, among other things 1.
- Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, weakness, poor feeding, weak cry, decreased facial expression, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing.
- There is no home remedy for infant botulism; medical treatment is required, which may include hospitalization, supportive care, and possibly botulism immune globulin.
Precautions
- After age 1, a child's digestive system is typically mature enough to handle these spores, making honey safe to consume.
- It is essential to follow the recommended dietary guidelines for infants, which emphasize the introduction of iron-rich or fortified foods and the avoidance of foods high in sodium or with added sugars or artificial sweeteners, including honey 1.
From the Research
Precautions for Babies Under 1 Year Old Eating Honey
- Honey should not be fed to infants under 12 months of age due to the risk of infant botulism, a rare neuroparalytic disease caused by the neurotoxin of Clostridium botulinum 2, 3, 4.
- Infant botulism can cause symptoms such as constipation, poor feeding, descending hypotonia, drooling, irritability, weak crying, and cranial nerve dysfunctions 2.
- The disease can lead to respiratory failure and the need for mechanical ventilation, but full recovery is possible with proper treatment 4.
- Botulinum spores are frequently present in honey, which is why it should be avoided in infants 4.
- If a baby under 1 year old is suspected to have ingested honey and is showing symptoms of infant botulism, botulism immune globulin (BIG) may be indicated to treat the disease 5, 6.
- BIG has been shown to significantly reduce the duration of hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and tube or parenteral feeding in infants with botulism 5.