Babies should not be given honey until they are at least 12 months (1 year) old. This is because honey can contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious illness in babies under 1 year. After 12 months, a child's digestive system is mature enough to handle these spores safely.
Why honey is unsafe before 1 year
- Infant botulism occurs when spores from Clostridium botulinum grow and produce toxins in a baby's immature intestines, causing muscle weakness and potentially life-threatening symptoms.
- This condition is most common in babies under 6 months but can occur in infants up to 12 months.
- Honey is a common source of these spores, either raw or processed; heat does not reliably destroy them.
After 12 months
- Once babies turn 1 year old, their gut bacteria can typically prevent the spores from growing, making honey safe to eat.
- Pediatric and public health guidelines universally recommend waiting until after the first birthday to introduce honey.
- Even processed foods containing honey should be avoided before this age.
Additional notes
- Honey is not necessary in a baby’s diet and can contribute to excessive sugar intake and tooth decay.
- If a baby younger than 1 year accidentally consumes honey, monitoring for symptoms like weakness, constipation, poor sucking, or weak cry is important, and medical attention should be sought if symptoms appear.
In summary, the safest recommendation is to wait until a baby is at least 12 months old before giving any honey to avoid risk of infant botulism.
