Hi Moms
I thought babies could have honey after they turned 1.
I went to the doctor the other day with my son, and was talking to his pediatritian, who told me never to give honey little kids until they are at least
3-4 ???
My Dr. said it is probably safe for babies, but she errs on the side of caution. She told me after age 1
thats what my ped said to
its just like the peanut rule
I thought the rule was 1 as well - we've got my sons 12 month check up in a week so a good thing to mention. thanks!
Your Dr. is wrong. Honey is perfectly safe for a 3 year old and babies. Google honey botulism myth. I don't know why the medical community still believes this.
I wouldn't throw the whole theory out the window and suggest its a myth, there is serious cause for concern before the age of 1. Not only are there allergies to worry about, but honey contains dangerous endospores that, just like milk, an infants body cannot break down. The spores can turn into a deadly bacteria, clostridium botulinum, what causes botulism, and the end result can certainly be death.
Here's a little excerpt from Wikipedia:
Honey, corn syrup, and other sweeteners may contain spores but the spores cannot grow in a highly concentrated sugar solution; however, when a sweetener is diluted in the low oxygen, low acid digestive system of an infant, the spores can grow and produce toxin. As soon as infants begin eating solid food, the digestive juices become too acidic for the bacterium to grow.
Hope that helps; if your baby is eating solid food on a regular basis you have no worries.
I thought the same thing as you. It must have changed because I know it was over the age of one when my son was little. He is now five. My mother actually mentioned the sam thing about them being over three or four now before getting honey. I was going to ask the doctor next week at their check ups, because if that's the case I have alread6y given my 1 year old honey becasue I thought it was okay. OOPS :) Honestly it's amazing any of us survived childhood.
Wow I've been giving honey to my daughter since she was two and she is fine, she is now 4 years old. My doctor never said anything like waiting until 3 or 4.
My guess is all doc's are different. I thought I read honey was O.K. on my ped's website. Just checked again...It clearly says honey is O.K. So far so good for us..no reactions. If I would have known there was doubt, I probably wouldn't have given it to her. We have a severe peanut allergy in our family (my father-in-law) and have no intention on even trying when she allowed. I'm petrified.
