Why Babies Cannot Eat Honey
As cute as that sweet kiddo is dressed up as a honey bee, honey and baby’s are not a good combination when it comes to food. Baby’s under the age of one year should never be fed honey. Why is that?
Honey could contain spores of a bacterium known as Clostridium botulinum. Baby’s digestive system is not yet equipped to handle such bacterium and it can actually germinate in their system. These spores multiply and produce a toxin that interferes with normal functioning between the nerves and the muscle which can cause baby to have trouble moving, eating and breathing. Pretty scary stuff!
According to KidsHealth.com, less than 100 cases of infant botulism occur each year. While it is rare, it is serious for those who contract it. It is usually treated in the ICU with an antitoxin. Early detection and treatment are key to making a full recovery!
Help us spread the word to other mamas in hopes we can help eliminate any cases of infant botulism through honey consumption!
You can read more on foods that are not safe for baby in this post.
Is Honey Safe While Breastfeeding?
YES! The acid in a mother stomach is strong enough to kill the bacterium spores before they transfer through the breastmilk to baby. (Source)
Is Honey Safe While Pregnant?
When discussing the risks of botulism through honey during pregnancy, there is no risk. Now, there has been some buzz lately around pregnancy and pasteurized and unpasteurized honey. According to Baby Center “There are no studies on the safety of raw honey during pregnancy, but there’s no reason to believe it’s unsafe. Unpasteurized honey doesn’t carry the risk of listeriosis you have with unpasteurized cheese and deli meats.”
Hi, I’m Tawni! My first and favorite job is being a wife and mama to my incredible husband, toddler, and soon-to-be newborn! When I’m not changing diapers, making food, or building block towers, I’m teaching at various schools in my community, writing, or Netflixing. I am passionate about all things pregnancy, baby and motherhood.
