Can Baby Have Honey?

Can Baby Have Honey?

When your baby gets past the 6-month mark, it’s time to experiment with different foods and see what works for your baby. The same goes for homey. Here’s what you need to know about if you’re wondering can baby have honey?

No Baby Can Not Have Honey Before Is 1-Year-Old

When your baby is very young, they can only stomach some things. Honey is a very complex food component that needs a lot of careful consideration. Honey has a lot of bacteria in it, which is generally good for people older than toddlers, but it can cause serious problems to a baby’s gut. It can cause constipation and other diseases like lethargy and botulism.

Botulism is a very common yet fatal disease in children when they are given something they cannot stomach. Honey is one of the main culprits in causing this gastric disorder. Treating it can be a nightmare. 

Why Is Honey Bad For Babies?

Children, under the age of one, are not allowed to take honey or any other natural or artificial sweeteners. Honey contains clostridium botulinum, a natural bacteria, that is generally good for the gut, but it can cause serious issues in the gut of a two-month-old baby. It releases harmful neurotoxins in the body of a baby and they need to be hospitalized. The disease is generally treatable but it also comes with extended hospital stays, treatment, and very close care. It can be fatal for the baby if it is not noticed straight away. This is why doctors recommend that you shouldn’t feed your baby honey. 

Benefits Of Honey

Some benefits of honey, given to children older than 1-year-old, are as follows:

• It contains vitamin C and E, which are great for the baby’s immune system. 
• It contains natural antioxidants which help to fight carcinogenic cells in the body. It also helps to fight free radicals in the baby’s body. 
• It is also good for children who are suffering from the cold or flu. It acts as a great natural cough suppressant. 
• It also builds the immunity of the child and it helps to let them grow stronger and healthier. 

How To Incorporate Honey?

Once your child reaches the appropriate age of being able to take honey in his or her diet, you can incorporate it in a lot of eatables. Some options are:

• Adding honey in baked goods instead of processed sweeteners and artificial flavors. 
• Adding honey in smoothies or mashed fruit to sweeten it even more, if your child prefers sweet things. 
• Adding honey in very fine oatmeal, to sweeten it. It’s a better option than adding sugar. 
• Mixing honey and yogurt with mashed fruit makes for an amazing breakfast or mid-morning snack. 

Conclusion

Honey is one of those complex foods which need to be taken seriously when you feed your baby. So, can baby have honey? No, a baby under a year can’t have honey. That’s because honey contains a lot of natural bacteria which can be bad for your baby before a certain age. 

Read Also When Can Baby Drink Water?

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References:

1. webmd
2. kidshealth
3. ncbi