Is Honey Safe For Babies Less Than One Year Old?

Despite garnering a lot of health benefits from treating cough to being a multivitamin source, honey should not be given to a child less than 12 months old. This includes honey that is included into baked and processed foods. This age group of young children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics must also not be fed with baby's food, water, and formula milk which have been added with honey.

Back in 1976, a neuroparalytic ailment known as Infant Botulism was initially described which impacted young children less than one year old. Infant botulism is caused by a bacterium Clostridium botulinum that causes food poisoning in the child's intestines.

One interesting facet regarding this disease entity is how it is being linked with the intake of honey. It is not exactly known how honey gets contaminated with the bacteria. However, one probable explanation is that the spores (bacteria change into spore form in order to survive in unfavorable environmental situations) of these bacteria are frequently seen in dirt and dust. These spores may be picked up by bees and introduced to the beehive and contaminate the honey.

Infant botulism is unique. It solely affects babies less than twelve months old because these age group somewhat lacks gastric acid, have reduced amounts of intestinal normal flora, with immature immune systems (specifically lacking secretory antibody A), making their intestinal environment excellent for spores to germinate. Thus, once the child swallows them, spores revert back to bacterial form and multiply, producing a lot of poison known as botulinum toxin.

Usually symptoms of botulism start 3 to 30 days after the ingestion of spores. Constipation is the first sign of botulism due to slowing down of the intestines. Normally, infant botulism is a temporary partial paralysis which impacts muscular tissues of the body in descending order. Infants can present with heavy eyelids, flat facial expression, poor head control, and trouble swallowing with drooling. When respiratory muscles are affected, a child can have breathing problems. The child's lower limbs may assume a frog-leg position due to muscle weakness.

The illness typically endures for several weeks, but it is treatable. Affected infants are treated in the medical center where an antitoxin referred to as Botulism Immune Globulin Intravenous (BIGIV) should be given. Patients are also supplied with supportive care (e.g. ventilator, IV fluids) until the effects of the toxin wears off.

Though infant botulism is uncommon (less than 100 instances happen each year in the US), it can be severe and frightening because it can affect the respiratory muscles that compromises breathing. Therefore, it is crucial to know about the signs and symptoms so it is possible to recognize it early. Most of all, know that honey is a known source of the bacterial spores causing infant botulism. That's why honey should never be given to infants less than one year old.


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