Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Since , lots of changes have been made to the rules of when babies can have certain foods. You might be surprised to learn that the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP has reclassified many foods that used to be no-nos for babies until they were older as fine for babies after they begin eating solid foods.
However, that is not the case with honey or products made from honey. The recommendation for when babies can have honey continues to be after age one. That includes both honey in its raw form and foods cooked or baked with honey. The reason to delay honey is not because of a concern over food allergies or choking hazards, but of a serious disease called infant botulism. Infant botulism is caused when a baby ingests spores from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.
This bacteria produces a toxin inside the baby's digestive tract that can be absorbed into the body and have serious effects on the baby's muscle control. In extreme cases, which are rare, the breathing muscles can become paralyzed. If mechanical assistance is not provided, the baby could die. Signs and symptoms of infant botulism include:. Maybe you are wondering why honey is not safe for babies under age one but fine for everyone else.
The answer lies in the maturity of the baby's digestive tract. So while adults and children can handle small amounts of exposure, it is not the case with babies. Baked goods made with honey are still off limits too.
Even the high temperatures of cooking and baking will not destroy the botulism spores. For this reason, you shouldn't give your baby baked goods or cooked foods containing honey either. However, there are certainly those that would argue that these guidelines are overly cautious.
They might point to the fact that other cultures outside the United States introduce honey to babies on a regular basis. Further, they might point out that the incidence of infant botulism from honey exposure is a very low risk.
In the United States, fewer than cases are reported yearly, and most of these infants recover fully after treatment. If you are considering introducing honey before your baby turns 1 year old, be sure to talk with your pediatrician and listen to what they advise. But the statistics certainly do teach us that caution may be prudent. The bacteria can get on surfaces like carpets and floors and also can contaminate honey. That's why babies younger than 1 year old should never be given honey.
These bacteria are harmless to older kids and adults. That's because their mature digestive systems can move the toxins through the body before they cause harm. Infant botulism usually affects babies who are 3 weeks to 6 months old. But all babies are at risk for it until their first birthday. Doctors diagnose infant botulism by asking about the baby's symptoms. They'll do an exam, and might order tests to see how the baby's muscles are working.
Babies with infant botulism need care in a hospital, usually in the intensive care unit ICU. The health care team will try to limit the problems the toxin causes in the baby's body. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you. If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.
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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. Healthy Lifestyle Infant and toddler health. Products and services. How can I protect my baby from infant botulism? Answer From Jay L.
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