No Honey Before 12 Months

Updated on February 28, 2013
S.F. asks from Ogdensburg, NY
9 answers

So I know you are not suppose to offer honey to your baby before their first birthday but does that mean that you have to avaoid anything and everything that is made with honey? Im not saying I would feed my baby honeycombs but for the sake of this question I will use that and ask - can you feed a baby something made with honey like 'honeycombs' and be sure that it wont have the same effect as actual honey out of a jar?

Thanks in advance

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

I believe it is only raw honey, like many have said already.

I think to be on the safe side of things, waiting for any and all would just be the safer choice.

Now if we are talking like the cereal ''Honeycombs'' chances are that is safe...as the honey they are using is 1. minimal if any at all 2. they may use artificial honey flavor in the first place, there for taking any of the danger out of the honey itself.

It is always best to lean to the side of caution. For the plain fact, you never know.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

I was told only raw honey was forbidden. Bread or other items baked with honey (teddy grahams, etc.) were allegedly ok. But to be safe, I'd definitely check with your pediatrician.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

Well... honeycombs aren't made with honey, they ARE honey. So treat them like you would raw honey. Personally, I don't think there's enough scientific evidence that honey given to infants is dangerous so I never avoided it with my kids. Here's a good article if you're interested in learning why honey is on the "no no" list for babies: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/aug/25/health.society

But even if you want to avoid raw honey, you should know that there has never ever been a child treated for botulism that was linked to processed honey in another food (like bread or Teddy Grahams). Seriously - never. Not here or in any other developed country. As new parents we all want to protect our children from any and all illnesses... but honey has gotten a seriously undeserved bad rap. An infant is more likely to contract botulism from eating dirt than honey.

2 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

No uncooked honey. No honey. It's a choking hazard for one, and for two if a child under TWO years old eats it they can't digest the botulism spores in it.

If you bake with it, that kills the botulism spores and removes the choking hazard. So cook away. Use it in a glaze. Bake it in bread. But don't put it on pancakes or toast or graham crackers or a spoon.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

The issue is honey can contain botulinum spores (Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria which causes botulism). Infants are very susceptible to botulism, so yes you should avoid anything that contains honey. They are heat resistant so cooking does NOT make it ok.

Cooking w/ alcohol is (of course) ok :)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Our ped said no honey before the age of 3.

When you say "honeycombs", do you mean the actual storage made by the bees to store their honey? If so, no I would not give that to my little one. If you meant Honeycombs the cereal then I would think that's okay.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Seattle on

This might be a great questio to ask your doctor. As others have said it's s boutlism issues and babies under a certain age can't age can't process the germs. Check in with your doctor and see what kind of response you get and go frm there.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Rochester on

How old is your baby? : )

Nutshell:
you are avoiding honey to avoid your child getting ________.
define made with honey:
cookies (baked - therefore no issue)
raw honey ONLY - (not heated, their issue).

Even responsible hive caretakers have to label their honey this way : do not let your child under age 1 eat this.

what makes age 1 a magic number?

No idea.

I waited, but then, too, they had no need. they love honey but I use it medicinally first, flavor second!

Good luck,
M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.T.

answers from Muncie on

I think it's just the raw honey that's the issue. I think cooking with it breaks down the "dangerous" portions. Much like cooking with alcohol.

I could be wrong. :)

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions