Can my baby have honey?
A quick, age-by-age answer with how to serve it safely. Checked against CDC, AAP.
Wait until 12 months. This one is a hard no.
Honey can carry Clostridium botulinum spores that a baby’s gut cannot neutralize, which can cause infant botulism. This includes honey baked into foods and on pacifiers. Pasteurization does not destroy the spores.
How to serve: No safe amount under 12 months. After the first birthday it is fine.
Safe after the first birthday.
After 12 months a baby’s gut can handle honey. There is still no need to add sweeteners, but honey itself is no longer a botulism concern.
Sources: CDC, AAP. This is general guidance, not medical advice. Ask your pediatrician about your child.
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