Don't give honey to babies under 12 months. Honey can contain spores of the bacteria that cause infant botulism, a rare but very serious illness. The NHS botulism page, the CDC's botulism prevention advice, the AAP's HealthyChildren.org, healthdirect in Australia and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) all give the same advice.
The rule covers honey in any form: on its own, cooked or baked into food, in products made with honey, and on a dummy. After your baby's first birthday, honey is safe to eat, though it still counts as added sugar. This guide explains why, what to watch for if your baby has eaten honey, and when to get help.
Why can't babies have honey before 12 months?
Botulism bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) form spores, which can be found in soil, dust and some foods. FSANZ lists honey among the foods at higher risk of contamination. Infant botulism happens when a baby swallows the spores and, as the AAP explains, the bacteria make toxin in the intestines. FSANZ says generally only babies under 12 months get infant botulism.
healthdirect says infant botulism affects children under 12 months but is most common under 6 months. The AAP says the source of the spores usually isn't known, since they can be in soil or dust, and the CDC says most infant botulism can't be prevented. Honey is one source you can avoid, which is why every major guideline says no honey until 12 months.
Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby lists honey among foods not suitable for babies, saying it can contain botulism spores and shouldn't be given before 12 months. The NHS list of foods to avoid calls infant botulism a very serious illness.
Does honey in cooked or baked food count?
Yes. None of the sources we checked makes an exception for honey that has been cooked or baked:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| CDC (US) | Don't give infants honey or products made with it |
| FSANZ (Australia) | The bacteria form spores and toxins that aren't destroyed by cooking or boiling |
| Health Canada | Spores aren't easily destroyed by cooking or boiling, and are sometimes found in pasteurised honey too |
| NHS (UK) | No honey until over 1 year old, with no exception for cooking |
The Health Canada infant botulism page also says not to give any type of honey to babies under 1.
In practice, check ingredient lists before giving your baby shop-bought foods such as breakfast cereals, muesli bars, yoghurts, crackers, rusks and baked goods. Look for honey in the ingredients, and leave honey out of anything you bake for your baby.
What about honey on a dummy?
Never put honey on your baby's dummy. The CDC's list of foods and drinks to avoid says honey shouldn't be added to a baby's food, water, formula or dummy, and its prevention page specifically warns against honey dummies. Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby page on dummies says not to coat or dip a dummy in anything sweet. For settling ideas and safe dummy use, see dummies.
What are the signs of infant botulism?
Signs can build over days. The AAP says they often begin with constipation and can appear 3 to 30 days after exposure to the spores. The CDC's list of symptoms, the AAP, healthdirect, FSANZ and the NHS between them describe:
- constipation, often the first sign
- poor feeding or loss of appetite
- weak sucking, or milk pooling in the mouth
- a weak cry, or a cry that sounds different from usual
- drooping eyelids, or a face showing less expression than usual
- poor head control
- being quieter, less active or sleepier than usual
- a limp or floppy head, neck, arms or legs
- trouble breathing or swallowing
The CDC notes that botulism is a medical emergency. The NHS says to call an ambulance if your child is limp or floppy, or if you think they may have symptoms of botulism, and not to drive yourself to the emergency department.
Constipation on its own is common in babies and usually has another cause; constipation in babies covers what's normal. What matters here is constipation in a baby who has had honey, or constipation with any of the other signs above.
What should I do if my baby has eaten honey?
Stay calm. Botulism is rare, and FSANZ calls it extremely rare in Australia, but it's worth knowing what to watch for.
- Stop giving the food, and check what else might contain honey.
- Watch your baby over the next few weeks for the signs above, especially constipation, feeding changes, a weaker cry or floppiness.
- Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) straight away if your baby becomes floppy or weak, has trouble breathing or swallowing, or you think they may have botulism.
- Call a health advice line (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 in Australia, NHS 111 in the UK, your pediatrician's after-hours line in the US) or your GP if you're worried but your baby seems well, and mention the honey if you see a doctor for any reason in the following weeks.
When can my child have honey, and does it help coughs?
From 12 months, honey is safe to eat. It still counts as added sugar, though. The NHS advises avoiding food and drinks with added sugar for children aged 4 and under, and names honey, syrup, fruit juice and smoothies. The CDC says children under 2 shouldn't have added sugars. Keep honey small and occasional.
For coughs in children over 12 months:
- healthdirect says honey can help ease a cough in children older than 12 months. The same Australian service's guide to coughs and colds in children also says not to give cough syrups, decongestants or antihistamines, because they don't help and may be harmful.
- The AAP says there's some evidence honey may help ease coughs, and suggests half a teaspoon for children aged 1 to 5. Its guide to caring for your child's cold suggests brushing teeth afterwards if you give honey at bedtime.
- The NHS cough page mentions lemon and honey drinks, not suitable under 1 year, and notes there's limited evidence that they help. It also says not to give hot drinks to small children.
A cough with fast or difficult breathing needs urgent help. See colds and congestion and baby coughing at night for the warning signs.
What about corn syrup and other sweeteners?
The sources we checked, from the CDC, NHS, AAP, healthdirect, FSANZ and Health Canada, name honey as the food to avoid for infant botulism. None of them mentions corn syrup or other syrups.
That doesn't make syrups a good choice for babies. The NHS says to avoid food and drink with sweeteners or sugar, including syrup, for children aged 4 and under, to help prevent tooth decay. Sweeten your baby's food with ripe or mashed fruit instead. For other first-year rules, see foods to avoid.
What's worth noting if your baby has eaten honey?
Write down what your baby ate, roughly how much and when. Over the next few weeks, a simple daily note of poos, feeds and anything unusual about their cry or how they move makes it easier to spot a change and to tell a doctor exactly what happened.
When should I get help?
Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) now if your baby:
- is floppy, limp or weak, or has poor head control that's new
- has trouble breathing or swallowing
- has a weak, high-pitched or different-sounding cry
- is much sleepier than usual, hard to wake, or too weak to suck or feed
- has had honey and you think they may have botulism
Get medical help today if your baby:
- has had honey and develops constipation, even if they otherwise seem well
- is refusing feeds or feeding much less than usual, but is alert
Talk to your GP or child-health nurse, or call a health advice line (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 in Australia, NHS 111 in the UK, your pediatrician's after-hours line in the US), if:
- your baby has eaten honey and seems completely well, but you'd like advice
- you're unsure whether a food contains honey
- your child is over 12 months and has a cough that isn't settling (see when to call the doctor)
