We all know honey is good for us and have lots of health benefits. But, if you are a parent of young children you may recall hearing that honey isn’t suitable for babies under 12 months old. But why is this?
Well, here’s the buzz: honey can contain a type of bacteria called Clostridium, which can lead to a serious but rare condition called infant botulism. This illness can cause muscle weakness, leading to symptoms like poor sucking, weak crying, constipation, and decreased muscle tone (making your little one feel floppy).
Infants Under 12 Months Should Avoid Honey Products
How can you help protect your precious bundle from infant botulism? The key is to steer clear of honey and any processed foods containing honey until after your child’s first birthday. There’s a surprisingly large amount of different foods that contain honey, such as biscuits and cereals.Check the back of the pack for the list of ingredients just to be sure!
When is it Safe to Introduce Honey to my Child?
As your child grows older, their digestive system becomes more mature, effectively dealing with the Clostridium bacteria spores before they can cause any harm. So, once they hit the milestone of their first birthday, feel free to introduce the golden goodness of honey to their diet. It is a great way to start them off on a healthy, natural diet with so many additional benefits.
Which Honey is Best to Start With?
All children have different tastes, (oh my, don’t we know it!) and often quite strong opinions about textures. Because of this you might want to experiment a little when it’s time to start them on honey. Wildflower honey is the favourite of many, but many of our younger customers prefer the sweeter and creamier Soft set honey.
Stay informed, keep your little ones safe, and remember, knowledge is the key to nurturing our precious ones.
Always consult your Doctor and seek medical advice if unsure.
Hanna Bäckmo
Hanna Bäckmo is an award-winning beekeeper, entrepreneur, hobby gardener and internationally published writer. Originally from a small island in Sweden, she now lives in East Cork with her son, two dogs, a flock of rescue chickens and lots of bees. Hanna is the founder of Hanna’s Bees, producing a unique range of natural and sustainable honey, propolis, and beeswax products sold in Ireland’s leading Gift & Artisan food stores and select US outlets. With 70 colonies of Native Irish honeybees, she is a passionate bee-advocate and educator and is an Ambassador for the Native Irish Honeybee.
Curious about the world of bees and honey? Join our newsletter to learn something new each week.
I am often asked if it is true that you should never use metal spoons with honey. There’s a widespread belief that honey should never come into contact with metal. Some people are even insisting that only wooden utensils should be used. But where does this idea come from, and is there any truth to …
The EU has suspended honey imports from Brazil from 3 September 2026 after Brazil failed to provide the guarantees required under new EU rules concerning antimicrobials. Here’s what the decision means for consumers and why the new honey country-of-origin labels matter.
Infant Botulism – Why Infants Can’t Have Honey
We all know honey is good for us and have lots of health benefits. But, if you are a parent of young children you may recall hearing that honey isn’t suitable for babies under 12 months old. But why is this?
Well, here’s the buzz: honey can contain a type of bacteria called Clostridium, which can lead to a serious but rare condition called infant botulism. This illness can cause muscle weakness, leading to symptoms like poor sucking, weak crying, constipation, and decreased muscle tone (making your little one feel floppy).
Infants Under 12 Months Should Avoid Honey Products
How can you help protect your precious bundle from infant botulism? The key is to steer clear of honey and any processed foods containing honey until after your child’s first birthday. There’s a surprisingly large amount of different foods that contain honey, such as biscuits and cereals.Check the back of the pack for the list of ingredients just to be sure!
When is it Safe to Introduce Honey to my Child?
As your child grows older, their digestive system becomes more mature, effectively dealing with the Clostridium bacteria spores before they can cause any harm. So, once they hit the milestone of their first birthday, feel free to introduce the golden goodness of honey to their diet. It is a great way to start them off on a healthy, natural diet with so many additional benefits.
Which Honey is Best to Start With?
All children have different tastes, (oh my, don’t we know it!) and often quite strong opinions about textures. Because of this you might want to experiment a little when it’s time to start them on honey. Wildflower honey is the favourite of many, but many of our younger customers prefer the sweeter and creamier Soft set honey.
Stay informed, keep your little ones safe, and remember, knowledge is the key to nurturing our precious ones.
Always consult your Doctor and seek medical advice if unsure.
Hanna Bäckmo
Curious about the world of bees and honey? Join our newsletter to learn something new each week.
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