Why cant babies under 12months have honey?

Question

I recently read in a magazine that babies under 12 months cant have honey. I would have thought that honey would have been better for a cold, sore throat or cough. Its a natural substance so why is it bad for them & what does it do to the body?

Answer 1

Honey has the possibility of carrying the botulism toxin, which can be deadly to babies. Not all honey has it, but there is no way of knowing what does and what doesn't, so all of it needs to be avoided. It doesn't affect adults, just babies. You're right though, it is a natural remedy for colds, sore throats and coughs, but not a good thing for a baby to have!

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Babies get botulism from honey in a different way. Bees naturally collect botulism spores as they are collecting nectar and mix them into the honey. Most people can eat these spores without difficulty because we have bacteria in our intestines and robust immune systems that eliminate the spores. Infants do not yet have these defenses. So when a baby eats honey, the spores find themselves in the oxygen-free intestine and come to life. They produce the toxin while inside the baby.

Answer 2

Can Babies Eat Honey

Answer 3

Babies can't have honey because some (not all) honey contains live botulism. If an infant gets botulism it can be fatal. Even though not all homey can make a baby sick please don't risk it. My little brother got infant botulisn when he was 3 months old (not from honey) he was in the ICU for 6 weeks with a feeding tube and venthilator. He also had ongoing facial paralysis for over a year. It was really sad and he could have died. His medical bills also added up to over a million dollars. So ya...even though honey tastes good, ban it.

Answer 4

Honey contains botulism spores, microscopic "seeds" that pass right through adults and older children. However, in a baby's intestine, they turn into bacteria and release toxins. Botulism in infants can also be caused by home-canned fruits, vegetables, or meats; the spores grow best without oxygen and can survive even at very high temperatures.

Symptoms of botulism include muscular weakness, usually starting in the facial muscles, then moves its way down the body, resulting in difficulty swallowing and breathing, and severe constipation. Infants who develop these symptoms should be seen right away by a health care provider, who can diagnose botulism by taking a stool sample. Infants with botulism usually require intensive medical care to help them get through the worst of the illness. In general, however, if babies receive proper medical attention, they do just fine.

Answer 5

I waited until six months and started with rice cereal also. Wait a few days until she gets used to that then start giving her vegetables. My pediatrician recommended that you only give one new food at a time, every two to three days. This gives your babys body some time to get used to the new food and helps you in case they have any allergic reaction so that you will be able to tell exactly what it is from. Don't worry if she doesn't want to eat any of it now, her body is doing fine with just formula. Wait a few weeks and try it again but don't force it on her. She will let you know when she's ready.

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Answer 6

Most microorganisms do not grow in honey because of its low water activity of 0.6. However, it is important to note that honey frequently contains dormant endospores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous to infants as the endospores can transform into toxin-producing bacteria in the infant's immature intestinal tract, leading to illness and even death.
Honey, corn syrup and other natural sweeteners are a potential threat to infants. Harmless to adults because of their stomach acidity, botulinum endospores are widely present in the environment and can persist in a dormant state in honey. Since an infant's digestive excretions are non-acidic, ingestion of honey creates an ideal medium for botulinum endospores to grow and produce sufficient levels of toxins to cause infant botulism. For this reason, it is advised that neither honey, nor any other sweetener, be given to children under the age of 12 months. Once a child is eating solid food, the stomach produces enough gastric acid to prevent the germination of the endospores.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

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infertility can run in the family and one of the first things the doctor asks you when you go to a fertility clinic is your family history regarding cases of infertility or other reproductive issues.
If infertility is caused by genetic disorder then it's not unusual that one of the kids (your mom) doesn't have it and another does (your aunt).
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Also remove alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes from your life because they might influence your chances too. Stress is also a risk factor when it comes to infertility.

Answer 9

Honey and botulism - more information
The spores (like seeds) of a bacterium called Colstridium botulinum can be present in honey.

Children over the age of one year, and adults can safely eat honey which contains these spores, and not develop any health problems. However if infants under 12 months eat honey which contains these spores, some babies will develop a serious health problem called botulism.

This is rare. Why this affects only babies under 12 months is not known. The toxin (poison) that these bacteria produce can cause paralysis, so that babies with botulism suddenly appear floppy, feed poorly, are constipated and have a weak cry. If not treated there can be a paralysis of respiratory muscles leading to death. Because it develops very fast, the baby may die suddenly, and be thought to have died from SIDS. Treatment of botulism is usually successful, but it will be needed for many weeks and may include being on a ventilator to support breathing. In adults, botulism is usually cause by eating poorly preserved food which has the toxin in it.

Botulism in babies is rare. Only one case was recorded in South Australia (population of just over 1.4 million people) in 2003, the only case since the beginning of 2000. However it is preventable. Therefore it is recommended that infants under 12 months are not fed honey.

http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=302&id=1927#11

Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of botulism typically appear between 18 and 36 hours after the infant consumes the bacteria. Constipation is often the first symptom of botulism that parents notice. But many other illnesses can also cause constipation. So if your infant has not had a bowel movement in 3 days, it's a good idea to call your child's doctor.

Other symptoms, which tend to occur in the following order, include:

constipation
flat facial expression
poor feeding (weak sucking)
weak cry
decreased movement
trouble swallowing with excessive drooling
muscle weakness
breathing problems
Infant botulism can be treated. But it's important to get your child medical care as soon as possible. So if you see warning signs of the illness, call your child's doctor right away.

Treatment
Infant botulism is treated in the hospital, usually in the intensive care unit, where doctors will try to limit the problems the toxin causes in the baby's body. Because the toxin can affect the breathing muscles, for example, doctors may put the infant on a ventilator. Because the toxin can affect the swallowing muscles, they may give the baby intravenous (IV) fluids to provide nourishment.

With proper medical care, the infant will likely fully recover once the effects of the toxin wear off.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/botulism.html

Answer 10

Honey contains the Botcholism bacteria which a babies immune system can't handle. As thebaby ages it will be able to handle it. Honey can be deadly to a baby for this reason.