What harm does it do if infants under a year old eat honey?

Question

My friend fed her 9-month old niece honey & we didn't know we weren't supposed to feed it to her until I read the label, but nothing happened to the baby. It wasn't honey by itself, but it was honey inside of a smoothie.

Answer 1

Honey is a serious risk for children under 1 1/2 years of age, it can lead to bacterial botulism, even if the honey is mixed with other ingredients. 72% of botulism deaths per year in the U.S. are of infants. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, and have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. These are all symptoms of the muscle paralysis caused by the bacterial toxin. If untreated, these symptoms may progress to cause paralysis of the arms, legs, trunk and respiratory muscles. In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food, but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days.

Answer 2

I see you have some answers about botulism and I am not too familiar with that in babies. However in the past some research has been done with SIDS babies and some research found a correlation between babies being fed honey and SIDS. I do not believe anything was ever scientifically proven it was all anecdotal evidence but I think that was enough to scare any of us away from giving honey to babies.

Answer 3

Honey causes botulism
here's a link...

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infant-botulism/HQ00854

Answer 4

I believe that honey can cause botulism in infants.

Answer 5

it has a certain bacteria in it that infants havent developed an immunity against yet

Answer 6

Honey has bacteria that can cause botulisim. Please don't give the baby any more honey it's too risky.

Answer 7

honey is not sterilized