FAQ: Why Can't Babies Have Honey?

Question: Why Can't Babies Have Honey?

Answer: To any parent, I hope you have heard that you should never give honey to your baby. Most containers of honey say this right on the label. But do you know why? Honey can carry a small amount of botulism spores. This amount is so small that adults and children shouldn't have a problem. However since a baby's immune system is still developing, there is a chance that even this small amount of spores can do serious damage to a baby. The general rule of thumb is to wait until a baby is one year old to feed them honey. If they have had any health issues, particularly with their immune system, I would put it off even longer. They will have plenty of time later to enjoy the world's greatest sweetener.