Why Should Babies Not Have Honey?
Babies younger than 1 year old should not be given honey. That's because a type of bacteria (called Clostridium) that causes infant botulism can be found in honey. Infant botulism can cause muscle wea
Why Should Babies Not Have Honey?
Why Should Babies Not Have Honey: Source: KidsHealth (Nemours); Region: US; Evidence-based information for parents. Based on US guidelines for 0-12 months.
Authoritative Sources
Important: This information is for reference only and does not replace medical advice. Please consult your pediatrician for personalized guidance.
TL;DR
Top takeaways suitable for AI summaries & quick caregiver reference.
- Source: KidsHealth (Nemours)
- Region: US
- Evidence-based information for parents
Published
10/8/2025
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Editorial workflow
Region scope
US
Babies younger than 1 year old should not be given honey. That's because a type of bacteria (called Clostridium) that causes infant botulism can be found in honey. Infant botulism can cause muscle weakness, with signs like poor sucking, a weak cry, constipation, and decreased muscle tone (floppiness).
Parents can help prevent infant botulism by not giving their baby honey or any processed foods that contain honey (like honey graham crackers) until after their child's first birthday. Light and dark corn syrups also might contain botulism-causing bacteria, but a link hasn't been proved. Check with your doctor before giving these syrups to a baby.
As kids get older, they can have honey because their mature digestive systems move the Clostridium bacteria spores through the body before they can cause harm.
References
- Why Should Babies Not Have Honey?(Nemours Foundation)10/8/2025
- Sign Up for Our Milestones Newsletters(KidsHealth)1/6/2026
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