Ever since your grandma gave you your first snack of honey on warm toast as a child, you’ve been completely and utterly obsessed. Even after 35 years, it’s managed to stay at the very top of your list of favourite foods. And why wouldn’t it? It’s delicious, it’s versatile, and it even helps with your sore throats.

But now that you’ve had your baby, you wonder how long you have to wait to share your love of honey with them. They’re coming up to the 6-month mark, and as it’s nearly time to introduce them to foods, you wonder whether honey should be on the menu.

So, when is it safe to give my baby honey?

Honey is delicious, and it’s certainly a favourite within the homes of many families. However, you shouldn’t be giving your baby any honey before they are at least 1 year old, even if it’s to help them with a cough or sore throat.

The reasons behind this are as follows:

Honey can sometimes contain a bacterium called clostridium botulinum. This can cause food poisoning in babies called botulism.

Honey can be damaging to your baby’s emerging teeth.

Honey can encourage your baby to develop a sweet tooth.

What do I do if my baby has eaten honey?

If your baby has eaten some honey and is showcasing symptoms, it’s best to phone your doctor right away. These symptoms might appear as:

Constipation.

A lack of energy.

A lack of appetite.

Keep a close eye on them for at least 8 - 36 hours, as they might start to show symptoms within this time frame.

We understand that you want your baby to enjoy their food as much as possible, and that you may want some alternatives to honey to sweeten things up! So, how can you safely sweeten your baby’s food?

How do I add more flavour to my baby’s food without honey?

When giving your baby such foods as rice or plain yoghurt, add pureed fruit, dried fruit, or mashed banana to their foods. These foods are not only filled with valuable minerals and vitamins, but they are also naturally sweet.

When can my baby eat honey?

Don't give a baby honey until they're over a year old. Honey is a sugar, so avoiding it will also help prevent tooth decay.