| Age | Can they have it? | How to serve it |
|---|---|---|
| 4 months | No — not yet | — |
| 6 months | No — not yet | — |
| 9 months | No — not yet | — |
| 12 months | Yes | After 12 months honey is no longer a botulism risk, but it is an added sugar — the CDC says children under 24 months should not have added sugars. |
| 18 months | Yes | After 12 months honey is no longer a botulism risk, but it is an added sugar — the CDC says children under 24 months should not have added sugars. |
| 2 years | Yes | After 12 months honey is no longer a botulism risk, but it is an added sugar — the CDC says children under 24 months should not have added sugars. |
Cut food for infants and young children into pieces no larger than one-half inch. Cut cylindrical foods (hot dogs, sausage, string cheese) into short thin strips — round pieces can get stuck in the airway. Cut small spherical foods (grapes, cherries, berries, tomatoes) into small pieces. Cook hard vegetables and fruit until they mash easily. Remove seeds, hard pits, skin and bones.
Honey is not on the AAP or CDC choking-hazard lists. That is not the same as no risk: any food can choke a baby if the piece is too big or the wrong shape. Cut it to no larger than half an inch, keep your baby sitting up in a high chair, keep mealtimes calm, and watch them the whole time they are eating.
Honey is not one of the common allergens. Introduce it on its own anyway and wait 3 to 5 days before the next new food, so if your baby does react to something you know what it was.
Watch for diarrhea, rash, vomiting or hives after a new food. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.
This applies to honey in any form, including honey baked into food, honey graham crackers, honey on a pacifier, and 'raw' or manuka honey.
Not before 12 months. Never before 12 months. Honey given to a child younger than 12 months may cause a severe food poisoning called botulism. Do not add honey to your baby's food, water, infant formula or pacifier. This applies to honey in any form, including honey baked into food, honey graham crackers, honey on a pacifier, and 'raw' or manuka honey.
From 12 months: After 12 months honey is no longer a botulism risk, but it is an added sugar — the CDC says children under 24 months should not have added sugars. Cut food for infants and young children into pieces no larger than one-half inch. Cut cylindrical foods (hot dogs, sausage, string cheese) into short thin strips — round pieces can get stuck in the airway. Cut small spherical foods (grapes, cherries, berries, tomatoes) into small pieces. Cook hard vegetables and fruit until they mash easily. Remove seeds, hard pits, skin and bones.
Honey is not on the AAP or CDC choking-hazard lists, but any food can choke a baby if the piece is too big. Cut it to no larger than half an inch, keep your baby sitting up while they eat, and watch them the whole time.
Watch for diarrhea, rash, vomiting or hives after a new food. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips or tongue. Offer one single-ingredient new food at a time and wait 3 to 5 days before the next one, so a reaction is easy to trace. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.