Honey is a source of natural sweeteners with a typical brownish color. Thanks to the sweetness and the myriad of benefits behind it, honey has become a favorite among many people, including children. However, for those of you who have babies, maybe you often wonder if you have given your baby honey early? Or is there a benchmark for the best age in introducing honey to babies?
When can you give honey to babies?
As a parent who has a baby, you may have to spend more time teaching and monitoring all things related to growth and development. Starting from asking him to play, teaching him to talk, paying attention to the development of his behavior, to introduce him to a variety of daily food sources.
Well, one of the food sources that is often the question to give to babies is honey. This is because honey has a natural sweetness with a soft texture that makes many parents think that honey for babies is safe at any age. Even though the reality is not that easy.
According to a pediatrician bond in the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the safest time to give a baby honey is when he has reached one year, reported on the Very Well Family page. Whether in the form of pure honey or processed honey.
This rule does not only apply to original honey in liquid form, but also for all foods processed with honey.
How do you introduce honey to a safe baby?
As per the previous rules, you don't need to rush to give honey to babies. Give honey at the best time according to his age. Preferably, let your little one taste small amounts of honey first as a first step in the food recognition process.
After that, try to wait for about three to four days if you want to switch to introducing other types of new foods. The goal is that you can assess whether the baby is allergic to honey or not. If you immediately provide new types of food for several days in a row after introducing honey, fear you will find it difficult to find which foods cause allergic symptoms in infants.
After the baby does not show any allergic symptoms, you may start mixing honey into a child's dish - whether as food or drink. Make sure you serve food that can interest him to taste honey.
For example mixing honey with yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies, and so on. As much as possible create a good impression for your little one's first experience.
Be careful, honey risks causing disease!
Not only feared can cause allergies or choking only if given to babies less than one year. The main reason why you are not recommended to give honey to babies too early, because honey contains spores from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.
These bacteria can stay and develop in the baby's digestive system, and even produce dangerous poisons and cause botulism. Babies affected by botulism will show some initial symptoms, including constipation or constipation, weakness, reduced appetite, and seizures.
The initial symptoms of botulism usually appear within 12-36 hours after eating food contaminated with bacteria. If you are aware of signs of baby botulism, consult a doctor immediately before it's too late. Early diagnosis can increase a baby's chances of getting the right treatment.
In some severe cases, botulism can interfere with breathing because the respiratory muscles are not able to work optimally, leading to death.