Digest Number 1835 Honey

[CLBernat]

The issue with infants and honey is that the digestive system is essentially
undeveloped and unprepared for any foods save breast milk (or the
equivalent) at first. You could feed a newborn broccoli but the digestive enzymes,
bacteria, pancreatic enzymes, etc. simply aren't available to digest this
product.
Honey, though a simple glucose product does contain amounts of exotic (to
the newborn digestive system) products that could cause a dangerous overgrowth
of bacteria. Not because the product itself contains high levels of any
particular bacteria, but because the mechanisms for handling foreign products
simply doesn't exist yet in the newborn.
As always, there will be individual newborns that could be fed honey with
absolutely no cause for concern. Then there are those newborns who would react
to the honey by developing severe gastric symptoms or worse. The problem is
who can determine which baby will react in what manner?
So the general rule of thumb is don't feed a baby under one year of age
honey. After one year one can suppose the newborn's digestive system has been
challenged and strengthened enough to respond appropriately to most foods. The
age is really arbitrary as it all depends on the vital force and the
susceptibility of the individual as always. This is a case of better safe than
sorry.
Carol B.
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