HELP! My Baby Ate Honey!!

[mjaclyn]

I know infants under 12 months are not supposed to have honey or any foods containing it because of the risk of botulism. However, my husband and I were at a restaurant for dinner tonight and we gave my 11 month old son some bread. He had eaten half of the piece when I asked the waiter what kind it was and he said it was honey wheat bread. I almost fell off my chair!! I'm usually extremely careful about what I feed my children so naturally, I'm worried. I've contacted the restaurant to see whether or not the honey used to make the bread has been pasteurized, although I'm not sure this would even make a difference. He'll be 12 months on the 27th so he's almost a year, but I'm still afraid for him. Does anyone know how long it takes for symptoms to develop? Am I being overly paranoid?

 

[DVCLiz]

I know infants under 12 months are not supposed to have honey or any foods containing it because of the risk of botulism. However, my husband and I were at a restaurant for dinner tonight and we gave my 11 month old son some bread. He had eaten half of the piece when I asked the waiter what kind it was and he said it was honey wheat bread. I almost fell off my chair!! I'm usually extremely careful about what I feed my children so naturally, I'm worried. I've contacted the restaurant to see whether or not the honey used to make the bread has been pasteurized, although I'm not sure this would even make a difference. He'll be 12 months on the 27th so he's almost a year, but I'm still afraid for him. Does anyone know how long it takes for symptoms to develop? Am I being overly paranoid?

Yes, you are being overly paranoid. I'm sure a piece of honey wheat bread at age 11 months isn't going to harm him. It will be fine.

 

[Scurvy]

I think it's mostly raw honey you have to worry about. (And even that isn't automatically bad, there are just some risks associated with it.) I believe since it was cooked in the bread it's probably fine.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

According to the WHO, cooking botulism bacteria for more than 5 minutes above 85 degrees C (which is below the boiling point of water) will kill it. There is no risk from eating cooked honey in bread.

 

[Silent1CB]

I'm not a parent, but I too think if its cooked, its fine.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

I think it's just raw honey you have to worry about. (And even that isn't automatically bad, there are just some risks associated with it.) I believe since it was cooked in the bread it's probably fine.

I haven't found a lot of info for you but what I've read you should be ok. I did read that its really rare and more so if its been cooked as an ingrediant.

You should be fine. A few more kids and you won't even worry about it.

 

[mjaclyn]

Thanks for the replies I'm actually much less paranoid than I was with my first child (yes, this is my second). Hard to believe I know... ;-)

 

[laurie31]

There probably wasn't enough honey put into that whole loaf to harm a baby regardless, and as a PP noted, it was cooked (I presume it wasn't raw dough ) so any botulism spores would have been long dead. No risk. None at all.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

If you are really worried you should call your pediatrician, but no, I wouldn't worry about bread baked with honey. Your baby did not eat raw honey, he ate bread baked with honey, not so worrisome.

 

[carole88]

My DH is a pediatrician and he said as long as it is cooked in the bread, you have no worries.

 

[Tinkermommy]

Am I being overly paranoid?

I think you are. Raw honey has in increased risk of botulism for babies. Since it was baked and probably a very small portion he's more than likely just fine.

I am pretty sure that babies have consumed raw honey for thousands of years before the warning from the AAP. Some of them may have gotten sick, very sick, but it's not guaranteed that every infant that consumes honey will get sick. It's not poison, just an increased risk.

Not that I think you should give him a spoonful of it. You will have to wait a whole month until he's one to do that!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Glad your baby is ok OP and if if it makes you feel any better, I would have reacted exactly like you did back when my kids were babies. A vigilant parent is better then a careless one in my book any-day

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Cooked honey is fine.

While I don't purpose to give my children honey under the age of 12 months....the concern is more with raw honey. Your baby should be fine.

 

[Robinrs]

Get a grip, hon. There are FAR worse things that can happen to your kids in their lifetime besides honey.

 

[tink1969]

WOW! You are way too paranoid!

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Yes, you are paranoid. This must be your first, huh? You're in for a long road ahead of you!

Of course, it's better to be safe than sorry and with all the doom and gloom stories new mother's get, so it would be impossible not to get paranoid once in a while. With all the conflicting advice, it's a wonder new mothers even take their children out of the house! I would think that since it's baked it should be fine. Now, go poor some soda in his bottle and lay him on his stomach for a nap!

 

[Magic Mom]

I know infants under 12 months are not supposed to have honey or any foods containing it because of the risk of botulism. However, my husband and I were at a restaurant for dinner tonight and we gave my 11 month old son some bread. He had eaten half of the piece when I asked the waiter what kind it was and he said it was honey wheat bread. I almost fell off my chair!! I'm usually extremely careful about what I feed my children so naturally, I'm worried. I've contacted the restaurant to see whether or not the honey used to make the bread has been pasteurized, although I'm not sure this would even make a difference. He'll be 12 months on the 27th so he's almost a year, but I'm still afraid for him. Does anyone know how long it takes for symptoms to develop? Am I being overly paranoid?

He's fine. It was baked bread, not a cup of honey right out of the hive. You are being way overly paranoid.

 

[Freyja]

Sorry. Way too paranoid according to my books I´m sure your baby will be fine!

 

[golfgal]

Hon, do yourself a favor and stop reading parenting books, stop getting parenting magazines, stop reading parenting websites and just do what comes natural. None of your kids have read those books so they aren't going to know how they are supposed to act either. You will save yourself a LOT of stress.

 

[blu3d3vil]

I fed my 1 year old a taste of raw honey and she loved it. She's 2 1/2 now.