Botulism & Babies: Is it safe to use honey products on your baby’s skin?

I often get this question from concerned moms.  The answer is a definite – YES!

Honey should not be given to babies younger than 12 months to consume in their diet. This could cause Botulism. Infant botulism is an illness that can happen when a baby ingests bacteria that produce a toxin inside the body.

Paediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is at least 12 months before introducing honey because it may contain spores of bacteria that can cause botulism. This doesn’t mean your honey supply is contaminated – these bacteria are harmless to adults and children older than one year.

As kids get older, they can have honey because their mature digestive systems move the Clostridium bacteria spores through the body before they can cause any harm.

This being said, there is absolutely no risk of using honey on your baby’s body.

In fact, honey could speed up healing of damaged skin and prevent loss of moisture to keep your baby’s skin well hydrated and soft.  Honey has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and also speeds up your skin cells’ healing processes.  It is also a well known treatment for eczema and skin irritations.

So if you are looking for natural baby products that are suitable for sensitive skin – try our very own Babee Range from Honeysuckle.