Honey and Peanut Butter Help?

It seems like most people are educated about the risks of feeding honey to babies, but I'd like to share the following well-referenced information, in case anyone who reads this thread is not aware of the risk.
"The concern is with infant botulism.

Botulinum spores are found widely in soil, dust, and honey. Adults who swallow botulinum spores are almost never affected. When infants swallow the spores, however, the spores can germinate in their immature gastrointestinal tracts and begin producing botulinum toxin. This has occurred even when the honey was only used to sweeten a pacifier (European Journal of Epidemiology, Nov 1993).

Botulinum toxin is the most poisonous natural substance known to man. The lethal dose is only 0.###-###-#### mg per kg of body weight -- an amount that would be invisible to the naked eye. This tiny amount in the blood stream can cause death within minutes through paralysis of the muscles used in breathing.

Infant botulism has been found on every continent except Africa (Journal of Perinatology (2007) 27, 175–180). In the United States it is most common in the states of California, Utah, and Pennsylvania. While infant botulism can occur from taking in soil or dust (especially vacuum cleaner-bag dust), eating honey is the number one preventable cause. Corn syrups are not sterilized and may also be a source of contamination (The AAP Red Book, 2000).

Infant botulism can occur any time in the first year of life, but like SIDS it is most common in the first six months. In fact it has been suggested that it might be the cause of death in up to 10% of SIDS cases (Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics; Saunders 1992).

Thankfully, in most instances of infant botulism, the amount of toxin is so incredibly minuscule that the case remains mild. For this reason it is often misdiagnosed.

The first symptom of infant botulism is constipation (which is also a common benign finding in many infants). This can appear 3 to 30 days following ingesting spore-containing honey (The AAP Red Book, 2000). Typically, the parents then observe increasing listlessness, decreased appetite, and weakened cry over the next several days. Nursing mothers often report new engorgement. Sometimes this is the full extent of the disease. If the disease progresses, however, the child moves less and less and might begin to drool from the mouth. Gagging and sucking reflexes diminish. Loss of previous head control is also an important sign. Complete respiratory arrest can occur either suddenly or gradually.

If an otherwise healthy baby develops constipation, followed by weakness and difficulty in sucking, crying, or breathing, then infant botulism should be considered the most likely diagnosis until proven otherwise.

When infant botulism is diagnosed, the average Intensive Care Unit stay for the baby is about one month, typically including mechanical ventilation and continuous tube feedings. This is followed by another 2 weeks on the hospital ward, with a total hospital cost often exceeding $100,000 (Pediatrics; Feb 1991). Thankfully if the botulism is correctly diagnosed and the baby receives appropriate supportive care, almost all will recover fully and completely. The fatality rate for babies who have been hospitalized with botulism is less than 1%. Recently, an antitoxin for infant botulism has been developed and shown to reduce hospital days, mechanical ventilation, and tube feedings (The AAP Red Book, 2000).

The single most effective way to prevent infant botulism is for infants to avoid honey.

Therefore, despite other health benefits, honey is an unsafe food for any infant. HONEY SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 12 MONTHS."

Source: http://www.drgreene.com/21_825.html

ALSO, a question in a previous post was "WHO says no honey for babies???" Interestingly, one answer to the question is IN the question. The World Health Organization (WHO) says: "Infant botulism has been associated with honey contaminated with botulism spores. Mothers are warned not to feed raw honey to their infants, as Clostridium botulinum spores in honey have in a few cases resulted in infant botulism."

Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs270/en/

1 mom found this helpful

My peditrician said that once he was 1, that he could have everything we ate. Now I have a few friends whose children have severe food allergies and I try not to give him things with nuts. We don't eat a lot of food or use honey a whole lot. I heard and have read that if you hold off on giving the nuts until after age 2 you can reduce the risk of an allergy.

Babies under 12 months old shouldn't be given honey due to the risk of boutilism (sp). If it's cooked (like in honey nut cheerioes, bread or other foods) then it's OK for them to eat.

As for peanut butter, the latest studies show that it doesn't matter when it's first introduced. If a child has a peanut allergy, then they have a peanut allergy regardless of it they find out from eating it at 12 months old or 2 years old. All my kids were eating peanut butter by 18 months and were fine. We just watched them extra closely for a few hours after the first time they had it. While it may seem like every kid these days has a peanut allergy it's still a very small percentage so the chances are pretty great that your child does not have it.

Good questions. I believe that honey is safe after age 1 (before that, the concern is botchelism ~spelling?~) I waited until probably your son's age, as well, for both of my children, but I dont' think that this applies to using it as an ingredient?

PB I waited as long as possible on account of peanut allergies, just to be on the safe side. But the other caution with PB is choking. You know how dry it can be and can make it hard for little ones to eat sandwiches. I waited until after age 2 w/ the first and probably just before age 2 w/ the 2nd.

Reading some of the other answers here. I've always been told no honey until 1 year as well. Give the poor baby some vanilla honey french bread. ;)That sounds yummy!!

If no one in your family has had trouble with allergies, give him a try! He'll LOVE IT! There are days that is the only thing I can get my children to eat! It will take 3 to 4 exposures to see if he has any kind of reaction. But just look for rashes, hives, obviously, shortness of breath, or things out of the ordinary. He's old enough to give it a try for sure. Good luck!

Hi S., it's 1 yr. when you baby turns a yr. old, then you can try him on honey and p.butter.

Honey is 1 year, peanut butter is 2 years. I have read that many posteres have felt that since there are no allergies in their families that they are safer for introduction to peanuts at any age- not true. We have no allergies in either side of my or my DH's family and we found out the hard way our daughter (at 10 mos) is allergic to Lima Beans, green beans and peas, but is negative to EVERYTHING else including peanuts. Moral of the story: You can never be too careful and you just never know.

You can cook with it at any time, it's fresh and raw honey that you can't give them and it's for the first year. Peanuts are fine after a year as long as there is no history of allergies in the family. Although latest studies say that there's no need to wait on foods for allergies because it doesn't make a difference like they used to think it did. Either way, start with small amounts and see if there's a reaction.

P-butter is 2 years, I know for sure. Honey, 1 year is what I want to say....

Your 19 month old is plenty old enough for honey and peanut butter. And since there is no history of allergies he should be fine with both.

It's been a while since I was worrying about this stuff, and worry I did. First year no nos are eggs, honey and whole milk. But, with honey, as long it is processed, one year is fine. If it is raw honey, then 2 years. If it's cooked, it doesn't matter. With peanut butter, I would wait until a year because I think that you can develop allergies to some things if the child has them too early in life, even if they don't react at the time. Also, isn't there a choking hazard with peanut butter? Seems like I remember something like that. There is also a school of thought out there that says no grains before age one because of digestive problems and gluten allergies. My son would not eat grains until he was about 18 mos.

I do not remember the age for honey, but as far as peanuts, it is age 3.

Like you, peanut allergies do not run in my family, or any allergies for that matter. So you can imagine my surprise when my youngest was 9 months old and she pulled herself up on my older daughter's play table and grabbed her peanut butter and jelly sandwich and took a nice big bite and within minutes her face begin swelling and throat began closing shut.

I grabbed the children's benadryl (I always keep it on hand, just in case, after advice from one of my girlfriends, although I NEVER thought I would need it) and gave her a dose and then drove more than 80 miles per hour to our county hospital. The ER doctor said that the dose of benadryl probably slowed the closing of her throat long enough to get her to the hospital (about 15 minutes). From there, her reaction was so severe, she had to be life flighted to Toledo Children's Hospital. Worst day of my life!!!

Anyways, we now see an allergist yearly, unless she has a reaction. I made the same comment to the allergist about peanut allergies and other allergies not running in my family and his response was that peanut allergies are not typically related to other allergies nor do they see them running in families. He also said it was one of the most deadliest allergies. We do not know if her early exposure caused her to be so highly reactive to peanuts, but my older daughter was eating peanut butter by the time she was 1 years old. Obviously, I did not think I had any reason to be concerned. I know better now!! The baby I am expecting to deliver next month will NOT have anything with peanuts in it until he/she is at least 3, if then. I will not take any chances going through what I already went through.

I guess, it is always better to be safe than sorry. And my advice to any mother with children.....ALWAYS keep a bottle of children's benadryl in your medicine cabinet. You NEVER know when you might need it for yourself or a child who comes to your home to visit/play.

Hi S.,
I know with honey it is one year. It says right on the bottle. I think it's ok if it is cooked in bread or other things.
As with other things doctors differ on recommendations with peanut butter. My friend's dr. said one year. My doctor however suggested waiting until 3 yrs. for my son because he had a history of wheezing(asthma) and eczema. I think I gave peanut butter to my daughter before two because she had no history of wheezing or other allergies. She is fine.
On another note, I heard recently of a study saying all these peanut allergies may be a result of moms NOT giving their kids peanut butter until a later age. I guess the thought being exposure may get the body "used" to it. So, what's a mom to do.....
Ask your dr and see what they say.
Good luck.

Per our pediatrician, it is 12 months for honey and 3 years for peanut butter or any kind of nuts.

Hi S. -

My son is the same age and I have given him PB crackers and the ocassional thin layer of PB on toast. He loves the crackers or other PB flavored items but has not cared for the PB toast. The big concern right now is not so much allergies but making sure you give it to them in small amounts with plenty to drink in order to prevent choking. I have stayed away from honey though. If he has had honey it may have been in something I bought that was already prepared. Hope this helps! J.

My kids both had PB&J sandwhiches at one years old.

honey is unsafe for babies under 1 year of age, its safe to give it to your little guy.

I just read in Parents magazine that peds are reneging on their wait for PB recommendation as they're now thinking that waiting increases the likelihood of an allergy due to lack of exposure. Nothing like the pendulum swinging in the absolute opposite direction, huh? Consequently, I'd go with whatever your ped recommends, that way you're on the same page with him/her should something happen, kwim?

Honey is 1 year ... I thought pb was a year too, but I was told 15-18 months... although, I gave my son pbat like 7 months.... but pb isnt a risk for botulism like honey is, it is just a choking hazard and the allergy thing... so as long as you spread the pb thin enough and give it to him early in the day so that you can keep an eye on him for a reaction, I would say go ahead and give it to him... good luck!

iagree with them all about the after 1 year of age to give peanut butter and honey. that is what our pediatrician told us and we have always followed this. like everyone else said, start with small quantities first to make sure. all three of my kids love peanut butter mixed with honey on crackers as a quick snack. enjoy trying new things with your little one. hopefully he doesnt hit a picky food stage. good luck!!