Honey may seem harmless, especially when it comes to your baby but not knowing that this sweet treat can potentially be fatal to your infant can be dangerous. Learn what you need to know about honey, infant botulism, your baby and why this common element of Mother Nature shouldn’t be anywhere near your newborn.

If the term “infant botulism” sounds pretty scary, that’s because it is. While rare, this condition occurs when an infant (any baby under 12 months of age) ingests bacteria that produce a toxin within the body. Common results of such toxins include difficulty breathing and muscle weakness. The good news is that infant botulism is treatable but because the symptoms have a tendency to worsen quickly, many new parents don’t catch it in time, which can prove deadly to the baby.

What many parents aren’t aware of is the fact that honey contains the very bacteria spores that cause infant botulism. Because the bacteria that causes infant botulism is often found in dirt and dust, honey often becomes contaminated with it. Adults and older children tend to not suffer from such toxins carried by the honey but to an infant, especially those within the three weeks to six months-old range, the presence of such toxins can prove to be too much for a new and vulnerable immune system. When such toxins become present in an infant, the muscles and nerves get targeted severely, affecting the baby’s ability to breathe, move, and eat. Actually adults and younger children can succumb to other forms of botulism: wound botulism and food-borne botulism. Wound botulism occurs when bacteria infects a wound, producing a toxin, while food-borne botulism happens when an adult or child ingests canned foods that contain the toxin. However, these types of botulism tend to be treatable without much harm if caught early.

In the event that you believe your baby has infant botulism, you need to identify whether your child has the following symptoms: weak cry, poor feeding habits, weak at suckling, muscle weakness, breathing problems, excessive drooling, trouble swallowing, and a flat facial expression. Such symptoms usually occur within three to 30 days after ingestion of the spores. Constipation tends to be the first symptom present so pay attention if your baby has not had a bowel movement for three days straight. While infant botulism can be treated, it’s only effective if caught early on. If you have any reason to believe your baby is suffering from infant botulism, take him/her to the doctor immediately.

Common treatments for infant botulism include putting the baby on a ventilator to assist with breathing, fluids to provide nutrients and nourishment, and giving an antitoxin to combat the toxin. The easiest way to prevent your baby from developing infant botulism is to avoid giving him/her honey in any shape or form until after the first birthday.

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