As people are moving towards living a healthier lifestyle...one of the product that is being removed from the diet is white sugar and is sometimes substituted with honey. Honey has many wonderful properties and is definitely good for us but for babies younger than a year old, honey can be deadly. One common practice that comes to my mind is a mom putting a little honey on the baby's pacifier.
You ask...why is honey harmful to babies under a year old - Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This bacteria produces a toxin that breeds quickly in the digestive tract of young babies leading to infant botulism. It is believed that some deaths that have been attributed to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) may have actually been from infant botulism.
This bacteria can also be found is in the soil. Areas that have a high incidence of containing the bacteria in the soil are Pennsylvania, Utah, Arizona and California. To protect baby from soil exposure, caretakers who work outside should be sure to shower and change clothing before handling them.
Yes...honey is a great sweetner but remember there are times when honey is not so sweet.
Posted By: Belinda Anderson
Wednesday, May 13th 2009 at 4:25PM
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