Every parent would want a good thing for her baby, and one of her efforts by giving honey to their baby. The reason, honey has many extraordinary benefits and is very good for the health of the body.
In some of our societies, the provision of honey to newborns is already a tradition of ancient times. The hope that the baby is always healthy, even just to just give the sensation of fun so no more fuss. However, is it true, honey is safe for babies?
Since 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been very aggressive in classifying some foods that may or may not be for babies. Among them are categorized by age, for example certain foods may only be consumed by infants with a minimum age. honey for baby
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One type of food that is included in the rule is honey. By reading the reviews below you will know when to give honey to the baby, along with the scientific reasons.
Honey should only be given to babies over 1 year.
This is a safe recommendation regarding the use of honey for babies. This rule applies to different types of honey and processed products, whether pure honey, mixed, in raw form, or other foods cooked or baked with honey.
In accordance with the statement made by the AAP Pediatric Nutrition Handbook that, "Infants under 12 months should avoid all sources of honey." The statement makes it very clear that anything containing honey should be avoided, including honey cereal.
Why is honey considered unsafe for Babies?
The reason for delaying honey is not due to concerns about food allergic reactions or choking hazards. But because it avoids a serious illness called infant botulism (infant botulism).
Infant botulism occurs when the baby ingests spores from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Spores in honey do not develop into anything, but in the gastrointestinal tract, spores can 'hatch' into the bacteria, then can produce toxins that affect muscle control or infant movement.
Some symptoms such as constipation, lethargy, weak movements and crying, minimal facial expression, and in extreme cases (rare) respiratory muscles can become paralyzed. If medical assistance is not immediately given, it can lead to infant death.
If so, why is honey considered safe for toddlers, children, and adults?
So maybe you are wondering why honey is not safe for babies under 1 year of age, but either for adults, or for children who have an age above it.
The answer lies in the digestive tract maturity. Small babies under 12 months old do not have enough acid intensity in their digestive system. Where this acid helps fend off toxins produced by bacteria.
In contrast to adults and children, with a more mature digestive system, and sufficient acid levels, they can easily counteract the botulism threat.
Reasons That Oppose This Rule!
Fact: Not all honey contains bacterial spore Clostridium botulinum, unfortunately the author can not find exact numbers. By comparison, in California that included the highest incidence rates, 10-15% of honey contained spores.
So, of course the rules take too cautious steps. Though many cultures that teach honey to the baby on a regular basis.
Furthermore, the risk of infants exposed to botulism after consuming honey is low. In the United States, fewer than 100 cases are reported every year, and most of these infants recover fully after treatment. Unfortunately, however, some babies die from it.
Despite the above controversy, why do not we take safe steps without risking something so serious. Whereas it can be prevented? So tell your baby to be patient to wait until his age is even one year to enjoy the benefits and delicacy of pure honey.