Healthy Honey, But Why Is It Dangerous for Babies?

Medical Video: Is Honey Safe For Babies #NaturalRemedies

Some people still believe that applying honey to the lips of a newborn baby can make the baby's lips turn red. This trust continues to be passed down through generations. Even though babies are advised to only be breastfed until they are 6 months old (exclusive breastfeeding). In addition to breast milk factors, honey should not be given to babies because it can cause dangerous diseases.

What's in honey?

Honey is made naturally by bees. Honey is believed to contain many benefits. Honey contains a lot of nutrients that are beneficial for health. The content of nutrients in honey, among others:

Carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are the main content of honey. About 82% of the carbohydrate content in honey.
Proteins and amino acids. Honey contains a number of enzymes and 18 types of free amino acids, the most of which are in the form of proline.
Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Honey contains a number of B vitamins, namely riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and vitamin B6, and contains vitamin C. It also contains minerals, such as calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, chromium, and manganese. Antioxidants in honey are in the form of flavonoids, ascorbic acid, catalase, and selenium.
Other components. Honey also contains organic acids and aromatic acids.

Nutrients rich in honey make honey have many benefits. One of the benefits of honey is that it can relieve coughing in children. Honey can reduce coughing at night so that children can sleep better. However, giving honey to new children is allowed after the age of one year.

Babies should not be given honey

Honey is a natural food that contains many benefits. However, giving honey to babies before one year of age can endanger their health. This is because honey contains the spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria which can cause disease if the baby swallows it. Therefore, do not give honey to babies who are not yet one year old.

Honey contains spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria which can cause botulism. Spores from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria that are swallowed by the baby can then develop and multiply in the baby's intestine, and produce toxins that are dangerous and cause botulism. If the baby is exposed to botulism, he will begin to show early symptoms, such as constipation or constipation, accompanied by lethargy and reduced appetite.

This bacterial spore is not too dangerous for adults and children over 1 year because normal microorganisms found in the intestine can prevent the growth of these bacteria and can remove spores from the body before causing harm. Meanwhile, infants under 1 year old do not have a mature digestive tract so they cannot prevent the growth of bad bacteria in the intestine.

To be safe, you should also not add honey to baby food (such as bread or pudding). Although poisons are very sensitive to hot cooking temperatures, spores are difficult to kill. If you want to add sweetness to baby food, you should try adding sweet fruits, such as bananas. Fruits contain natural sweetness and also contain vitamins and minerals that babies need.

Commercial foods containing honey, such as milk, ready-to-eat cereals, and instant baby food, are safe for babies because they have undergone enough heating to kill bacteria. However, you should consult a doctor before giving food to your baby.

Infant botulism

Botulism is very rare, but dangerous for babies. Botulism can usually affect infants between the ages of 3 weeks and 6 months, but all babies are at risk of developing the disease until the age of 1 year.

Botulism is a disease that can occur when bacterial spores ingested in the baby's digestion produce poisons in the body. The toxins from these bacterial spores interfere with the normal interactions between muscles and nerves and can inhibit the baby's ability to move, eat, and breathe. Botulism can be dangerous because it can cause muscle weakness and respiratory problems.

The initial symptoms of botulism are usually constipation or constipation which occurs around 8 to 36 hours after eating foods containing Clostridium botulinum spores. Other symptoms of botulism include difficulty in swallowing, poor appetite, lethargy, weakness, muscle weakness, and respiratory problems. If your baby has any of these symptoms, you should immediately see a doctor to get medical treatment as soon as possible.

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