Can babies have honey? Why NZ advice says wait until 12 months
Can babies have honey?
No, not before 12 months. New Zealand advice from KidsHealth is that pēpi should be at least 12 months old before they eat honey, because honey can carry the spores that cause infant botulism. That covers every honey: mānuka, raw, pasteurised, creamed and honey from your own hives.
Why can't babies have honey?
Honey can contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. They are dormant and harmless to older children and adults, whose gut bacteria stop them from growing. A baby's gut is not mature enough to do that yet, so the spores can grow there and make a toxin that weakens the muscles. That illness is infant botulism. KidsHealth, the Paediatric Society of New Zealand's site for parents, calls it very rare, and lists honey as a known source of the spores alongside dust and soil.
The risk is highest in the first six months, but cases can happen at any point before the first birthday, which is why the advice is a flat 12 months rather than a sliding scale.
Which honey and honey foods to avoid before 12 months
| Food | Before 12 months? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Any honey from a jar: clover, multifloral, bush, kāmahi, rewarewa | No | Every floral source can carry spores |
| Mānuka honey, any UMF or MGO grade | No | The grade measures mānuka markers, not spores |
| Raw honey or honey straight from a hive | No | No processing step removes spores |
| Pasteurised, creamed or "pure" honey | No | Gentle heat used on honey does not destroy spores |
| Honeycomb | No | It is honey |
| Baked goods, cereals, yoghurts or snacks made with honey | Avoid | NSW Health advises no processed foods with honey under 12 months |
| Honey on a dummy or teat | No | Same spores, given directly |
Sources: KidsHealth NZ, Infant botulism (Paediatric Society of New Zealand, reviewed 30 September 2025); NSW Health, Infant botulism factsheet. Checked 31 October 2026.
Does cooking or baking make honey safe for babies?
Not reliably. Botulinum spores are far tougher than ordinary bacteria. They survive the warmth used to pasteurise or cream honey, and a muffin's centre does not get hot enough for long enough to count on. Australian health advice is to keep processed foods made with honey off the menu until 12 months too. Read the ingredients on baby rusks, cereals and toddler snacks: honey turns up in more of them than you would expect.
Signs of infant botulism to watch for
KidsHealth says symptoms can begin 3 to 30 days after the spores are swallowed. Constipation for three days or more is often the first sign. Then:
- less facial expression than usual
- poor feeding or a weak suck, and a weak cry
- being unusually sleepy and hard to rouse
- general weakness or floppiness, drooling, trouble swallowing or breathing
If your baby has any of these, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or see your GP straight away. If they are struggling to breathe, call 111. Those numbers are from KidsHealth. This page is about honey, not medical advice, so follow theirs.
When can toddlers have honey?
From 12 months. After the first birthday a child's gut handles the spores the way an adult's does, and honey is treated like any other sweet food. Start small, the same as with anything new. A runny clover or multifloral honey is mild, cheap and easy to stir through porridge or yoghurt. There is no reason to start a toddler on expensive mānuka.
Can babies have mānuka honey?
No. Mānuka honey is no different from other honey here: it can carry botulinum spores, and its UMF or MGO grade says nothing about spores. The same 12-month rule applies to mānuka at any price or grade.
Is it okay for a 10-month-old or 11-month-old to have honey?
No. The advice is no honey until at least 12 months. The risk of infant botulism is highest under six months, but cases occur right up to the first birthday, so a month or two early is not a safe margin.
My baby accidentally ate honey. What should I do?
Don't panic: infant botulism is very rare and most babies who swallow a little honey are fine. Watch them for the next month for constipation lasting three days or more, a weak cry or suck, unusual sleepiness or floppiness. If you see any of those, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your GP. Call 111 if they have trouble breathing.
Is honey in baby food or rusks okay?
Check the label before 12 months. Australian health advice is to avoid processed foods that contain honey for babies under one, because normal baking and processing do not reliably destroy the spores.
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- Raw honey in New Zealand: what it means, where to buy it, what it costs
- How to read a New Zealand honey label
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- Does honey expire? Best-before dates on NZ honey, explained
- Buying honey direct from a New Zealand beekeeper
- Clover, multifloral and liquid honey: what's the difference?
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- How much honey costs in New Zealand
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- New Zealand honey by region: what each part of the country produces