Family guide
Honey, sugar and children: what the U.S. guidelines say
Key takeaways
- No honey before 12 months, raw or processed, baked into food or on a pacifier. It can cause infant botulism.
- The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines advise children age 10 and younger to avoid added sugars, and honey counts as one.
- Naturally occurring sugars in whole fruit and plain milk are not added sugars.
- For older children, whole fruit such as mashed dates or berries is the best way to add sweetness.
Under 12 months: no honey at all
Do not give honey to a baby younger than 12 months. That includes raw and processed honey, honey baked into foods, and pacifiers dipped in honey. Honey can carry Clostridium botulinum spores, which can grow in an infant's immature gut and cause infant botulism, a serious illness. This is the advice of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Honey Board.
Signs of infant botulism include constipation, poor feeding, a weak cry or suck, drooping eyelids and floppy muscle tone. If you notice them, treat it as an emergency and seek care right away.
Children and added sugars
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans go further than earlier editions. They say no amount of added sugar is recommended for anyone, that a meal should contain no more than 10 g of added sugars, and that children age 10 and younger should avoid added sugars altogether. Added sugars include honey, maple syrup, table sugar and other syrups, and the guidelines single out sugar-sweetened drinks such as soda, fruit drinks and energy drinks.
The sugars that occur naturally in whole fruit and plain milk are not added sugars.
Sweetening for kids, practically
- Mash or blend fruit into oatmeal and yogurt: ripe banana, berries, or a spoonful of date paste.
- Chop dried fruit (unsweetened apricots, dates) into snacks. Cut it small for young children to reduce choking risk.
- Skip sweet drinks. Water and plain milk are the guidelines' recommended drinks.
- For teens and adults, honey is a flavorful choice when you do sweeten. Keep it to a teaspoon or two.
A note on nuts and dried fruit
Whole nuts and large pieces of dried fruit are choking hazards for young children. Offer nut butters thinly spread, and chop dried fruit finely, following your pediatrician's advice for your child's age.
Questions
Why can't babies have honey?
Honey can carry spores of Clostridium botulinum. A baby's gut is not mature enough to stop the spores from growing and making toxin, which causes infant botulism. Older children and adults are not affected in the same way.
Is cooked or baked honey safe for babies?
No. Normal cooking and baking do not reliably destroy botulism spores, so avoid foods made with honey too before 12 months.
What are the signs of infant botulism?
Constipation, poor feeding, a weak cry or suck, drooping eyelids and floppy muscles. It is a medical emergency: call your doctor or 911.
Can a breastfeeding mother eat honey?
Yes. Spores in honey a mother eats are not passed to the baby through breast milk.
Sources
- Botulism: infant botulism · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Infant Botulism and Honey (EDIS AA142) · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Infant botulism health alert · Texas Department of State Health Services
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and USDA
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030: summary of recommendations · American Academy of Family Physicians
We use government, scientific and industry sources and update this guide when they change. Read our editorial policy. This guide is general information, not medical advice.