Manuka Honey and Babies: An Informative Guide for Parents

As Manuka honey grows in popularity for its health benefits, parents ponder: can babies enjoy it too? This guide dives into Manuka honey's safety, nutrition, and creative ways to serve this sweet superfood to little ones over age one.

Key Takeaways

• Manuka honey should not be given to babies under 12 months.
• After age one, Manuka honey offers health and digestive benefits.
• Stir Manuka honey into porridge or drizzle onto fruit to serve.

Comparing Key Points

Is Manuka honey safe for babies under age one? 

No, raw honey, including Manuka honey is not considered safe for infants under 12 months old due to the potential risk of infant botulism from clostridium botulinum spores.

Executive Summary:

• Manuka honey is considered safe for most, but should not be given to infants under one year of age.
• The beneficial nutrients in Manuka honey support immunity, digestion, and overall health.
• Add Manuka honey into your little one’s diet by mixing it into porridge or drizzling it over fruit.
• At Manukora, we are committed to providing the purest Manuka honey possible, with QR codes demonstrating each jar’s authenticity and source.

Everything to Know About Manuka Honey and Babies

In recent years, Manuka honey has gained immense popularity worldwide due to its high nutrient concentration. 

Extracted from the nectar of the Manuka tea tree, native to New Zealand, this superfood is considered a daily staple for many. It adds a delightful twist when added on top of yogurt, ice cream, or other desserts. It can also be a creamy indulgence all on its own when enjoyed with the heaping spoonful.

• Potential Benefits
• Precautions

Yet, as parents, we might find ourselves asking the question—Is Manuka honey safe for our little ones? In this guide, we dive into whether Manuka honey is safe for babies, what age it can be introduced at, and creative ways you can enjoy Manuka honey with your kids!

The Right Age: When Can Babies Have Manuka Honey?

While Manuka honey is safe for children and adults of most ages, it’s generally recommended that:

• Infants aged 12 months or younger should not consume it. Raw honey, including Manuka honey, can contain botulism spores, which can increase the risk of infant botulism. 
• As your child grows and develops, they build more robust immune systems, which prevent the clostridium botulinum spores from germinating and developing into botulism.

This means that after your child passes the one-year mark, Manuka honey is considered a safe and yummy option that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

Potential Benefits of Manuka Honey for Toddlers

Manuka honey is filled with beneficial nutrients, like:

• Prebiotics
• Antioxidants
• Methylglyoxal (MGO)

These can support general wellness, immunity, and digestive health. 

Improved Gut Health

Prebiotics in Mānuka honey support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, aiding in optimal digestive health and nutrient absorption.

Benefits Overall Health

Mānuka honey contains various vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6), vitamin C, potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron. These nutrients contribute to general wellness, supporting functions like energy production and bone health.

Supports Immune Response

MGO is a unique compound in Mānuka honey. It contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help maintain immune health by reducing harmful bacteria and inflammation.

Better Oral Health

The antibacterial properties of Mānuka honey can support oral health by helping to reduce bacteria that cause dental issues.

Wound Healing

Mānuka honey's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can aid in the healing of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It helps prevent infection and supports the body's natural healing processes.

Cough Relief

Mānuka honey can provide relief from coughs and sore throats. Its soothing texture helps coat the throat, reducing irritation.

"Filled with prebiotics, these nutrients support healthy bacteria along the digestive tract. In turn, this can support overall wellness in multiple ways." 

Serving Ideas: How to Introduce Manuka Honey to Little Ones

Manuka honey can be a tasty treat and is easy to incorporate into almost any lifestyle. It’s also a great natural alternative to heavily processed or refined sugars found in many foods today. 

Get creative with integrating this sweet, golden treat into your little one’s meals and snacks. Pour it over pancakes as an alternative to sugar-packed, highly processed syrups. Spread it over a slice of toast slathered in nut butter. Or blend it into porridge topped with delicious fresh fruit.

Many also love to add honey to:

• Smoothies as a natural sweetener
• As a sweet glaze on top of vegetables

While you can cook with Manuka honey, it’s best to use it in its natural state. Heating it can deplete its beneficial nutrients. Thus, when adding it to tea or other hot beverages, wait until the water has come off boiling. If you want to add it to pizzas or other recipes, try adding it as a topping after cooking.

Precautions and Safe Practices

Rest assured that Manuka honey is considered a safe and delicious option for most individuals. However, there are a few things to note.

Before purchasing Manuka honey, do your research and ensure it’s coming from a high-quality, natural, and raw source. For example, at Manukora, we produce all of our Manuka honey without GMOs, pesticides, or antibiotics. We also provide a QR code on every product so you can check the authenticity of every jar.

It’s also important to practice caution when introducing Manuka honey into your child’s diet due to potential allergies and never serve honey to children under one year of age. 

Start by introducing only a little bit at a time.

While rare, it always pays to be cautious, just in case! Some signs of an allergic reaction to honey may include:

• Hives
• Swelling
• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy throat
• Difficulty swallowing

More severe signs may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you notice your little one having any of these symptoms, seek out immediate medical care.

Manukora’s Commitment to Purity

From placing our hives in remote forests devoid of environmental toxins and pesticides to offering a unique QR authenticity platform that allows you to trace the origin of your honey, Manukora is dedicated to offering pure, authentic, and real Manuka honey.

We like to refer to our Manuka honey as the Honey With Superpowers™.

Our beekeepers;

• Never interfere with the honey-making process.
• Let the bees work at their own pace. 
• So, we only harvest the honey once they’ve completed their hard work.
• This also means we don’t use dehydration processes to pasteurize the honey, ensuring each batch is raw, pure, and nutrient-rich.

Enjoy Manukora’s High-Quality Manuka Honey with Your Children

Manuka honey is an indulgence the entire family can feel good about. As per the above, honey is generally safe for most individuals over the age of one. If introducing honey for the first time, always start with a small amount to ensure allergies aren’t a problem. Checking the source and authenticity of your Manuka honey can also give you peace of mind that you’re getting the purest honey possible!

Manukora's Manuka honey collection offers an assurance of purity and quality. Their Manuka Honey MGO 1000+ stands out for its exceptional quality and high MGO content, truly embodying their Honey With Superpowers™. Understanding why Manuka honey is so valuable can also provide insights into its benefits.

Curious about different ways to enjoy honey? Learn about the delights of eating honeycomb in our guide, 'Can You Eat Honeycomb?' Additionally, explore the health comparisons between honey and sugar in our article, 'Is Honey Healthier Than Sugar?' and don’t forget to check out our guide on 'Does Honey Expire?' to ensure you’re enjoying your Manuka honey at its best.

Consult with your children’s pediatrician before adding honey (or any new food) to their palette. That way, you know you're approaching your child’s diet with proper care.

FAQs

What are the recommended age and safety guidelines for giving Manuka honey to babies?

Manuka honey should not be given to babies under 12 months old due to the risk of infant botulism. After age one, it is considered safe and beneficial for children’s health and digestion.

What are the health benefits of Manuka honey for toddlers and children?

Manuka honey is rich in nutrients like prebiotics, antioxidants, and Methylglyoxal (MGO), which support immunity, digestion, and overall wellness. MGO, in particular, is known for its antibacterial properties.

How can Manuka honey be introduced into a child’s diet?

For children over one year, Manuka honey can be mixed into porridge, used as a glaze on fruits and vegetables, or added to smoothies. It’s best consumed raw to preserve its nutrients and can be used as a natural sweetener or topping.

What are the precautions to take when introducing Manuka honey to a child’s diet?

Ensure the Manuka honey is of high quality and authenticity. Introduce it gradually to monitor for potential allergies with symptoms like hives, swelling, or difficulty swallowing. Consult with a pediatrician before adding new foods like Manuka honey to your child's diet.

How does Manukora ensure the quality and purity of their Manuka honey?

Manukora produces Manuka honey without GMOs, pesticides, or antibiotics. They place hives in remote, toxin-free areas and use a QR code system for consumers to verify the honey’s authenticity and source, ensuring a pure, raw product.

Why is it important to check the source and authenticity of Manuka honey?

Verifying the source and authenticity helps ensure the honey is natural, raw, and free from contaminants. High-quality Manuka honey, like Manukora’s, offers full health benefits and reduces the risk of consuming adulterated or low-quality products.

Sources

Infant Botulism: Information for Clinicians. 

Honey allergy: Symptoms, causes, and treatment