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 potency. 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 by the heaping spoonful.
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 at 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.
However, 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, and Methylglyoxal (MGO), that can support general wellness, immunity, and digestive health.
MGO is one of the most notable nutrients in Manuka honey that sets it apart from other types of honey. MGO has been thoroughly researched and is well-known for its famous antibacterial properties.
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 or 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. Instead, we let the bees work at their own pace. This means 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 a peace of mind that you’re getting the purest honey possible!
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.
