[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/infant-allergies\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/infant-allergies\/","headline":"Why Can’t Babies Have Honey? Questions About Infant Food Risks","name":"Why Can’t Babies Have Honey? Questions About Infant Food Risks","description":"Why can't babies have honey? When can babies have peanut butter? UPMC answers infant food-safety and allergy questions for you.","datePublished":"2019-11-01","dateModified":"2026-04-21","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","name":"UPMC Magee-Womens","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-magee-womens-hospital\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/honey_blg.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/honey_blg.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/infant-allergies\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Pediatrics","Women's Health"],"wordCount":899,"keywords":["Food Allergies"],"articleBody":"When can babies have peanut butter? Why can’t babies have honey? When can babies eat eggs? These are big questions for parents concerned about food allergies and food dangers for their children 12 months or younger.Some foods, like peanuts and eggs, are potential allergens. Other foods, like honey, pose food safety risks.Here’s what you should know about babies and food risks.How Common Are Food Allergies?About 8% of kids have food allergies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most serious allergic reactions in the United States come from these eight foods:PeanutsMilkEggsFishSoyWheatTree nutsCrustacean shellfishAllergic reactions range from mild to severe and can start at any age, even if your child easily tolerated the food before.Allergic reactions to food occur when the immune system treats a specific food as harmful to the body. In response, the body heightens its natural defenses, producing allergy symptoms. Allergy symptoms can include:HivesDifficulty breathingUpset stomachRashSwellingNauseaHowever, steadfastly avoiding any potential food allergens can seriously \u2014 and possibly unnecessarily \u2014 restrict your child’s diet. And by gradually introducing your child to potential allergens, like peanuts, they can develop immunity.When Can Babies Have Peanut Butter?The peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies, and it can be life-threatening.The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) used to recommend not feeding peanuts to babies. However, those guidelines have changed. Now, NIAID says parents can begin introducing infant-safe peanut foods to babies when they’re developmentally ready \u2014 at 4 to 6 months of age.Earlier introduction of peanuts can reduce the risk of children developing a peanut allergy.Of course, you want to make sure the peanut is not a choking hazard, so peanut butter might be a better choice. NIAID recommends starting with 2 teaspoons of smooth peanut butter mixed with water, breast milk, or formula.When Can Babies Have Cow’s Milk?Dairy and lactose are also common allergens. About 2% to 3% of infants and young kids have a milk allergy, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network. Most milk allergies are discovered in a baby’s first year of life.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding as a baby’s sole source of nutrition for their first six months of life. However, babies can also react to cow’s milk from a breastfeeding mother’s diet. If your child has a cow’s milk protein allergy and you’re breastfeeding, you may need to avoid cow’s milk in your diet. Not all mothers can or want to breastfeed. Traditional baby formulas contain cow’s milk proteins. There are alternatives, including soy-based formulas, if your baby has a milk allergy. A pediatrician can advise you on these alternatives.The AAP says babies can begin to eat dairy foods like yogurt at about 6 months. Other dairy foods can be added as your child is developmentally ready. At 1 year of age, they can begin drinking cow’s milk (or plant-based alternatives).When Can Babies Eat Eggs?As with peanuts, parents can introduce eggs to a baby’s diet in the first four to six months of their life, when they begin eating solid foods. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to feed your baby eggs, and they’re easy to chew and swallow.Eggs are used in the production process for some vaccines. The yellow fever vaccine is the vaccine most likely to cause an allergic reaction in a child who is allergic to eggs. If your child has an egg allergy, talk to their pediatrician about vaccinations.Why Can’t Babies Have Honey?Babies under 12 months old should not be given honey, according to the AAP. The risk does not concern an allergy, but botulism. Botulism spores found in honey can replicate in a baby’s intestines, making them sick.Children 12 months and older can have honey, since their systems are more developed.Breastfeeding parents can have honey themselves, the AAP says.What’s the Best Way to Introduce New Foods to Babies?You should introduce new foods to your baby one at a time, a week or two apart, to watch for allergic reactions. As with all food issues, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician about any concerns.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 1, 2019, and was last reviewed on April 21, 2026.SourcesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics. Botulism: Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment.  American Academy of Pediatrics. Vaccine Ingredients: Frequently Asked Questions.  American Academy of Pediatrics. Cow\u2019s Milk Alternatives: Parent FAQs.  George Du Toit, MB, Graham Roberts, DM, Peter H. Sayre, MD, et al.. Randomized Trial of Peanut Consumption in Infants at Risk for Peanut Allergy. The New England Journal of Medicine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Food Allergies in Schools. “https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/school-health-conditions\/food-allergies\/index.html”. Food Allergy Research and Education. Preventing  Food Allergies in Infants: Putting the NIAID Guidelines Into Practice.  National Institutes of Health. Providing Lasting Protection from Peanut Allergy. “https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/nih-research-matters\/providing-lasting-protection-peanut-allergy”. Allergy & Asthma Network. Milk Allergy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cow's Milk and Milk Alternatives. “https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/infant-toddler-nutrition\/foods-and-drinks\/cows-milk-and-milk-alternatives.html”. American Academy of Pediatrics. When to Introduce Egg, Peanut Butter & Other Common Food Allergens to a Baby.  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