Table of contents:
Some people still believe that applying honey to the lips of a newborn can make the baby's lips turn red. This belief continues from generation to generation. Even though babies are advised to only be given breast milk until they are 6 months old (exclusive breastfeeding). Apart from breastfeeding, it turns out that honey should not be given to babies because it can cause dangerous diseases.
What's in the honey?
Honey is made naturally by bees. Honey is believed to contain many properties. Honey contains a lot of nutrients that are beneficial for the health of the body. The nutritional content in honey, among others:
- Carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are the main content of honey. About 82% of the carbohydrate content in honey.
- Protein and amino acids. Honey contains a number of enzymes and 18 types of free amino acids, the most of which is in the form of proline.
- Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Honey contains a number of B vitamins, namely riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6, and contains vitamin C. It also contains minerals, such as calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, chromium, and manganese. Antioxidants in honey are found in the form of flavonoids, ascorbic acid, catalase, and selenium.
- Another component. Honey also contains organic acids and aromatic acids.
The rich nutritional content in honey makes honey has many benefits. One of the benefits of honey is that it can relieve coughs in children. Honey can reduce coughs at night so that children can sleep better. However, giving honey to children is only allowed after they are one year old.
Babies should not be given honey
Honey is a natural food that contains many benefits. However, giving honey to babies before the age of one can harm their health. This is because honey contains Clostridium botulinum spores which can cause disease if the baby swallows it. Therefore, do not give honey to babies who are not yet one year old.
Honey contains Clostridium botulinum spores which can cause botulism. The spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum that are ingested by the baby can then develop and multiply in the baby's intestine, producing dangerous toxins that cause botulism. If the baby is exposed to botulism, he will begin to show early symptoms, such as constipation or constipation, accompanied by lethargy and decreased appetite.
These bacterial spores are not too dangerous for adults and children over 1 year of age because the normal microorganisms found in the intestines can prevent the growth of these bacteria and can remove the spores from the body before they cause harm. Meanwhile, babies under 1 year of age do not have a mature digestive tract so they cannot prevent the growth of bad bacteria in the intestines.
To be safe, you should also not add honey to baby food (such as bread or pudding). Although the poison is very sensitive to the heat of cooking, the spores are difficult to kill. If you want to add a sweet taste to baby food, you should try adding it with sweet fruits, such as bananas. Fruits contain a natural sweet taste and also contain the vitamins and minerals that babies need.
Commercial foods that contain honey, such as milk, ready-to-eat cereals, and instant baby food, are safe for babies because they have undergone a sufficient heating process to kill bacteria. However, it is best to consult a doctor before giving food to your baby.
Botulism in babies
Botulism is very rare, but dangerous for babies. Botulism can usually affect babies between the ages of 3 weeks and 6 months, but all babies are at risk of developing the disease until the age of 1 year.
Botulism is a disease that occurs when bacterial spores ingested in the baby's digestion produce toxins in the body. The toxins from these bacterial spores interfere with normal interactions between muscles and nerves and can inhibit a baby's ability to move, eat and breathe. Botulism can be dangerous because it can cause muscle weakness and breathing problems.
The initial symptom of botulism is usually constipation or constipation which occurs about 8 to 36 hours after eating food containing Clostridium botulinum spores. Other symptoms of botulism include difficulty swallowing, poor appetite, lethargy, weakness, muscle weakness and breathing problems. If your baby experiences any of these symptoms you should immediately consult a doctor to get medical care as soon as possible.
x
