Question
Can a nine-month-old baby drink honey water?
Answer
Since infants have a weaker gastrointestinal barrier function, they are unable to effectively resist bacteria and toxins. Therefore, caution is advised when using honey. However, the botulism poisoning associated with honey is not due to the honey itself containing botulinum, but rather potential contamination during processing, transportation, storage, or packaging. Therefore, it is best not to give honey to infants under one year of age, as it may have adverse effects on the delicate digestive systems of babies if not thoroughly disinfected.