1. Avoid Feeding Sweeteners to Your Sweetie
Though it may be tempting to soothe your infant's tears and sweeten her palate by dipping her pacifier in honey or giving her a small taste of corn syrup, you should think twice before doing so. The sweeteners--particularly honey--are the leading cause of infant botulism in babies under the age of 1 year. Because corn syrup and honey aren't sterilized, the Botulinum spores (typically found in dirt) can contaminate the sweeteners. They can then be ingested, settle in your infant's gastrointestinal system and begin producing the toxic Clostridium botulinum bacteria. While an adult or a baby with a more fully developed immune system can fight off the effects of the toxin, young infants cannot. So, the sweetest thing you can do for your little sweetie is to leave the taste of honey for her later years.
2. Carefully Can Homemade Baby Foods
What baby doesn't like to eat mashed corn, mashed green beans and mashed potatoes? These easy-to-make, easy-to-can and easy-to-eat homemade baby foods can also easily be a source of Botulinum toxins. When making baby food from foods with a low acid content, take special care to can correctly. In addition to following all of your typical kitchen hygiene procedures, make sure that all home-canned foods are vacuum sealed, the containers are sterilized and the is food boiled before being eaten again. Ideally, the safest way to avoid food-borne botulism in infants is to leave the home-canned foods until your infant is older than 6 months, when his gastrointestinal system is a little more mature.
3. Prevent Complications by Recognizing Early Symptoms
Prevent complications of infant botulism by recognizing the early signs. They're not always easy to spot, as the symptoms in infants is very different than in adults. Typically, a constipated infant isn't a concern, but if your baby's constipation appears along with signs of general weakness, a diminished suck and swallow reflex and trouble breathing, botulism may be a viable diagnosis. Call his physician and be prepared to give a detailed accounting of his diet and movements for the past few days.
