Honey may seem an innocuous, even wholesome substance to give to your children when they are ill. While giving a toddler some honey to tame a savage cough is regarded as safe, giving it to a child under 1 year of age is dangerous because of the possibility of infant botulism. Be guided by your child's physician on the medications and home remedies to use and always be watchful for signs of allergy and other adverse reactions.
Coughing in Children
Coughing and chest congestion in infants and toddlers is not unusual and is usually the result of a cold or allergy. It is also not usual for newborns to experience congestion from regurgitating milk or other fluids. For infants and toddlers, elevating the head of the baby's bed, or holding the infant upright in the lap or over the shoulder while patting the back gently will help break up the congestion and the cough. In addition, a vaporizer can put warmth and moisture in the air to help thin and move secretions, and ease the baby's throat. If you don't have a vaporizer, sitting in the bathroom with your child on your lap with a hot shower running can help soothe a baby's coughing and wheezing.
Benefits of Honey
The FDA recommends against the use of over-the-counter cold and cough medications children under age 4. A reasonable alternative treatment for toddlers appears to be honey. A study reported by the Penn State College of Medicine in 2007 showed that honey was more effective than a placebo or dextromethorphan, a drug used in many over-the-counter preparations. As well as being instantly soothing to irritated throat tissues, honey has antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. The study's author, Dr. Ian Paul, said that darker honey seemed more effective than lighter, possibly because of higher levels of antioxidants in the darker honey.
Infants and Honey
Infants under age 1 should not be given honey for any reason because of the risk of infant botulism. The gastrointestinal systems of babies are immature and do not have the bacteria necessary to protect against the Clostridium botulinum spores sometimes carried by honey. Typical signs of infant botulism include floppy motor movements, slack jaw, difficulty with sucking or feeding, constipation and a weak cry. Should your child show such symptoms, contact your physician immediately. It is generally safe for children older than 1 year of age to consume honey.
Allergies
If your child has never consumed honey or has allergies, consult your physician before giving him honey. Any substance can provoke an allergic reaction, so watch for swelling of the skin, redness, itching and rash. Report these symptoms to your physician if they occur. If your child develops swelling of the lips, mouth, throat, or tongue, or has trouble breathing after being given honey, seek medical help immediately.
References
- Science Daily: Honey A Better Option For Childhood Cough Than Over The Counter Medications
- The Baby Center: When can my baby eat honey?
- Daily Strength: Is clover honey safe for my 21-month-old toddler?
- The Mayo Clinic: Infant botulism: How can it be prevented?
- ABC News: Honey Treats Coughs Better than Drugs
- Healia Clinical Trials Database: Effect of Honey and Dextromethorphan on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality for Coughing Children and Their Parents
