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Can i give my baby honey for a sore throat, under 12 months old?

No. Health Canada and Canadian doctors say never give honey to a baby under 12 months, even for a sore throat, because of the risk of infant botulism, a rare but serious paralysis-causing illness.

This applies to raw and pasteurized honey, and to honey mixed into food, water, formula, or a soother.

Strength of evidence

Strong

This is a consistent, long-standing Canadian and international public health guideline based on decades of national surveillance data on confirmed infant botulism cases, not just a single study.

What the evidence says

No, you should not give honey to a baby under 12 months old, even to soothe a sore throat or cough. This is a firm safety rule, not just a suggestion.

The reason is a rare but serious illness called infant botulism, when spores from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum grow in a baby's gut and make a toxin that can cause muscle weakness or paralysis. Babies under one don't yet have enough good bacteria in their gut to stop these spores from growing, but older kids and adults usually do.

Honey can carry these spores even when it looks, smells, and tastes completely normal, and cooking or pasteurizing does not destroy them. Health Canada says honey is the one food in Canada clearly linked to infant botulism cases, though actual cases from honey are rare overall.

Once your child turns one, honey becomes a reasonable option for cough, and research reviews have found it can reduce nighttime cough frequency about as well as some over-the-counter cough medicines, with only mild side effects like an upset stomach in some kids.

For a sore throat right now, safer options for a baby under 12 months include offering extra breastmilk or formula for comfort and hydration, using a cool-mist humidifier, and giving infant acetaminophen if your doctor says it's appropriate for pain or fever. If your baby seems very unwell, is refusing to feed, or you're worried, call your doctor or health line.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked August 4, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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