From the earliest days in human history, honey has been regarded with a kind of reverence. Without benefit of the science behind the bees’ production of honey, people thought of honey as heavenly sent, as a “gift of the gods.” Honey’s delicious sweetness, its golden amber hue, and its mysterious origins enchanted our ancestors in eras gone by … just as they do today.
Since honey was so highly treasured, it often played a prominent role in rituals to celebrate the birth of a child (as it also did in wedding rituals, death rituals, and other community practices). Among early Christians, for example, presenting a newborn with honey was meant to symbolize a connection with heaven and thereby ward off evil. [Reference] In ancient India, a pellet of honey (and ghee) was placed in a newborn’s mouth “to produce mental and physical strength.” [Reference]
So, for centuries, in many cultures, Baby’s First Honey commonly occurred as part of the celebration of birth. But, today, we read on most honey jars (and should read on all honey jars) a warning to the effect: DO NOT FEED HONEY TO CHILDREN UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE. The reason for this is that, as the Centers for Disease (CDC) explains, “Honey can contain the bacteria that causes infant botulism…a rare but serious condition,” and the CDC advises, “do not feed honey to children younger than 12 months.” [Reference]
For cautions on giving honey to babies issued by a variety of authoritative sources, see Official Honey Warnings.
Health awareness has appropriately delayed the introduction of honey to infants, but it also has meant that honey has lost its prominent role in the celebration of new life. It is this situation that creates the backdrop for Buzz Café’s creation of Baby’s First Honey™. This delightful gift package identifies a new Milestone post – the end of Baby’s first year – to celebrate new life by including nature’s first sweetener – honey – in Baby’s first birthday activities.
For more information on this unique gift package for babies turning one year of age, see Baby’s First Honey™.