The pediatrician or physician advice and inform parents to wait for 12 months / one year to start honey to your baby, which means starts after celebrating baby first birthday. 

By Mahmood Hussain, the article is written for www.babyfirst.com.pk   BABY FIRST PAKISTAN and on Facebook.babyfirstPakistan and other social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter and so on. Writer Mahmood Hussain is from Karachi Pakistan

Reason is honey may contains spores of bacteria that is known as bacterium Clostridium, which can germinate in a baby’s immature digestive system of baby who are below the age of one year. This can cause infant botulism, which is very rare but potentially fatal illness.

Botulism is a rare and very infrequent disease but it is highly fatal disease. This is caused by a toxin produce by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Rare possibility arises if by chance or by negligence honey is given to baby before they attain age of 12 months, which may very rarely lead to this condition of Botulism.

As per European Journal of Epidemiology of November 1993 in which it is mentioned Botulism spores are found in soil, dust and honey.  The adult or baby over the age of one year take honey likely chance is they have ingested the spores but they are almost never affected. If honey is given to the infant below the age of one year and if they swallow the spores.  The spores may germinate in baby immature digestive system. This will result in producing toxin known as botulinum toxin. As per their finding they reveal this may have occur even in case when only pacifier is sweetened with honey. 
We have to understand this and this do not mean honey available are contaminated. The bacterial spores of Clostridium botulinum are harmless to the children who are above the age of one year and in adults. The microorganism normally found in intestine will keep away bacteria from growing in the gut. The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) refer AAP Pediatrician hand book states ‘Unpasteurized or Raw honey should be avoided at all cost, if infant is younger than 12 months

Although around the world incidence of infant botulism is rare but still honey should not be started to baby before they attain the age of a year. 

If by chance baby fell victim, will be presenting various symptoms which includes constipation, feeding will be improper and inadequate, sluggish or lethargic, a weak but continuous cry and also observe dehydration.

Overall in general, many people feel and understand honey is good for babies at all ages and it has no real danger or threat. From centuries especially in our region of SARRC countries and Middle East, where we know honey has been given to babies below the age of one year.  

In certain cases they gave a drop of honey to newborn, later stages start regular honey usage. Around the world in many cultures they give honey to babies from the day one baby. Later on they incorporate honey as regular baby diet. 

Still we insist and request parents / care giver of newborn and babies under the age of 12 months kindly avoid giving honey to babies. 

In the above paras we have briefly outlined a few facts about honey and the possible risk of Honey usage in babies under the age of 12 months. Though still botulism is very rare in babies under the 12 months, but if happened than it very fatal.    

In this regard kindly consult your baby pediatrician and follow his / her advice and guidelines.

Article written by Mahmood Hussain for Baby First website, facebook, linkedin, twitter and other social

The post When to start Honey to the baby. appeared first on Baby First.

By Mahmood Hussain, the article is written for www.babyfirst.com.pk   BABY FIRST PAKISTAN and on Facebook.babyfirstPakistan and other social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter and so on. Writer Mahmood Hussain is from Karachi Pakistan

The milk as feed given to baby via mother breast milk or formula milk also refer as top feed. 

It is observe lactose present in the milk, may causes problem of indigestion in infant. 

This is refer as Temporary Lactose Intolerance (TLI), this may be causing trouble to the infant and refer as colic associated uneasiness or pain. This may also lead to the baby crying. 

Lactose intolerance is poorly understood in the community or in our society that is Indo-Pakistan Region or SARRC Region. There are lots of myths and misconception associated with it, especially when it is refers in term of babies, this is contrary to what we may hear and observe.

The term Lactose Tolerance Intolerance (LTI) is of temporary phase in infant in most of the cases. Which is refer as baby temporary inability to break down lactose into simpler form of sugar in present in the milk. This is needed the lactose (complex form of sugar/carbohydrate) to be broken down into simpler form of sugar with the aid of lactase enzyme. This will help in absorbing and digesting the milk by this procedure.

The lactose in the milk which is not digested by the baby digestive system produces lactic acid and gases. This lactic acid which is produced leads to discomfort in baby, such as bloating and formation of gas, which is release by infant. 

Lactose is carbohydrate (complex sugar) which is present in all mammalian milk. 

Lactose is produced in the breast of all mammals which includes human being also.

Quantity of lactose present in mother milk is not at all dependent on what mother has consumed in diet to feed her baby. This also has been observed the amount of lactose present in first day / week of mother milk and at later stages after months remain the same. 

For the digestion of lactose present in milk baby needs lactase enzyme to break down in simpler form, which leads and result in digestion of food. When lactase enzyme is not produce in sufficient or require quantity than the stomach is unable to digest lactose present in milk. 

If lactose is not broken down, this will not absorb by small intestine, this may move towards large bowel in undigested form, due to this condition it may lead to produce acid and gases.

Due to this condition when baby has taken feed, this may lead to colic related crying in baby. This condition of bloating, and gases as well as crying is temporary phase in infants, which may last sometime for days or weeks. Parents are helpless and worry some, they look forward how to sooth and calm the infant.  With the passage of time and as infant grows these symptom and problem goes away.

This condition of LTI is refer as condition in which ingestion of lactose occur either in milk or food containing lactose. Baby may have one or few of the symptoms such as: 

• Flatulence (gassiness) or bloating means ballooning or inflating stomach.
• Pain in abdomen
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

It has been observed the amount of lactose eaten/ingested and digested, may also leads to the symptoms mentioned above. This may varies from individual to individual. It is dependent on the amount of lactose taken and the amount lactase enzyme available to metabolize the food. It is also linked with the food taken and ingested by the individual. 

In case of Temporary Lactose Tolerance (LTI) observe in the infants, / baby, they should have efficient and develop digestive system. Infant is capable of producing require quantity of lactase enzyme for proper digestion in their first 12 to 16 weeks.  

Article written by Mahmood Hussain for Baby First website, facebook, linkedin, twitter and other social and digital media.

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