Maple syrup and honey...Good or BAd??

[Charity22]

Okay this doesnt have to do with pregnancy but it does have to do with a 4 month old. When i was pregnant and after i was pregnant i was told not to give maple syrup, penut butter, Honey and some other things to my baby until after there a yr old. Well my friend just started her 4 month old daughter on rice cereal, and she told me that because her daughter wasnt eating it, that her doctor told her to put maple syrup in it. Now my "friend" is sometimes a compulsive liar. In my own opinion i do NOT think her doctor would tell her thats okay. As many doctors told me no...and i have asked alot of ppl on there opinion about it, and all had the same result. It is a no no until they are older. Can i please have your opinion? I am just worried and trying to help her out.

[smjmekg]

I know peanut butter is a no no because it's hard to swallow, and because they could have a peanut allergy. My mom and her sister did until they were older, and my grandparent's weren't allergic.

[anxious2]

I was told to give my babies karo syrup in their bottles to help with constipation... They said the botulism was more of a concern with honey.  

[Charity22]

okay see i knew it wasnt okay, but unfortunatly she is stuck in her ways  and wont take my advice

[JoyRenee]

That is a BIG HUGE NO-NO!

First- the risk of botulism. It's a low risk but still there.

Second- they can't handle the thick, syrupy texture. It's too hard to swallow!

[houseofgirls]

I doubt very highly that a doctor would say it was ok.  The reason you are not supposed to give a baby honey is because it may contain spores that can cause infant botulism.  The same may be true for maple syrup, corn syrup and others according to some sources.  This would only be a risk if it were real maple syrup.  Most of the stuff in the grocery store is sugar with other colorings and flavorings.  Babies do not need that sugar!  

Rice cereal has no real nutritional value, so it isn't something a 4 month old would need to begin with.  As long as baby is getting enough breastmilk or formula, it wouldn't even matter that the baby won't eat the cereal.  Maybe her baby isn't ready for solids, and that is why she won't eat it.  Food is really only ment for baby to practice eating, and to start getting used to textures and flavors.  

[chantal21]

At 4 months I wouldn't do that. My son had never tasted syrup until a year old and rarely gets it even if he has a waffle or pancakes. He is almost 16 months and has never even had honey yet, and has only tasted peanut butter, maybe once. Just because of how much sugar is in the syrup is reason enough for me not to give it to a baby, their little bodies are not meant to digest or handle that yet.
They will end up only wanting sweet things and that's not something you want to start them on this early. I had my son start around 4 months on raw yogurt, no sugar, and bland baby food (mostly homemade). If you start off with the sweet stuff first, they will never want to eat healthy. But at that age, it's too young to risk it, in my opinion. I would wait until closer to a year.

[Charity22]

*BUMP*