Sonam Kapoor faced trolls and criticism for openly sharing her decision not to give her son, Vayu, honey before he turns one. After her interview snippet went viral, many on X (formerly Twitter) criticised the actor for questioning a long-standing tradition. "Whatever books that I have read say that, in the first year, you cannot give your kid honey because it causes botulism, which is a disease that a child can get because honey has a specific bacteria. And I had this argument with the panditji that I am giving him apple puree, whether you like it or not as the first food. There are some old old things that we do in our culture…which are not…. maybe there are mothers who have done that and their kids are fine, but I am not comfortable," Sonam said in the viral video. The interview invited a flurry of criticism on social media with one writing, "Like seriously??? Wokeism at its peak!!" and another adding, "We were all fed honey as babies, and here we are, still alive and well." "This is also known as Google parenting. The sad part is people like Sonam think that the traditional way is regressive because that is what is taught to them in their convent schools all traditional cultures are against science so they're filled with wrong practices. People like Sonam also treat their parents and grandparents as savages who know nothing of science so they want to correct the wrongs done since generations," tweeted another user. But as it turns out, contrary to what many folks on social media think, giving honey to a baby before they turn one is indeed not a good idea, as shared by Sonam. “had an argument with Pandit ji for feeding Honey to newly born child because i don’t believe in these traditions”, like seriously ??? Wokeism at its peak!! pic.twitter.com/fBbQ7TVGVL — Moana (@ladynationalist) September 27, 2023 Speaking to indianexpress.com, Dr RD Srivastava, senior consultant and head of department, pediatric and neonatology at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi said that giving honey to newborns is generally considered unsafe and should be avoided until a child is at least one year old. "The primary reason for this caution is the risk of infant botulism, a rare but serious illness caused by the spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can be found in honey," he said. He explained that honey contains spores and if ingested by a newborn, the spores can multiply in their intestines and produce a toxin that can lead to botulism. This can result in muscle weakness, difficulty feeding, and potentially life-threatening complications. "Honey should not be given to infants under one year of age also because their digestive systems are not developed enough to prevent the growth of the botulism-causing bacteria," Dr Srivastava said. For infants, mere breast milk provides the necessary nutrition. "Honey doesn't offer any nutritional benefits that are essential during the first year of life. Always consult with your paediatrician or healthcare provider for guidance on introducing new foods or substances to your baby's diet. They can provide tailored advice based on your child's specific health needs," he concluded. UNICEF, too, has mentioned that from 6-8 months, your baby can eat anything except honey, which they shouldn't eat until they reach 12 months old. In India, however, it's a common tradition to give honey to infants during a ceremony known as Annaprashan, usually performed when a baby is around six months old. Annaprashan marks the introduction of solid food to the child's diet, and honey is often chosen for its symbolic sweetness. So, while the tradition holds cultural significance, modern health recommendations emphasise caution in introducing honey to very young children and suggest completely avoiding it in the first year. 📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don't miss out on the latest updates!
