Talk

Overthinking I'd say.

Check whether roasting will kill the botulinum toxin - I don't know off hand, bit it might.

Otherwise keep a bit of carrot and parsnip separate in the roasting tray.

Oh good grief !

Maple syrup instead of honey would be lovely for roasting parsnips/carrots and ideal if the honey/botulism link is taking up mental space, iyswim... I don't think that the snide comments from PPs are necessary either... Have a lovely Christmas (with a baby - envious)

baby will be fine .

Google says the bacterium is not killed by normal, domestic cooking, so maple syrup might be better.

Sorry, seems such an odd question!
If you're worried, just don't use honey, or else don't give them to the baby.
Botulism is very rare, but if it worries you then just don't use the honey.

It's not an odd question, it's very frequently mentioned (e.g. on the NHS weaning pages) not to give honey to under 12 month old babies.

It would be easy enough to do maple syrup or something else, and then you can forget about it!

If it is so frequently mentioned, then yes, it is an odd question. Because the answer, if she is worried about it, is so obviously 'don't give it to the baby then'. Or cook it in a different way.

Can you not just leave the carrots and parsnips off the baby's dinner and give them everything else?

Or leave some plain roasted in butter for him.

Thanks everyone for replies. I realise it may seem like I'm being fussy (was prepared for eye rolls) but as other posters have pointed out, it's frequently mentioned and it hadn't even occurred to me until today. I figured that mumsnet may be able to tell me I'm overthinking or to avoid. Anyway, if I can get hold of some maple syrup at our local co-op I will do or as others have said just cook baby's portion separately. I always wonder what happens on that magical night they turn a year old that means they can suddenly have cows milk, honey and we no longer need to sterilise

IT does seem strange doesn't it op?
Especially when they're crawling around the floor putting goodness knows what in their mouth's!

Leave the honey off. Parsnips are far too sweet anyway, they don't need more sugar

Infant botulism is pretty unpleasant apparently in younger babies, so I guess they say 12 months to try and ensure that all babies are big enough to be past that stage should they be unfortunate enough to get it.

It is recommended for 12 months as you develop an immunity after that time. There have been 12 cases in the UK since 1978, so about 1 every 3 years. If you are worried about this, I assume you never take them out of the house.

No, never.

Avoiding honey under 12 months is easy to do, so even though the risk is very small, it's very simple to avoid so why not?

Surely it would be healthier to give an 8 month old boiled and chopped veg rather than roasted in oil then coated in honey (or syrup)

I'm with Speak. I don't understand why people are so sneering about following guidelines, you can't research everything, you sometimes have to trust that the authorities have a reason for making the recommendations they do. I don't think there's a bee lobby trying to encourage the government to cut off the honey eating habit from an early age.

Having said all that I don't buy into the low fat orthodoxy.

I don't think you are being fussy, I had the exact same thought about carrots and parsnips when planning Christmas dinner, ours are going to be roasted in olive oil and mixed herbs.

Boiled may be healthier but I think it's also good for babies to get used to different textures.

I wouldn't risk giving baby honey, the risk is probably really low but it's so easy to avoid and just not a chance worth taking.

Don't be going looking for maple syrup Christmas Eve or cooking baby's portion separately, it's stressful enough without that extra hassle.

Baby will be fine without those two items on his/her plate!
Have a lovely Christmas!