11 month old & honey - would you?

[Trillian42]

DD is very reluctant to eat solids still (previously posted) and particularly difficult to feed breakfast to. She refuses porridge, weetabix etc and toast alone is not particularly nutritious. For the last couple of mornings though she has followed me around while I'm eating my muesli with natural (full fat) yoghurt, honey and banana after grabbing the spoon and licking it clean a few days ago. She even made 'nom nom' noises!

I know she's a month off the 12 month recommendation, but if it's a jar of honey that I've been eating from for the past month without ill effects, do you think it's ok for her? I know the risk of botulism is kind of scary, but surely a jar that's been ok for me would be ok for her? I'm thinking of making a sort of muesli with rolled oats and chopped fresh fruit for her. The yoghurt on it's own is a little tart for her - it needs some sweetener.

I've no idea about the honey thing, but could you use some banana to sweeten it for her instead? Or pinapple juice?

I tried this morning using maple syrup as a sweetener but she wasn't having any of it! I did have banana in it too - same as mine. Any one else have an opinion on the honey?

you could try agave nectar, or some golden syrup? Or brown sugar, if maple syrup isn't working?
I've no idea why it's not a risk for 12 month old but is for an 11 month old, but DS is my PFB so I probably wouldn't.

The fact you've eaten it without ill effects is neither here nor there - it's a strain of botulism that only affects immature guts. But regardless of that, we are talking about a seriously miniscule risk here - see
www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/aug/25/health.society for the history of the warning around honey and infants; I think it'll put your mind at rest!

sorry, should have read that article more carefully - same strain of botulism, but different mode of operation and effects in babies and adults!