Last reviewed: November 6, 2026. Checked against current guidance from the CDC, the FDA and the University of Florida IFAS Extension.
Quick answer: Yes, you can eat honey while breastfeeding. The risk with honey is infant botulism, which happens when a baby swallows botulism spores directly. Those spores are not passed to your baby through breast milk, so honey in your own diet is safe. What you must avoid is giving honey to your baby before their first birthday, in any form, including on a pacifier or in food.
New moms hear a long list of foods to avoid, and honey often ends up on it by mistake. Here’s what’s actually true about honey, plus the few things in your diet that do matter while breastfeeding.
Why Honey Is Safe for You but Not for Your Baby
Honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria behind botulism. In adults and children over 1, a mature gut stops these spores from growing. In babies under 12 months, the spores can grow in the intestines and release a toxin that causes infant botulism, a rare but serious illness that needs emergency care. That’s why the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise never giving honey to babies under 1.
When you eat honey, the spores stay in your digestive system. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, botulism is not transmitted through breast milk, so a breastfeeding mother who eats honey won’t pass the spores to her baby.
Practical Tips
- Enjoy honey in tea, on toast or in cooking as part of a balanced diet.
- Don’t put honey on your nipples, your baby’s pacifier, or anything your baby might put in their mouth.
- Check labels on baby foods and teething products for honey.
What Actually Matters in Your Diet While Breastfeeding
Alcohol
The CDC says not drinking is the safest option. If you do drink, moderate drinking (up to 1 standard drink a day) is not known to harm a breastfed baby, especially if you wait at least 2 hours after a drink before nursing. Alcohol from each drink stays in breast milk for about 2 to 3 hours. Pumping and dumping doesn’t remove it faster: only time does. Never bed-share or fall asleep holding your baby after drinking.
Caffeine
A moderate amount of caffeine is generally fine. CDC guidance suggests keeping it to about 300 mg a day or less (around two to three cups of coffee). If your baby seems unusually fussy or wakeful, try cutting back.
Fish and Mercury
Fish is a great source of omega-3 fats for you and your baby. Choose low-mercury options, as listed by the FDA, such as salmon, sardines, shrimp, cod and canned light tuna, and avoid high-mercury fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and bigeye tuna.
Everything Else
There’s no list of foods every breastfeeding mother must avoid. Most babies aren’t bothered by spicy food, garlic or broccoli. If you notice a clear pattern of symptoms after a certain food, such as rash, blood in the stool or severe fussiness, talk to your pediatrician before cutting out whole food groups.
The Bottom Line
Honey is safe to eat while breastfeeding because botulism spores don’t pass into breast milk. Just never give honey to your baby before they turn 1. If you drink alcohol, keep it to one drink and wait at least 2 hours before nursing, keep caffeine moderate, and choose low-mercury fish.
This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your doctor, pediatrician or a lactation consultant about your own diet while breastfeeding.
5 Sources
Newborn Stages uses trusted sources, including government health agencies, children’s hospitals and pediatric organizations, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn how we research, fact-check and keep our content accurate.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Botulism Prevention.
- University of Florida IFAS Extension. Infant botulism and honey.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and breastfeeding.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maternal Diet and Breastfeeding.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Advice about Eating Fish.
