Is it possible to give honey to relieve a sore throat in an 11 1/2 month old baby?

Question

My child has had a wet cough for 5 days (no fever, no vomiting) and I think his throat is sore because he won't eat anything, just drink milk.  He's turning 1 in 10 days. Do I continue to give him the Tylenol every 6 hours as if he has a fever? Or as soon as I see him uncomfortable? Hello, thank you very much for your reply, have a nice day 😊

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello 🙂 Since studies don't support the safety of honey before the age of 1, I would refrain from giving honey even if your child is soon to be 1. Honey is not guaranteed to be effective for sore throats, and given the severity of the possible consequences, I would opt for other options to have peace of mind! The most common strategy for reducing sore throats or coughing would be to increase hydration as much as possible. Try to offer him drinks more often than usual and as much as he wants if he seems to be asking for them. Hydration can also help loosen the mucus in wet coughs. You can also incorporate very soft food in small amounts (try 1 spoonful at a time and do not insist if he prefers to drink). The use of a sinus rinse or baby fly can also help dislodge secretions and possibly help with wet coughs. Feel free to do this several times a day. Here's a link to the St. Justine Hospital nasal hygiene guide to guide you, if needed: click here . You can also give him Tylenol to relieve the pain if he seems uncomfortable. If you are not sure what dose to give, you can reply in this conversation with a recent weight and I can calculate it for you. Even if he does not have a fever, a test for COVID-19 would also be indicated with these symptoms and the cough that has been going on for 5 days. You can also wait if you are not comfortable with testing him, but I would encourage testing if he develops a fever. I encourage you to see a doctor if your baby has the following symptoms: has a cough that persists for more than 10 days; is coughing so much that he or she chokes or vomits; has a fever that reaches 40 °C (104 °F), or has had a fever for 72 hours; has wheezing; has difficulty eating adequately; loses weight; pushes and appears to have pain Happy day! Stephanie Potash, pharmacy student (under the supervision of Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist) If the Tylenol is only to relieve a sore throat or discomfort, you don't have to give it every 6 hours regularly. You can give it every 6 hours as needed, if he seems more irritable or uncomfortable. For example, it may be enough at 1 time a day or even without tylenol. Go with what he is comfortable with, but don't exceed the maximum daily dose (maximum 5 doses per 24 hours). Good day 🙂 Stephanie