Natural Ingredients for Babies and Children: Honey, Charcoal, Salt and More
Honey and infant botulism, honey for cough in older children, charcoal, salt, clay, baking soda and raw products for babies and children, with Poison Help and what to ask a clinician.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
A child has swallowed something harmful, or you are not sure? Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). MedlinePlus says the line is free and open 24 hours a day, for any reason. [1] Call 911 if the child has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken. [2] A baby under 12 months who is constipated, feeding poorly, weak, floppy or has a weak cry needs urgent medical care, because these are signs of infant botulism. [3]
NCCIH notes that many supplements have not been tested in children. [4] Children's bodies and sizes differ, so this library gives no amounts for children. A pediatrician or pharmacist decides what is right for a particular child. For general principles, see children and teens.
What the sources we read say
| Ingredient | What the sources we read say | Evidence label |
|---|---|---|
| Honey, babies under 12 months | Recognized cause of infant botulism; CDC recommends no honey before 12 months. [3][5] | Established public-health advice |
| Honey for cough, ages 12 months and up | A Cochrane review found honey probably reduces cough frequency better than no treatment or placebo. [6] | Promising but limited |
| Activated charcoal | Not for treating poisoning at home. [7] | Medical use only |
| Salt | Salt toxicity is rare; half of the 14 cases with known outcomes were fatal. [8] | Evidence of harm |
| Baking soda | MedlinePlus drug information: not for children under 12 unless a doctor says so. [2] | Drug-label guidance |
| Clay and dirt eating (pica) | More common in young children; lead should be checked. [9] | Clinical guidance |
| Raw (unpasteurized) milk, unpasteurized juice | Outbreaks linked to unpasteurized dairy; illness from unpasteurized juice can be serious in children. [10][11] | Evidence of harm |
| Black seed | No data on safety or efficacy in infants. [12] | Insufficient evidence |
| Colloidal silver, apple cider vinegar | Proper evidence not found for children; see the ingredient pages. | Insufficient evidence |
Honey and infant botulism
MedlinePlus says the spores of the bacterium that causes infant botulism are found in soil and certain foods such as honey and some corn syrups. [3] It occurs mostly between 6 weeks and 6 months of age, and may occur as early as 6 days and as late as 1 year. [3] Swallowing honey as a baby is a listed risk factor. [3] A pharmacy journal review says the CDC recommends no honey for infants younger than 12 months, and that clinicians should not recommend honey-containing products or honey as a flavoring for infants. [5] See Honey and infant botulism.
Honey for cough in older children
The Cochrane review covered six trials of children aged 12 months to 18 years with acute cough. [6] Compared with no treatment or placebo, honey probably reduced cough frequency (moderate-certainty evidence). [6] Adverse events included nervousness, insomnia and hyperactivity in seven children (9.3%) given honey. [6] This is a research result, not an instruction; see honey for cough and sore throat.
Charcoal, salt, baking soda and magnesium
- Charcoal: Poison Control says not to try treating a poisoning with it at home. [7] Some charcoal products contain sorbitol, a laxative. [7]
- Salt: A systematic review of 15 case reports found that salt toxicity is rare, has high mortality and can occur at all ages. Causes included salt water used to make people vomit and salt overload in infant formula. [8]
- Baking soda: see the table; case reports of harm are on substances not meant to be swallowed.
- Epsom salt and magnesium: Poison Control says magnesium overdose is possible and kidney problems raise the risk; ask a clinician first. [13]
Clay, dirt and pica
MedlinePlus says pica, eating non-food materials such as dirt or paper, is seen more in young children than adults. [9] Lead levels should be checked in children who may have eaten paint. [9] If a child eats clay or dirt, tell the pediatrician.
Raw milk and unpasteurized juice
NCCIH notes that unpasteurized juices can make people sick, and that illnesses can be serious in children. [11] A review counted 20 outbreaks tied to unpasteurized dairy, with 124 hospitalizations. [10]
What a reader can do
- Keep remedies and supplements out of reach and in original containers; call Poison Help if swallowed.
- Ask the pediatrician or pharmacist before giving a child any natural product; see babies and infants and a child swallowed a supplement.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't babies have honey?
Honey can contain spores that cause infant botulism, which occurs mostly between 6 weeks and 6 months. [3] The CDC recommends no honey before 12 months. [5]
Can honey help a child's cough?
A Cochrane review of trials in children aged 12 months to 18 years found honey probably reduces cough frequency versus no treatment or placebo. [6] Not for infants under 12 months.
Is activated charcoal safe to give a child at home?
Poison Control says not to treat a poisoning at home with it; call Poison Help instead. [7]
Is salt water a safe remedy for children?
No source we read supports that. Salt water used to induce vomiting was a frequent cause of salt toxicity in a review of case reports. [8]
What about natural remedies sold for teething?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We searched PubMed for amber teething necklaces and read no regulator statement or clinical trial. Ask a pediatrician or pharmacist.
References
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Hydrogen peroxide poisoning. National Library of Medicine. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus Drug Information. Sodium Bicarbonate. Last revised 04/15/2017. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Infant botulism. National Library of Medicine. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-23.
- Tanzi MG, Gabay MP. Association between honey consumption and infant botulism. Pharmacotherapy. 2002;22(11):1479-83. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Oduwole O, et al. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Activated charcoal: An effective treatment for poisonings. Read 2026-10-23.
- Metheny NA, Krieger MM. Salt toxicity: a systematic review and case reports. J Emerg Nurs. 2020;46(4):428-439. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Pica. National Library of Medicine. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sebastianski M, et al. Disease outbreaks linked to pasteurized and unpasteurized dairy products in Canada and the United States: a systematic review. Can J Public Health. 2022;113(4):569-578. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). "Detoxes" and "Cleanses": What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-23.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Black Seed. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; entry dated 2025 Jul 15. Read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Can you overdose on magnesium?. Read 2026-10-23.