Babies and Infants: Natural Remedies to Ask a Pediatrician About

Babies are not small adults. Their bodies handle foods, herbs and medicines differently, and for most natural products there are few or no studies in infants. This page covers the questions parents most often ask: honey, colic remedies, teething products and herbal drinks. It is information only. A pediatrician or pharmacist can look at your baby's age, weight and health.

Call 911 if your baby has trouble breathing, cannot be woken, or has a seizure. For a possible poisoning or swallowed product, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Do not make a baby vomit.

Honey and infant botulism

The poison center article we read says: "Do not feed honey or products containing honey to infants under 12 months of age." [1] The reason given is that honey "can contain botulism spores" that release a toxin which can poison infants. [1] The UK's NHS gives the same age limit and says honey "contains bacteria that can lead to infant botulism". [2]

Honey is not the only possible source. The poison center article notes there are other sources of botulism spores, with soil as one example. [1] It also describes weakness of the breathing muscles as a serious effect. [1] If you are worried about a baby who ate honey or is unusually floppy, weak or struggling to breathe, call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) or 911. For honey in older children and adults, see honey.

Colic remedies

The NHS colic page says remedies such as anti-colic drops, herbal or probiotic supplements are ones where "they're not recommended and there's no evidence they help colic." [3] It also says colic usually stops by 3 to 4 months. [3] The page lists a weak or high-pitched cry as a reason to seek urgent care; in the US that means 911 or an emergency department. [3]

Sources do not fully agree about fennel. A LactMed record says fennel "has been safely and effectively used alone and with other herbs in infants for the treatment of colic", [4] while the NHS page above says there is no evidence herbal remedies help colic. [3] Both are statements about herbal products as a group or a single herb in specific studies; neither tells you a particular product is right for your baby. LactMed also describes an herbal tea containing fennel and anise that appeared to cause toxicity in 2 breastfed newborns when a mother used it excessively. [4] Ask a pediatrician before giving any herbal product to a baby.

Probiotic supplements for infants have their own cautions; see probiotic safety.

Teething products

FDA's consumer page on teething (current as of June 2024) says topical medicines containing benzocaine or lidocaine "offer little to no benefit" and "should not be used for teething pain in children because they can be dangerous." [5] The page lists homeopathic teething tablets with creams and gels among the products it addresses. [5] NCCIH adds that homeopathic products "have not been shown to be efficacious for any condition." [6]

FDA also says it has received "reports of death and serious injuries to infants and children" linked to teething jewelry, and names amber teething necklaces as an example. [5] What FDA suggests instead is "a firm (not liquid-filled) teether made of rubber to chew on." [5]

Herbal and "baby" drinks

The NHS food-to-avoid list says herbal drinks and "baby" drinks "usually contain sugars and are not recommended", and that caffeine "is not suitable for babies or young children." [2]

What the research can and cannot say

"Proper evidence not found": we looked in the NHS, FDA and NCCIH pages above for a trial showing that a herbal remedy is safe and effective for colic or teething in babies, and did not find one in the sources we read.

Ask first

Ask a pediatrician or pharmacist before giving a baby any herb, tea, drop, supplement or "natural" teething or colic product. NCCIH notes that many dietary supplements have not been tested in children. [8] Keep every product out of reach and sight; see children and supplements: poisoning and dosing risks and what to do if a child swallowed a supplement. For vitamin D and K in newborns, see vitamin D and K for infants. For breastfeeding, see LactMed explained.