I didn't know about honey!!

Oh No, whatever it is Grantasticpasta, I'm in your gang.
My girls are fairly laid back about their toddlers, thankfully. I do recall one of them saying honey was now considered inappropriate for babies under 12 months.

inappropriate ? heavens, this world has gone mad. Are children allowed to eat anything

Ok at one and older once gut has matured enough to deal with possible spores.

Advice is so different now even from when my first DGS was born 14 years ago.
Today my DD3 said they would have to buy DGS , just one year old today, his first shoes. He is walking holding hands but not on his own. We were told not to put them in shoes until they could walk competently on their own. In face Clarks would not sell them to you until then.. Now they are told to buy them as once they are on their feet and moving a few steps even if not their own.

On their own !

I know! I have checked it on the NHS page and she is right. We had a similar awkwardness in the summer when I suggested little one had water when it was so hot. That was not right either. I wish it didn't make me feel like this, I feel cross and a bit thick.

Ah yes mcem, OK after one year old. I just didn't know it was a thing.

Well just stop feeling cross and a bit thick Grantasticpasta. Our children don't expect us to be up to date, I know mine struggle to keep up with the changing advice. One of the younger grandchildren is 20 months, his cousin 12 months. the advice on all kinds of things changed a lot in the few months between them being tiny babies.
We're grandparents, so we do our best to follow our children's expectations about the way we follow their routines and how we feed their children when were baby sitting/child minding/stepping in to hold the fort. I feel relieved that my grandchildren's parents all appreciate anything and everything we do for them. We aren't left with lists of things they can/can't eat or do, as I know some grandparents are.
I'm a bit handy with a biscuit, whereas my own children remember me being very strict about biscuits/cakes and sweets were reserved for Friday evenings only.

Thanks iam64. That's what I needed to hear. I think it's because I do try so hard to be up to date when I get it wrong it really irks me. I think DIL is pretty relaxed. I don't mind breaking the rules a bit with a biscuit and things but I didn't mean to break them with botulism!

Does anyone know why you are now not supposed to give children under one boiled water? When mine were small I was told to give cool boiled water as sometimes babies got thirsty. Also for the youngest members of the family they were buying what was basically bottled very weak squash/ diluted juice in the baby food section.

"Honey can contain spores of a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which can germinate in a baby's immature digestive system and cause infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness."

From wiki. It is probably a very small risk but I don't blame any mother for not wanting to risk her baby to it. Once the child is a bit older there is no longer a problem.

How nice that your DIL said it with a smile, grantastic. At a year old the risk might already be almost over. Does anyone know about that?

Not thick and stupid at all. As long as we're prepared to listen and adapt then we're doing fine.
When DD was pregnant and not eating paté and unpasteurised cheeses her MiL insisted it was all faddy nonsense. Also children need salt! She went on adding salt when asked not to.
Guess who's the one with extremely high blood pressure.

My GC all had honey from quite a young age. I too have never heard of this potential problem.

I didn't know that about honey either, and I think it would have been kinder if your DIL had told you the reason why she didn't want the baby to have honey rather than just tell you off, even with a smile, grantasticpasta.

DIL might not have known the reason, ana. Or have forgotten. "tellings off" can be kindly done, and this one may have been. There is nothing to indicate otherwise.

She might not have known, or forgotten?

Why can't they have water? Our GS drinks lots of water, never juice and he is not yet 2.

There are so many 'rules', so many risks, so much advice, ana, is all I meant. I knew about the honey thing and babies but I'd forgotten the reason. Having looked it up again today I might remember a bit more but all a mother needs to know is it's something to avoid while the baby is wee.

Perhaps it's just as well the OP didn't ask her DIL the reason for the honey ban then.

DIL is lovely, it was a passing comment really, and I didn't question it, just looked it up once I got home. With water, it was just because little one wasn't weaning yet and just breast fed. I think water with meals once eating food is gold star isn't it?! I think it's squash and pop that's a no no.

Ana - I often find its best not to ask :-)

When my DD1 was about four months old, still breast fed, she was very restless and uncomfortable-seeming when we were staying at my mother's. My mum suggested giving her a little honey in warm water from a bottle. It was supposed to help her sleep. Old wives' remedy? Who knows? My mum had brought up five healthy kids so I listened.

I did give DD some (a very little) honey and water and she did settle down.

I didn't know about the dangers of honey until quite recently. I suspect it only applies to posh honey because mass-produced honey is more rigorously 'processed' for human consumption. I am happy to be corrected/better informed if someone has more information.

Just remembered something else... I think honey can act as a laxative. That could be problematic in babies too.