Chamomile
Chamomile tea isn't a drink for babies or young children. Milk and water are all they need.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Wait until your child is at least 5 years old before offering chamomile. Until then, offer the safer swaps below.
How to serve chamomile by age
Cutting photo goes here
6 months+
Not yet: breast milk, formula and sips of water
Chamomile tea isn't suitable for babies. The NHS says 'baby' and herbal drinks usually contain sugars and aren't recommended. There's a second reason under 12 months: a lab study found botulism spores in 7.5% of 200 chamomile samples, more often in loose chamomile than in tea bags, and its authors said chamomile tea could be a risk for infant botulism, which affects babies under 1. Breast milk or formula stays the main drink, with sips of water from a cup at meals.
- Size
- Instead of chamomile tea, small sips of water from a cup with meals, up to 4–8 oz (120–240 ml) a day in total.
- Check before serving
- Check the cup holds only breast milk, formula or water, with nothing added.
US and UK advice differ here. The AAP suggests mashed food or soft pieces no larger than ½ inch; the NHS suggests soft finger-sized pieces your baby can hold in their fist. Both agree the food must squash easily.
Cutting photo goes here
9 months+
Not yet: water from a cup
Still no chamomile, including 'baby' teas, herbal granules and homemade tea from loose flowers. Don't put tea, or anything other than breast milk, formula or water, in a bottle or trainer cup (NHS). Keep offering plain water with meals, so your baby gets used to its taste.
- Size
- Small sips of water with meals, instead of chamomile tea.
- Check before serving
- Check what's in the cup before you hand it over, especially if other people's drinks are on the table.
Cutting photo goes here
12 months+
Not yet: water and plain milk
Toddlers still don't need herbal tea. The AAP says the best drinks for children aged 5 and under are water and plain milk, and that most other drinks should be avoided. Chamomile tea sweetened with honey or sugar adds sugar too: honey is safe from 12 months as far as botulism goes, but it's an added sugar, and US and UK advice is to avoid added sugar until after age 4.
- Size
- About 8–32 oz (240–950 ml) of water and about 16 oz (480 ml) of plain whole milk a day in total (AAP), instead of chamomile tea.
Cutting photo goes here
18 months+
Not yet: water or milk in their own cup
This site suggests keeping chamomile and other herbal teas off the menu until at least age 5, the same as our tea page: the AAP says the best drinks for children aged 5 and under are water and plain milk, and the NHS says herbal drinks aren't recommended for babies and young children. If your toddler wants to join in at teatime, pour water or milk into their own cup. Keep your hot drinks well out of reach: the NHS says a hot drink can still scald 15 minutes after it was made.
- Size
- Water or plain milk in their own cup, instead of chamomile tea.
- Check before serving
- Before you sit down, check that hot mugs and teapots are pushed back from the table edge, out of your child's reach.
Always have your child sit upright in a high chair or at the table, and stay with them the whole time they eat. Keep to the size and texture for their stage. Every baby develops on their own timeline.
How to prepare chamomile
- 1
Don't give your baby or toddler chamomile tea, herbal 'baby' teas or herbal granules.
- 2
Don't put tea, or anything other than breast milk, formula or water, in a bottle or trainer cup (NHS).
- 3
Offer water with meals from about 6 months, and plain whole milk from 12 months.
- 4
Put your own hot drink down well out of reach before you hold your baby, and keep it away from table edges (NHS).
How much to offer
None for now. Chamomile tea isn't recommended for babies and young children: the NHS says herbal drinks usually contain sugars and aren't recommended, and the AAP says water and plain milk are the best drinks for children aged 5 and under. Offer those instead, and let your child decide how much to drink.
Common mistakes
Chamomile tea for colic
The NHS says remedies for colic, including herbal supplements, aren't recommended and there's no evidence they help. The NCCIH says chamomile on its own hasn't been shown to help colic. If you're worried about crying, talk to your pediatrician or health visitor.
Chamomile tea to help a baby sleep
The evidence is lacking. The NCCIH says there's very little information on chamomile and insomnia: a 2019 review found only one study, and it showed no benefit. Breast milk or formula, plus sips of water from about 6 months, is all your baby needs to drink.
Loose or homemade chamomile for a baby
In a lab study of 200 chamomile samples, 7.5% had botulism spores, more often in loose chamomile sold by weight than in tea bags. The authors said chamomile tea could be a risk for infant botulism, which affects babies under 1. Don't give any chamomile tea to a baby.
Sweetening it with honey
Never give honey before 12 months, because of infant botulism (NHS). After that, honey is still an added sugar, and US and UK advice is to avoid added sugar until after age 4.
Questions parents ask
Can chamomile be a choking hazard for babies?
Chamomile tea is a low choking risk. The bigger danger is scalds: the NHS says to keep hot drinks well away from young children, and that a hot drink can still scald 15 minutes after it was made. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to chamomile?
Chamomile is not one of the common food allergens. The NCCIH says it can cause allergic reactions in some people, including severe reactions and anaphylaxis, and that reactions are more likely in people allergic to related plants, such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies. Herbal blends can contain other plants, so read the label.
Is chamomile healthy for babies?
Brewed chamomile tea has no caffeine and almost no calories, protein, iron or other nutrients: about 1 kcal and 0.08 mg of iron per 100 g (FoodData Central). It doesn't add anything your child needs.
Is chamomile tea safe for babies?
We don't suggest it. The NHS says herbal and 'baby' drinks usually contain sugars and aren't recommended, and a lab study found botulism spores in some chamomile, mostly loose chamomile, which matters for babies under 1. Breast milk or formula, plus sips of water from about 6 months, is all your baby needs to drink.
Does chamomile help with colic or sleep?
There's no good evidence that it does. The NCCIH says chamomile alone hasn't been shown to help colic, and that there's very little information on chamomile and insomnia: a 2019 review found one study, which showed no benefit. The NHS says herbal remedies for colic aren't recommended. For a crying baby, talk to your pediatrician or health visitor.
Can I drink chamomile tea while breastfeeding?
The NCCIH says little is known about whether chamomile is safe while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist, especially if you take any medicines, since chamomile can interact with some, including warfarin.
My baby had some chamomile tea. What should I do?
Don't give any more. Infant botulism affects babies under 1, so if your baby is under 12 months, watch for the signs the CDC lists: constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, a face showing less expression than usual, and a weak cry that sounds different. If constipation is the only sign, call your pediatrician the same day. If there's any other sign, or your baby is floppy or has trouble swallowing or breathing, call your emergency number. At any age, also watch for a rash or hives, especially if your child has hay fever (see when to call the doctor).
If your baby refuses chamomile
- Chamomile tea isn't a drink to offer yet, so there's nothing to keep trying.
- If your toddler wants to copy your cup of tea, give them water or milk in their own cup.
- Drink water with your child at meals. Children copy what they see.
- A calm 'not yet' works better than a long explanation. Keeping your mug out of sight helps too.
Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.
Buying and storing chamomile
- Keep chamomile tea bags, loose chamomile and herbal drinks in a cupboard, out of your child's reach.
- Put hot drinks, teapots and kettles well back from table and counter edges, and never leave a hot drink where your child can reach it (NHS).
- Throw away any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).
When to talk to your doctor
Contact your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if:
- Your baby is under 12 months, has had chamomile tea, and becomes constipated. Call your pediatrician the same day and tell them about the chamomile. If they also feed poorly, have a weak or different cry, drooping eyelids or less expression in their face, seem floppy, or have trouble swallowing or breathing, call your emergency number: the CDC says botulism is a medical emergency.
- Your child has a rash or hives after chamomile, especially if they have hay fever or an allergy to ragweed or related plants. Stop giving it and talk to your pediatrician. If they have trouble breathing, or their lips, face or tongue swell, call your emergency number.
- You notice mild signs of an allergic reaction after eating, such as a few hives or a little vomiting. See signs of a reaction.
- You're worried about how much your baby eats, their growth, or they refuse most solid food for weeks.
Call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) now if your baby has trouble breathing, wheezing, can't cough or cry, has lips, mouth, tongue or throat that suddenly swell, or becomes pale, bluish, floppy or unresponsive. Also call if hives come with repeated vomiting.
Offered chamomile?
Add it to your first 100 foods.
Chamomile is in your 100 foods
1 of 100 offered · See all
Add a note (likes, dislikes, any reaction)
Saved in this browser only. Think it was a reaction? See signs of an allergic reaction and when to get help.
Helpful guides
Sources
- NHS: Drinks and cups for babies and young children
- NHS: Colic
- AAP: Recommended drinks for children age 5 and younger
- NCCIH: Chamomile
- International Journal of Food Microbiology: Clostridium botulinum spores in chamomile and infant botulism (2008)
- CDC: Symptoms of botulism
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- HHS: Fact sheet on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
- NHS: Baby and toddler safety
- USDA FoodData Central: Beverages, tea, herb, brewed, chamomile
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
More first foods
Free printable: The First 100 Foods checklist
Tick off foods as your baby tries them. Print it or save it as a PDF, no sign-up needed.