Maple syrup
It isn't honey, but it's still added sugar, so it waits until after 4. Ripe fruit does the sweetening meanwhile.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Wait until your child is at least 4 years old before offering maple syrup. Until then, offer the safer swaps below.
How to serve maple syrup by age
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6 months+
Not yet: mashed fruit to sweeten
Maple syrup is an added sugar, and the NHS says not to add sugar to your baby's food. It isn't honey, so the infant botulism warning the CDC and AAP give for honey isn't about maple syrup. But it is still sugar. Sweeten oatmeal or plain yogurt with mashed ripe banana or soft cooked fruit instead.
- Size
- Instead of syrup, mashed ripe banana or soft cooked fruit stirred into oatmeal or yogurt, on a pre-loaded spoon.
- Check before serving
- Check labels on baby cereals, yogurts and snacks: maple syrup and other syrups count as added sugars.
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.
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9 months+
Not yet: fruit on pancakes instead
Spread a thin layer of mashed ripe banana or soft cooked berries on pancake strips instead of syrup, or mash banana into the batter so the pancakes are sweet without it.
- Size
- Soft pancake strips, or pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), with mashed fruit instead of syrup.
- Check before serving
- Squash a pancake piece between your thumb and finger. It should be soft, not crisp.
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12 months+
Not yet: fruit or plain yogurt as a topping
Toddlers still don't need syrup. Top pancakes, waffles or oatmeal with mashed or chopped soft fruit, or plain yogurt. Watch for syrup in cereals, bars and toddler snacks: check the label for added sugars.
- Size
- Bite-sized soft pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), with a fruit topping instead of syrup.
- Check before serving
- Check that pancakes and waffles are soft all the way through, with no crisp edges.
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18 months+
Not yet: fruit topping instead
US and UK advice is to avoid added sugar, including syrups, until after age 4, so maple syrup waits, including at family breakfasts. Top pancakes with mashed banana, soft chopped fruit or plain yogurt, and let adults add syrup at the table after your child's portion is served.
- Size
- Soft pancake pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), with mashed or soft chopped fruit on top instead of syrup.
- Check before serving
- Squash a pancake piece between your thumb and finger. It should be soft, not crisp.
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 maple syrup
- 1
Don't add maple syrup or pancake syrup to your baby's or toddler's food or drinks.
- 2
Sweeten oatmeal, yogurt and pancakes with mashed ripe banana or soft cooked fruit instead.
- 3
Serve the family's pancakes plain, and let adults add syrup at the table after your child's portion is served.
- 4
Read labels on cereals, yogurts and snacks: maple syrup, agave and other syrups count as added sugars (NHS, FDA).
How much to offer
None for now. Maple syrup waits until after age 4: US and UK advice is to avoid added sugar, including syrups, for children aged 4 and under. Offer fruit for sweetness instead, and let your child decide how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth.
Common mistakes
Swapping honey for maple syrup
Maple syrup isn't honey, so the infant botulism warning the CDC and AAP give for honey isn't about it. But the NHS lists syrups such as maple as free sugars, and the FDA counts sugars from syrups as added sugars. The swap doesn't make it sugar-free.
Thinking 'pure' or 'natural' means it's fine
Pure maple syrup has about 60.5 g of sugars per 100 g (FoodData Central), and the FDA lists it with table sugar and honey as a single-ingredient sweetener on food labels.
Syrup on pancakes every morning
The NHS says sugar can cause tooth decay, and that babies don't need sugar. Make fruit the everyday topping.
Missing maple in baby and toddler foods
Some cereals, yogurts and snack bars are sweetened with maple syrup. The CDC says to check the Nutrition Facts label to find foods with no added sugars.
Where US and UK guidance differ on maple syrup
United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines call on parents to avoid added sugar for children aged 4 and under. The FDA counts sugars from syrups, including maple syrup, as added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label.
United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting
The NHS says to avoid food and drink with sugar for children aged 4 and under, including the natural sugar found in honey, syrup, fruit juice and smoothies, and it lists maple syrup among free sugars.
We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.
Questions parents ask
Can maple syrup be a choking hazard for babies?
Maple syrup is a low choking risk, but it's sticky, and it usually comes on pancakes and waffles, which can be dry or chewy. Cut those into soft pieces for your child's age, and stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to maple syrup?
Pure maple syrup is not a common allergen. Pancake syrups, maple-flavored foods and maple candies can contain other ingredients, so read the label.
Is maple syrup healthy for babies?
Mostly sugar: pure maple syrup has about 60.5 g of sugars per 100 g (FoodData Central). It has some minerals, such as manganese and calcium, but US and UK advice still counts it as an added sugar.
Is maple syrup safe for babies under 1?
The infant botulism warning from the CDC and AAP is about honey, not maple syrup. But babies shouldn't have added sugar: the NHS says not to add sugar to your baby's food, and the CDC says infants and young children should not have added sugars. So skip it under 1, and keep it out of everyday food until after 4.
Is maple syrup healthier than sugar or honey?
For young children, they're all treated the same way. The NHS lists honey and syrups such as maple among free sugars, and the FDA counts sugars from syrups and honey as added sugars. US and UK advice is to avoid all of them up to age 4.
What can I put on my toddler's pancakes instead of syrup?
Mashed ripe banana, soft chopped fruit, plain yogurt, or a thin layer of smooth nut butter once your child has had nuts on their own. Spread nut butter thinly: the AAP lists thick chunks of nut butter as a choking hazard.
If your baby refuses maple syrup
- Your child doesn't need syrup, so there's no need to keep offering it.
- If they ask for syrup, offer mashed fruit or plain yogurt on top instead.
- Make banana pancakes for the whole family, so they're sweet without syrup.
- Save repeated tries for everyday foods: many children need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food.
Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.
Buying and storing maple syrup
- Store syrup up high and out of your child's reach, and follow the label for storage after opening.
- Keep the syrup bottle off the table when your toddler eats, and add syrup to adults' plates only.
- 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:
- 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.
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Helpful guides
Sources
- HHS: Fact sheet on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
- AAP: Botulism: causes, signs, symptoms and treatment
- AAP: Choking prevention for babies and children
- CDC: Foods and drinks to avoid or limit
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Sugar: the facts
- FDA: Added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label
- USDA FoodData Central: Syrups, maple
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
More first foods
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