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Honey cough syrup

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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What the research found

A Cochrane review, updated in 2018, looked at randomised trials of honey for acute cough in children aged 12 months to 18 years. It included six trials involving 899 children.

The authors concluded that honey probably relieves cough symptoms to a greater extent than no treatment, diphenhydramine and placebo, but may make little or no difference compared with dextromethorphan. Giving honey for up to three days was probably more effective than placebo or salbutamol; beyond three days, honey probably had no advantage. The review also noted that most children received treatment for one night, which limits the results, and that there was no strong evidence for or against using honey.

Honey and babies

The CDC is direct: babies younger than 1 year old should not be given honey. This applies to plain honey and to any syrup that contains honey, so check the ingredient list on cough products, lozenges and natural remedies. For a baby's stuffy nose, the FDA says nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe or a similar product, with or without saline nose drops, works very well for children younger than a year old.

See a doctor promptly for a baby with a cough, trouble breathing or a fever.

Honey vs honey-based cough syrups

Details are from the CDC, the FDA and the Kids Honey Works DailyMed label. The Kids Honey Works active ingredient is dextromethorphan HBr. A product with honey in its name may be a medicine with a honey flavor, so read the active ingredients.

Cough medicine and children

• Under 2. The FDA does not recommend OTC medicines for cough and cold symptoms in children younger than 2.
• Under 4. The FDA says manufacturers label these products with a warning not to use in children under 4 years of age.
• Under 6. The CDC says OTC cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children younger than 6 years old.
• Measure correctly. The FDA says to use the dosing syringe or cup that comes with a medicine, not household spoons or tools from other medications.
• Homeopathic products. The FDA urges parents not to give homeopathic cough and cold medicine to children younger than 4.

Other ways to ease a cough

The CDC suggests getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, using saline nasal spray or drops, breathing in steam from a bowl of hot water or shower, and using throat lozenges or cough drops (not for children younger than 4). The FDA adds that warm drinks can soothe the throat and that a cool mist humidifier makes breathing easier by decreasing congestion; it says not to use warm mist humidifiers because they can make nasal passages swell.

See our cool mist humidifier guide, saline nasal spray guide and throat lozenges guide. The FDA also notes that coughs help the body clear mucus out of the airway and protect the lungs.

When to see a doctor

The CDC says to seek medical care if you or your child has trouble breathing or fast breathing, dehydration, fever that lasts longer than 4 days, symptoms that last more than 10 days without getting better, or symptoms such as fever or cough that improve and then return or worsen.

Cough medicine labels add: stop use and ask a doctor if cough lasts more than 7 days, comes back, or occurs with fever, rash or persistent headache, which could be signs of a serious condition. For honey-sweetened elderberry products, see our elderberry syrup guide.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Does honey really help a cough?

A Cochrane review found honey probably relieves children's cough more than placebo or no treatment, but evidence is limited.

What age can a child have honey for a cough?

The CDC says at least 1 year old; babies younger than 1 should not be given honey.

Is honey as good as cough medicine?

The Cochrane review found honey may make little or no difference compared with dextromethorphan.

Are honey cough syrups safe for toddlers?

Check the label; some, like Kids Honey Works, contain dextromethorphan and say do not use under 6.

When should I see a doctor for a cough?

For trouble breathing, dehydration, fever over 4 days, or symptoms lasting more than 10 days, per the CDC.

Sources

• Manage Common Cold (cdc.gov), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Honey for acute cough in children (Cochrane review, 2018) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (PubMed 29633783)
• Should You Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds? (fda.gov), U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Kids Honey Works Honey Cough Syrup (dextromethorphan HBr) label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Sources checked 2026-10-15.