For those who want to make elderberry syrup for babies but don’t want to use honey this recipe is for you.
Most elderberry syrup recipes call for honey, but for babies under one honey is contraindicated. This recipe is a perfect way make elderberry syrup for babies.
Elderberry Syrup for Babies
When babies are sick the best way to keep them healthy is to continue to breastfeed. If you’re not breastfeeding, or if you would simply like to boost their immune system, babies that have already begun dabbling with table food may use elderberries.
Elderberries are a sweet, tasty and simple way to decrease the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms.
(If you don’t want to make your own syrup, you can buy Sambucol (which is made with glucose, citric acid and potassium sorbate… which I’m not a fan of) or this elderberry juice concentrate. However, making elderberry syrup at home is extremely cheap and simple.)
How to Make Elderberry Syrup for Babies
Note: I am not a doctor, or any sort of medical professional. The information in this blog post is coming from my experience as mama and herbal enthusiast.
Step 1: Make a Thick Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of organic cane sugar
1/4 cup of water
Instructions
- Combine sugar with water in a pot on a stove over medium heat.
- Stir constantly until you can no longer see the sugar granules. Do not bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and store in a glass mason jar. (It’s a good idea to sterilize the jar.)
- Store your simple syrup in the refrigerator.
Note: Sugar acts as a preservative which is another reason the simple syrup is helpful when making your own elderberry syrup.
Step 2: Make Elderberry Juice
Ingredients:
2 cups of water
1/2 cup of whole organic elderberries
Instructions
- Pour ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for an hour.
- While simmering, use a spoon to mash elderberries so that it gets really mixed up.
- After an hour or when about 1/2 cup of water have evaporated, remove from heat.
- Strain elderberries and pour elderberry concentrate in a sterilized mason jar.
Step 3: Create Elderberry Syrup for Babies
Ingredients:
3 parts Elderberry Concentrate
1 part Thick Simple Syrup
Instructions
- Combine ingredients.
- Store in a glass mason jar.
NOTE: You can sweeten this recipe to taste. If you prefer, use less or more thick simple syrup to cater to your needs.
NOTE: Head on over here for instructions on how to make Instant Pot elderberry syrup. Simply substitute honey with the simple syrup described in this recipe.
Elderberry Syrup for Babies Dosage
- Babies can take 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of elderberry syrup per day for daily maintenance.
- During times of cold and flu this can be increased to 2-3 times per day.
TIP: Create “elderberry ice cubes” by mixing elderberry syrup and breast milk. Put on a highchair tray for a yummy snack and some sensory play.
TIP: You could also try a mesh baby feeder for a similar result.
TIP: The easiest thing, I think, is using a small syringe. Mercy thought it was amusing!
Elderberry Syrup for Babies
Most elderberry syrup recipes call for honey, but for babies under one honey is contraindicated. This recipe for elderberry syrup is perfect for babies.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of organic cane sugar
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of whole organic elderberries
- 2 cups of water
Instructions
- To make a simple syrup, combine sugar with water in a pot on a stove over medium heat.
- Stir constantly until you can no longer see the sugar granules. Do not bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and store simple syrup in a glass mason jar.
- Pour elderberries and water in separate pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for an hour.
- While simmering, use a spoon to mash elderberries.
- After an hour or when about 1/2 cup of water have evaporated, remove from heat.
- Strain elderberries and pour elderberry juice in a sterilized mason jar.
- To finish, combine three parts elderberry juice to one part simple syrup.
- Store in refrigerator.
Notes
- Babies can take 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of elderberry syrup per day for daily maintenance.
- During times of cold and flu this can be increased to 2-3 times per day.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
120Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 3Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g
Where to Buy Elderberries
I buy a lot of my essential oils, herbs and tea from Frontier on Amazon. They are a quality company you can trust. (In fact I buy my beeswax and tins to make green salve and all the ingredients I need to make my facial cleanser, all from Frontier.)
Maria says
Thanks so much for the recipe. I made this for my little sick guy and his cough stopped almost immediately. Thanks Linsey
Jessica says
Can you use coconut sugar instead of regular sugar?
Lindsey Morrow says
Sure! You could also use cane syrup.
Kass says
Thank you for this natural flu remedy! I am already seeing improvement in my son’s flu symptoms after giving him the syrup! I just was wondering if this needs refrigerated after it is all made up, or if it should be stored at room temp?
Lindsey Morrow says
Definitely refrigerate it.
Charissa says
Is this alright to use for a 3 month old? I noticed you said something about babies dabbling in table foods, but would it also work for those younger than that.
Thank you!
Jacobsspeg says
I would like to know this as well! Following….
Rebecc says
Can I give my 3week old elderberry without honey?
Kasandra says
I have used this recipe multiple times and my little one seems to bounce back MUCH faster! I have a batch made up, but I was wondering how long it was good for while refrigerated?
Lindsey says
To be honest, I’m not sure. I’m guessing a few months. But we always use it up rather quickly!
Bridjett says
How many ounces of syrup does this recipe make?
Im trying to compare recipes
Lindsey says
Unfortunately I don’t know. So sorry!
Kim says
It makes about 16 oz giver or take, depends on how much water you lose while simmering.
Thomas says
I saw you recommended the “ Sambucol” formula but wasn’t a fan of it. I use Gaia for myself, but didn’t know if the ingredients in that were bad for little ones. They have a kids one but she is 10 months so I know honey is a no-no. So really is there much difference or something in my formula a baby shouldn’t be having?
Here are the ingredients in the Gaia formula:
Organic Black Elderberry, Organic Acerola fruit, Vitamin C (from Organic Acerola), Organic cane sugar, water, lemon juice.
Patty says
I was wondering if this recipe has to be pressure canned to avoid botulism?
Cee says
No because it does not have honey
Paz says
Is using Glycerin Ok?
Hollie says
Do I need to wait till my baby has a full stomach to give this to her?
Dari says
I try to give the remedy before a meal….it’s hard to say exactly when a baby has an empty stomach though (my baby nurses often) …I just try not to mix the remedy with water or food right in the moment of the intake…so it doesn’t dissolve and works stronger in baby’s system. That’s what I do ….hope it helps ,:)
Mary says
Has anyone ever had their baby (5months) getting diarrhea from elderberry syrup or sambucol?
Dari says
My baby has been drinking it with nothing unusual happening .
Kelly Venable says
Im having a hard time with the “1 part, 3 part” ??? Can’t I just make it and mix it all together…? Thank you
Dari says
I was confused too. I just kept adding the syrup to the elderberry solution until it taste acceptable for me and for baby. I stored the rest of the syrup in the fridge for another batch. It depends on how sweet you want it ….I guess.
The syrup is working beautifully in my baby. Have a beautiful day.
Dari says
Hi!
I just want to say thank you so much for posting this recipe. My 11 month old baby got a cold and I have been thinking on elderberries as a great remedy; but don’t want to take the risk with raw honey. So I thought there has to be a way to do it and did some research online and came across this web site.
I just gave him 1/2 tsp and will keep giving it to him.
I added to my recipe: fresh garlic+fresh ginger+cinnamon+a bit of thyme since my baby doesn’t mind for those flavors at all.
God bless you and thank you again.
Megan says
Is this recipe on for a 5 month old?m since there is no honey?
Anna says
How old was your baby when you started giving them this?
Jessica Guill says
How Old does a baby need to be to take this? I have an 11 week old and hoping to boost her immune system since we have older kids with friends who have the flu.
Carolyn says
Hi! Thank you for this! My 11 month old has had a “cold”/ “flu” thing for over a month (along with my other 3 kids…). A few weeks ago she was hospitalized for pneumonia, bronchiolitis, para-influenza and a couple viruses… She’s recovered from that, but has had this wicked cough and lots of muscles for the past two weeks. No fever this time so it’s not a hospital emergency. So I’m so hoping this elderberry syrup will help her kick it! I ended up using dried berries. It’s the end of winter up here in Calgary, Canada so no fresh ones. I assume it’s the same recipe for dried? I did use fewer berries (1/3 c instead of 1/2…).
Anyway, thank you for this honey-free recipe!
Carolyn says
I meant “mucus”, not “muscles”!
Norma says
Is your recipe for dried or fresh berries?
Lindsey says
dried
Catia Vincent says
Would it be okay not to add sugar? I’d rather not give additional sugar to my baby if I don’t have to.
Lindsey says
Yes, but you’ll likely need to use something if you want baby to take it a second time ;). Try some agave syrup, or stevia, or something. Also, the sugar or honey thickens the mixture, which is helpful. Let me know what you decided to do and how it went! I’d love to hear your feedback.
Kristen says
Can this be used for adults? If so, what would the dose be?
Lindsey says
Try this: https://www.motherrisingbirth.com/2012/02/natural-cold-and-flu-remedy-elderberry-syrup.html
Emma says
Can you use fresh berries? Would it be the same directions/recipe?
Lindsey says
I would imagine you would need more fresh berries to get things to equal out to the dried berries. Try using double the amount of elderberries if using fresh. Also, you may need to use less water in the recipe too. Hope that helps!
Ashlea says
Thank you for this recipe! What is the youngest that a baby can be to use this recipe?
Jessica Cepeda says
How long after it’s made can I give to my LO?
Lindsey says
Once it has cooled it’s good to go!
nadine says
Hello,
My water always seems to evaporate very quickly when using the suggested water to dried elderberry ratio. I boil very low too. What could be going wrong? Thank you
Lindsey says
I’m not sure! But adding more water is totally ok. 🙂
Letty says
I was wondering if you could use agave nectar instead? Would that preserve it?
Lindsey says
Yes! Agave nectar acts as a preservative as well. 🙂
Gloria says
I am sorry if someone has already asked this.
But what would a child and adult dose be? I usually buy gummies for my 5 year old and myself but the product I usually buy increased in price drastically! So I’d like to start making it myself. (:
Lindsey says
Elderberry Syrup Recipe Dosage Instructions
For Daily Maintenance: Adults: Take 2 teaspoons daily, Children: Take 1 teaspoon daily.
For Intensive Use: Adults: Take 1 tablespoon four times daily, Children: Take 1 tablespoon two times daily.
Lauren says
Hi Lindsey,
Would it be ok to give this to a 3 month old? I was thinking of adding 1/2 tsp to his bottle.
Thank you.
Lindsey says
I’d ask your care provider. 😉
Emma says
What if I just leave out simple syrup and give elderberry concentrate? In smaller amounts obv
Lindsey says
Go for it!
Amber says
Can I can this recipe in a water bath?
Lindsey VanAlstyne says
Honestly, I am not sure. I am ignorant of canning!
Amber Zitterkopf says
I did! ♀️ lol
Amber Zitterkopf says
Hello! Love your recipe! Question, if I make a big batch of this. Should I let the water evaporate by 1/4 still? In your recipe of 1/2C berries to 2C water you say to let 1/2 cup water evaporate which would be 1/4 of the water in your recipe so I’m wondering if I should still do that. I’m making 4C berries to 16C Water and it just seems like a lot to have a 1/4 of the water evaporate lol. What do you think?
Lindsey VanAlstyne says
Yeah, I’d still let it evaporate, but that’s my personal preference. You may want to check out my post about making elderberry syrup in the Instant Pot.https://www.motherrisingbirth.com/2019/02/instant-pot-elderberry-syrup.html
DEANA says
What would be the adult dosage for this recipe?
Lindsey VanAlstyne says
Check out this post: https://www.motherrisingbirth.com/2019/02/instant-pot-elderberry-syrup.html Thanks! 🙂
Jessica says
What is your say on taking this while breastfeeding?
Lindsey VanAlstyne says
I personally used elderberry while breastfeeding. It was a great way to boost my immunity!
Jessica Rivera says
What is your day on using this while breastfeeding?
Jessica says
I meant say not day! ♀️
Vanessa says
Hello, thank you so much for creating this for mommas. I was wondering if when cooking the elderberries in the ínstapot I would just use the same amount of water here and the 9 minutes from the other post…?
Lindsey VanAlstyne says
I think that would work well. Remember, when you release the steam valve lots of moisture will leave the elderberry juice.
Nikki says
Is it okay to give a 3 month old elderberry syrup that has ginger in it?
Lindsey VanAlstyne says
I’m not sure. Maybe ask a local herbalist?