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How to Make Elderberry Syrup for Babies | Mother Rising

Updated By 68 Comments

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

For those who want to make elderberry syrup for babies but don't want to use honey this recipe is for you.

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

  1. Combine sugar with water in a pot on a stove over medium heat.
  2. Stir constantly until you can no longer see the sugar granules. Do not bring to a boil.
  3. Remove from heat and store in a glass mason jar. (It’s a good idea to sterilize the jar.)
  4. 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.

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Step 2:  Make Elderberry Juice

Ingredients:
2 cups of water
1/2 cup of whole organic elderberries

Instructions

  1. Pour ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat and simmer for an hour.
  3. While simmering, use a spoon to mash elderberries so that it gets really mixed up.
  4. After an hour or when about 1/2 cup of water have evaporated, remove from heat.
  5. Strain elderberries and pour elderberry concentrate in a sterilized mason jar.

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Step 3:  Create Elderberry Syrup for Babies

Ingredients:
3 parts Elderberry Concentrate
1 part Thick Simple Syrup

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients.
  2. 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!

IMG_4334

Elderberry Syrup for Babies

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.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

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

  1. To make a simple syrup, combine sugar with water in a pot on a stove over medium heat.
  2. Stir constantly until you can no longer see the sugar granules. Do not bring to a boil.
  3. Remove from heat and store simple syrup in a glass mason jar.
  4. Pour elderberries and water in separate pot and bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat and simmer for an hour.
  6. While simmering, use a spoon to mash elderberries.
  7. After an hour or when about 1/2 cup of water have evaporated, remove from heat.
  8. Strain elderberries and pour elderberry juice in a sterilized mason jar.
  9. To finish, combine three parts elderberry juice to one part simple syrup.
  10. 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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© Lindsey
Category: Baby and Kids

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.)

Some of the most vulnerable to colds and flu are babies. Use this recipe and learn how to make elderberry syrup for babies to boost your child's immune system for a healthy and happy year!

Check out my NEWEST eBook: A Simple Guide to the Hard Parts of Labor! What's inside? ---->> ALL of my best information about getting through the hard parts of labor. Want a copy? Simply click the image above, follow the prompts, and it will be delivered to you today!

About Lindsey VanAlstyne

Lindsey VanAlstyne, the creator of Mother Rising, is a childbirth educator, birth doula, postpartum doula, breastfeeding advocate, and placenta encapsulator. This year Mother Rising was featured on Healthline as one of 2019's best pregnancy blogs. Lindsey lives with her three children in North Florida and is always dreaming of cooler weather.

Comments

  3. 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?

    Reply

  4. 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!

    Reply

  6. 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?

    Reply

  8. 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.

    Reply

    • 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 ,:)

      Reply

  13. 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

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  14. 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.

    Reply

  16. 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.

    Reply

  17. 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!

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  24. 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

    Reply

  26. 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. (:

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  27. 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.

    Reply

  30. 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?

    Reply

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