How to Make 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.
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:
½ cup of organic cane sugar
¼ 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
½ 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 ½ 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 ¼ - ½ teaspoon 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
- ½ cup of organic cane sugar
- ¼ cup of water
- ½ 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 ½ 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 ¼ – ½ teaspoon 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: 120 Serving 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.)
Thanks so much for the recipe. I made this for my little sick guy and his cough stopped almost immediately. Thanks Linsey
Can you use coconut sugar instead of regular sugar?
Sure! You could also use cane syrup.
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?
Definitely refrigerate it.
Can I give this to my 1 month old ?
I wouldn't give it to a one month old.
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!
I would like to know this as well! Following....
Can I give my 3week old elderberry without honey?
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?
To be honest, I'm not sure. I'm guessing a few months. But we always use it up rather quickly!
How many ounces of syrup does this recipe make?
Im trying to compare recipes
Unfortunately I don't know. So sorry!
It makes about 16 oz giver or take, depends on how much water you lose while simmering.
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.
I was wondering if this recipe has to be pressure canned to avoid botulism?
No because it does not have honey
Is using Glycerin Ok?
Do I need to wait till my baby has a full stomach to give this to her?
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 ,:)
Has anyone ever had their baby (5months) getting diarrhea from elderberry syrup or sambucol?
My baby has been drinking it with nothing unusual happening .
Im having a hard time with the "1 part, 3 part" ??? Can't I just make it and mix it all together...? Thank you
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.
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.
Is this recipe on for a 5 month old?m since there is no honey?
How old was your baby when you started giving them this?