Babies can have chamomile tea, but not before 6 months of age. For the first 4 to 6 months of life, infants should receive only breast milk or formula, with vitamins and medicines as needed. After 6 months, small amounts of chamomile tea are generally considered safe, though there are real risks worth understanding before you brew a cup.
Why the 6-Month Rule Matters
Young infants have immature digestive and immune systems. Their stomachs produce less acid than older children, which means harmful bacteria that would normally be destroyed can survive and colonize the gut. Their kidneys are also still developing, so any liquid beyond breast milk or formula can throw off the balance of nutrients and electrolytes they need. Even a few ounces of tea can displace a feeding and reduce calorie intake during a period of rapid growth.
After 6 months, the digestive system is more robust, and babies are typically starting solid foods. At this point, offering 1 to 2 ounces of cooled chamomile tea is unlikely to cause problems. One clinical study used about 150 milliliters (roughly 5 ounces) of an herbal tea containing chamomile, fennel, and lemon balm up to three times daily in infants with colic, without reported adverse effects. That said, smaller amounts are a safer starting point.
The Botulism Risk
This is the risk most parents don’t know about. Dried chamomile flowers can be contaminated with the same bacterial spores that make honey dangerous for babies. A study analyzing 200 samples of chamomile found that 7.5% contained botulism-causing spores. The contamination was more common in loose, unwrapped chamomile than in sealed commercial tea bags.
Infant botulism affects babies under 52 weeks old. At that age, the gut doesn’t yet have enough competing bacteria to prevent the spores from growing and producing toxin. The spore levels found in chamomile were low (less than half a spore per gram), but botulism requires only a tiny amount to cause illness. Symptoms include constipation, weak crying, poor feeding, and floppy muscle tone. If you’re giving chamomile to a baby under 12 months, using a sealed, commercially produced tea bag from a reputable brand reduces this risk compared to loose-leaf or bulk chamomile.
Does It Actually Help With Colic?
Chamomile has a long history as a folk remedy for fussy babies, and there’s some clinical evidence to support it. In a study of 30 colicky infants given a chamomile-based remedy, daily inconsolable crying time dropped by more than 50% within one week. By day 7, about 73% of infants were classified as responders, meaning their crying was cut in half or more. That number rose to 80% by the end of the two-week study period, and the effect persisted even after the remedy was stopped.
The calming effect likely comes from a plant compound in chamomile that interacts with the same brain receptors targeted by anti-anxiety medications. In animal studies, this compound activates receptors involved in relaxation and sleep without working through the same pathway as stronger sedatives. That’s a gentler mechanism, but it also means the effect is subtle. Chamomile tea isn’t a guaranteed fix for a screaming baby at 2 a.m., but it may take the edge off.
Allergy Concerns
Chamomile belongs to the daisy family, which includes ragweed, mugwort, and chrysanthemums. If your family has a history of allergies to any of these plants, your baby may react to chamomile as well. Cross-reactivity has also been documented with celery, anise, and birch pollen. Allergic reactions to chamomile range from mild skin irritation to, in rare cases, full anaphylaxis.
When introducing chamomile for the first time, offer a very small amount and wait. Watch for hives, swelling around the mouth, vomiting, or unusual fussiness in the hours afterward. If your baby tolerates it without any reaction, you can gradually increase the amount.
How Chamomile Affects Iron Absorption
This is an underappreciated concern. Herbal teas contain polyphenols, compounds that bind to iron in the gut and prevent it from being absorbed. Research on weaning-age infants in Morocco found that tea infusions significantly decreased iron availability. Chamomile is milder than black tea in polyphenol content, but any reduction in iron absorption matters for babies, who need iron for brain development and are already at risk of deficiency during the transition from breast milk to solid foods.
The practical takeaway: don’t offer chamomile tea with meals or close to iron-rich foods like fortified cereal or pureed meat. Spacing it at least an hour away from feeding times helps minimize the effect.
How to Prepare It Safely
Use a single chamomile tea bag from a sealed commercial package. Steep it in boiled water for about 10 minutes, then remove the bag and let the tea cool completely to room temperature. Never add honey, sugar, or any sweetener. Honey carries its own botulism risk for babies under 12 months, and added sugar provides empty calories that can crowd out nutritious foods.
Start with 1 to 2 ounces and see how your baby responds. If you’re using it for colic or fussiness, up to 5 ounces per serving, offered up to three times a day, has been used safely in clinical research. But more isn’t better. Large volumes of tea fill a small stomach and can replace the breast milk or formula that provides the bulk of your baby’s nutrition.
Watch Out for Commercial “Baby Teas”
Products marketed as baby teas or infant herbal drinks sometimes contain hidden sweeteners. A 2020 market survey of commercial complementary foods found that nearly a quarter of products contained added sweeteners, including juice concentrate, sugar, honey, and rice syrup. Juice was the most common, appearing in over 83% of sweetened products. These ingredients are easy to miss on a label, especially when listed as “fruit extract” or “natural flavoring.” Read ingredient lists carefully and choose products that contain only chamomile and nothing else.