Immune Boosting Homemade Elderberry Syrup for Kids

Homemade elderberry syrup is surprisingly simple to make with dried elderberries, water, honey, and a few optional herbs and spices. This version adds rosehips, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and astragalus for a flavorful syrup families can keep refrigerated during cold and flu season.

Important: This recipe contains honey and should not be given to babies under 12 months.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup at a Glance

• Prep: 5 minutes
• Simmer: about 45–60 minutes
• Makes: roughly 3–4 cups depending on honey used
• Storage: refrigerated
• For: adults and children 12 months+

For most moms, there’s no time to be sick — or worse — have a sick child. Luckily, there’s a home remedy that can help your family prevent or lessen the effects of what goes around during cold and flu season.

What Does the Research Say About Elderberry for Immune Health?

Elderberry has a long history of traditional use during cold and flu season. Some preliminary research suggests elderberry may help reduce the duration or severity of upper respiratory symptoms.

Elderberry has been found to help with a wide range of influenza virus symptoms including human, swine, and avian strains. And this study in Norway found that people who took elderberry syrup after they came down with an illness experienced fewer symptoms and recovered more quickly than people who didn’t.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup for Kids

This recipe is a slight variation on the ancient elderberry theme to give it more flavor and immunological punch.

Elderberry Syrup Ingredients

• 1 cup dried organic elderberries
• 1/2 cup organic rosehips
• 5 sticks cinnamon
• pinch of cloves
• a few pinches grated ginger root
• 4 cups filtered water
• 1-2 cups local honey (Honey intended for children 12 months and older)

How to Make Elderberry Syrup

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the herbs. Do not add honey yet.
2. Cover pot and reduce heat to a simmer.
3. Simmer for at least half an hour, strain out the herbs (use a stainless mesh strainer, not plastic) and pour the liquid back into the pot.
4. Continue to simmer with the lid off until reduced to 2 cups.
5. Add 1-2 cups of honey and warm until well integrated.
6. Bottle, refrigerate, and use within 2-3 months.

How Much Elderberry Syrup Does a Child Need?

To maintain a strong immune system, adults can take 2 tablespoons daily. Children can generally take 1-2 teaspoons daily. There isn’t one established dose of homemade elderberry syrup for children. Homemade recipes can also vary considerably in concentration.

Can Babies and Toddlers Have Elderberry Syrup?

If you’re considering elderberry syrup for a baby or toddler, age matters — especially because most homemade elderberry syrup recipes contain honey. Because an infant’s immune system is still developing, it’s advised that babies who are less than one year old don’t consume elderberry syrup. Here’s why:

1. Honey Risk in Homemade Elderberry Syrup:
   Many homemade elderberry syrup recipes include honey as a sweetener. Honey is associated with the potential for infant botulism. Clostridium botulinum spores found in honey can produce a toxin in an infant’s immature digestive system.
2. Immature Immune and Digestive Systems:
   Their immune and digestive systems are still developing, and there is limited research on the safety and appropriate dosage of elderberry for babies.
3. Potential for Allergic Reactions:
   Elderberries, particularly if not properly cooked, can be toxic due to cyanogenic glycosides in raw or unripe berries. While cooking destroys these compounds, there’s still a risk of allergic reaction or sensitivity in very young children.
4. Lack of Pediatric-Specific Studies:
   Most studies on elderberry focus on its effects in adults and older children. Research is lacking on its safety, efficacy, and proper dosage in infants.

Can a 1-Year-Old Have Elderberry Syrup?

Once a child reaches 12 months, the restriction against honey no longer applies. However, there isn’t a universally established dose of homemade elderberry syrup for young children, and homemade preparations can vary in concentration.

If you want to give elderberry syrup to a 1-year-old or toddler, check with your pediatrician about whether it’s appropriate for your child and how much to give.

Elderberries Must Be Properly Prepared

Raw or unripe elderberries, as well as the leaves and stems of the elder plant, contain cyanide-producing compounds that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Elderberries should be properly cooked, and leaves and stems should be removed before making syrup.

This is especially important if you’re harvesting elderberries yourself rather than using commercially prepared dried berries.

What About Pre-Made Children’s Elderberry Syrup?

Store-bought elderberry products formulated specifically for children can make dosing easier because they provide age-specific instructions on the label. However, recommended ages and ingredients vary by product, so check the label carefully and talk with your child’s healthcare provider if you’re unsure whether elderberry is appropriate for them.

Or you can buy pre-made organic elderberry syrup or kid-friendly gummies. They’re effective and available in many health stores and online. Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup is an excellent option if you don’t have the time or interest in DIY.

The main drawback to pre-made syrup and gummies is cost. They’re quite a bit more expensive compared to making your own.

Where to Find Elderberries for DIY Syrup

In North America, wild elderberries often grow in the eastern, central and western regions. You can find them along roadsides, in fields, and in wooded areas. Elderberry plants typically thrive in moist and well-drained soils. So, with a proper lesson in foraging, you may be able to source your homemade elderberry syrup for free.

Not all parts of the elderberry plant are safe for consumption. The berries are usually dark purple or black when ripe and are ready to be picked from late summer to early autumn. The leaves, stem and unripe berries of the elderberry plant contain a toxic compound called Sambunigrin and should not be consumed.

Organic dried elderberries are available in bulk online. You can also find a DIY elderberry syrup kit.

More Herbal DIY for Families

Here are more family friendly holistic DIY’s:

Homemade Herbal Vapor Rub
DIY First Aid Ointment
How to Make a Natural First Aid Kit
DIY Iron Syrup