Key Notes
- Colic Condition: When infants feel distressed and annoyed even when they are healthy and well fed.
- What the mother eats and drinks during nurturing period has an effect on the breast milk the baby consumes so it is important for the mother to consume healthy food.
- Consuming common food items like garlic, nuts, chocolate and coffee can all make your baby colic.
Colic is a condition characterized by excessive crying in an otherwise healthy infant.
It can be hard on the mom who has had enough of the baby’s cries, but it also causes distress for the child. The key to preventing colic is avoiding certain foods during breastfeeding which we will discuss below.
A lot of new moms don’t know that they should avoid certain foods during the breastfeeding process.
In this blog post, we will discuss 14 common foods to avoid during breastfeeding as well as why you should avoid them.
Garlic
Garlic is a strong smelling food that most babies will not like. When you eat garlic, your breast milk smells the same way and this can cause colic in infants.
Onion
Onions are members of the allium family which means they have similar chemicals to garlic. One reason why onions should be avoided while breastfeeding is because they have a similar smell to garlic.
Chocolate
Many women enjoy eating chocolate while breastfeeding, but this should be avoided because it can cause colic in babies.
Chocolate contains caffeine which means that when you eat it your baby gets some of the drug through breast milk and will end up having problems sleeping normally at night. The last thing you want is a colicky baby at night when they need rest.
Coffee and Caffeinated Teas
Coffee contains caffeine which means that it will go through to your breast milk faster than most other foods including tea, soda or energy drinks.
Caffeine can also be passed along in breast milk causing colic in the child. This needs to be avoided while breastfeeding for this reason.
On top of that, coffee has been shown to reduce the amount of iron stored in new mothers’ bodies if consumed regularly.
Alcohol
Alcohol should be avoided while breastfeeding because it can lead to problems sleeping and will also cause colic in the child.
If you are going to consume alcohol then do so before feeding your baby since this way there is no chance that any of the substance will end up in your breast milk.
Spicy Food
Spicy food is another thing that should be avoided while breastfeeding because it can cause colic in the child.
It’s not uncommon for babies to cry more after their mom has eaten spicy foods, which means you definitely need to avoid this during breastfeeding.
You might want to eat these kinds of foods on occasion but do so before feeding your baby rather than afterwards if possible.
Lentils
Lentils are members of the legume family which means that they contain similar chemicals to other foods in this group.
One reason why you should avoid these types of food while breastfeeding is because babies don’t like their mom’s breast milk when it contains certain chemicals found in lentils and other legumes.
Soy Products
Soy products can cause colic for baby so new moms need to steer clear of them during breastfeeding if possible.
The main culprit here isn’t soy itself, but rather the fact that many women eat tofu or drink soy milk while nursing. This causes problems with baby later on including colic symptoms among others.
It might be best to avoid soy entirely until your child has stopped breastfeeding to avoid colic.
Dairy Products
Dairy products might not cause colic in babies immediately, but they could over time due to lactose intolerance or other problems that arise from eating these foods while breastfeeding.
If you are looking for a good alternative then consider almond milk as it’s the next best thing and will provide your baby with proper nutrition during this important stage.
Cereal Grains (wheat, corn, rice)
Cereal grains like wheat contain gluten which can make babies fussy after their mom has eaten them while breastfeeding.
It’s also possible for cereal grains to cause allergies once inside breast milk so many doctors recommend avoiding these types of food altogether when nursing rather than just limiting yourself to one or two servings per week.
Pineapples
Pineapples are another food that moms need to avoid while breastfeeding because they can cause colic in babies.
This is especially true when your baby was born premature since the acidity of pineapples might be too much for their little digestive systems to handle at this time.
It’s best to wait until you have weaned from breast milk before eating pineapple again if possible.
Broccoli
Broccoli is another food that’s best eaten in moderation while breastfeeding to avoid colic symptoms.
This is because it can cause problems with your baby’s digestive system if you eat too much before feeding them, leading to uncomfortable stomach aches and gas among other things.
If possible then try waiting until after the child has finished breastfeeding before eating broccoli again since this will give their body time to adjust without affecting the breast milk they get at meal times.
Nuts
Most nuts are considered safe for moms who are nursing but peanuts should be avoided altogether due to potential health risks that might come along with having nut products inside of breast milk.
Peanuts have been linked with a condition called peanut allergies, which can cause a severe reaction in babies and lead to serious medical problems if not treated quickly.
Fish
Fish are a great source of nutrition for nursing moms who want to make sure they get enough protein in their diets.
However, some fish contain mercury which can be dangerous for babies if it’s present in breast milk after eating certain types (such as swordfish). The best advice is to limit the number of servings you eat per month during breastfeeding and try not to have any more than one serving every week or two at most.
This will help keep your baby safe without making them colic or anemic due to lack of iron intake from other sources like red meat.
Final Words
It is very important for the nurturing mother to avoid any and all foods that would make her child feel colic. As it can not only cause distress to the child but can also dangerous for their health. Finally here you can read foods for breastfeeding mothers to eat and avoid.
