Breastfeeding Newborns: Irritants & Allergies

Track your Diet to Identify Problem Foods

-- By Rachel Von Nida, BabyFit Expert

Please note: Rather than diagnosing the problem and solution yourself, please consult with your child's pediatrician or specialist. This is a guide to help you gather information so you can have a productive discussion with your health provider.

Can the foods you eat really irritate or cause allergies in the breastfed baby? Possibly. There are two separate issues here. Irritants are different from allergens. Irritants might just make a baby temporarily fussy because they can cause gas to build up in their tiny intestines. Allergens could cause an actual allergic reaction, which typically lasts longer and could cause long-term allergies to particular foods.

Temporary Irritant or Sensitivity Common irritants include: chocolate (may also cause diarrhea), and "gassy" vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, and onions). If you suspect that your newborn is "fussy" or irritated by certain foods you are eating, one approach to determine the irritants, and to provide useful information to your pediatrician, is to keep a food journal. Be sure to note each food, the quantity consumed, and both the time you ate it and breastfed your baby. You may also want to note your infant's reaction and when it appeared to happen (during feeding, 1 hour later, etc.). If your baby is temporarily irritated by the foods you eat, it usually subsides as your baby grows and his/her gastro-intestinal tract matures. Discuss possible irritants with your health care provider.

Member Comments About this Article

	"i remember when laszlo was just weeks old and i had an incredible craving for broccoli. i had an exaggerated amount of it, about a pound, with shrimp and brown rice. then i breastfed him, and a bit later all hell broke loose. he was crying so loud i became really worried. thank god my mom was there with me and told me that he was gassy, but i thought oh boy, what a gas it must be! i got so upset i started crying myself, but mom put her soothing touch to him and he fell asleep without further dis..." -- DREBRA

	"Actually there is no researched evidence to support that so-called "gassy foods" that mom eats would cause gas in her milk. The biological process of how food is converted into milk just doesn't work that way. Gas is more likely caused by baby taking in an excess of air from crying, bottlefeeding, or a strong let-down reflex which causes baby to gulp and take in air. Moms who feel as though they need to restrict their diet are more likely to be deficient in nutrients essential for milk produc..." -- ENLIGHTENEDMAMA

	"Wow! I am in agreement with the women who do say that women must do what they have to do. I am a working mother of 2, and my job demands that I be productive. However, it IS a FEDERAL right to pump at your place of work. Yes, a board meeting goes on, so does the world, but you have been given the freedom to step out for 15 minutes (I get 10 ounces in that amount of time, thank you Medela!) and pump. I think it's up to the mother, but, as many people have said & researched before, human milk is t..." -- LYRACH

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About The Author

Rachel Von Nida
Rachel contributes to the growth and development of BabyFit while keeping up with her growing family. Her two children are healthy products of the BabyFit program.