5 Foods That Could Be Making Your Breastfed Baby Fussy
If your breastfed baby has been fussy, there’s a chance they could have a sensitivity to certain foods.
There are a variety of foods that you may be eating that can upset a young baby during digestion. These foods can travel directly into your breastmilk which may be the reason why your baby is uncomfortable and irritable.
Unfortunately, babies don’t come with a manual so we must figure out which food is causing the sensitivity ourselves.
The best way to determine the culprit is to eliminate one of each category of foods from your diet at a time. It may take up to 72 hours for the foods to be completely out of your system so be sure to give it enough time.
If your baby becomes more pleasant as a result, then that was the sensitive food.
Here are the foods that are most likely to be causing your baby distress:
Dairy
Proteins in dairy products can produce colicky symptoms in babies. Foods to avoid: cheese, yogurt, ice cream, milk, creamy soups, etc. It may not be enough to just eliminate these main foods from your diet, but all foods containing these ingredients, like cake made with milk or muffins containing cheese. Luckily, there are plenty of dairy-free options on the market now if you need that ice cream fix!
Fiber-Rich Fruits and Vegetables
Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, onions, brussel sprouts, and cabbage are all known to cause gas and bloating in adults, as well as babies. Fruits containing bran, including apricots, prunes, peaches, pears, plums, and citrus fruits canals be a culprit.
Caffeinated Foods
Soda, chocolate, coffee, and tea. Also some energy bars or medicines may contain caffeine so be sure to check the labels.
Grains and nuts
Wheat, corn, peanuts, and soy are the most common ingredients in foods that can cause gas in babies. Be sure to check labels for any of these.
Spicy foods
Spicy foods can change the taste and smell of breastmilk, as well as cause babies trouble during digestion.
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The good news is that just because your baby has a sensitivity to certain foods through breastmilk intake, does not mean they will be allergic to these foods forever.
As their digestive systems mature, they should begin to tolerate these foods in the future.
About the Author:
Marissa is a school-based occupational therapist turned stay-at-home mom after the birth of her second child. She’s a mom of two children under 18 months old and loves being able to stay home and make memories with them. She recently started her blog, Just Simply Mom (justsimplymom.com), to educate other moms on tips and tricks about all things pregnancy, motherhood, and babies. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, cook, and make DIY projects.
