Depending on the child, there are foods a mother may need to avoid while she breastfeeds. Each child may be different and may or may not react problematically to the milk produced after their mother eats a particular food. A mother should consult a pediatrician if she thinks a particular food may be causing a problem.
Gas-forming Foods
Some infants are susceptible to becoming gassy after a mother has ingested particular foods. This can lead to irritability and discomfort in an infant. Foods that have been reported to cause gas in breastfed children include chocolate, spices, citrus fruits and juices. In addition, gas-forming vegetables like onions, broccoli and cauliflower may lead to gas in infants.
Milk Allergy
Some infants develop a cow milk allergy early in life, although most outgrow this before age 5. Breastfed babies who have diarrhea, constipation, rashes or are colicky may have a milk intolerance or allergy. It is important for a pediatrician to help parents determine if this is the case. If the infant has a milk allergy, the mother will need to remove milk products from her diet. This includes cheeses, yogurt and other products that may contain milk ingredients, such as whey.
Other Allergies
Other common allergens for infants include soy, egg or nuts. If an infant has symptoms of an allergy, is not digesting food well or is not feeding properly, the child needs an evaluation from a pediatrician to confirm an allergy.
Caffeine and Alcohol
Breastfeeding mothers can have a small amount of caffeine a day and occasionally may have one alcoholic beverage. Caffeine can interfere with a child's sleep patterns, and it can make an infant irritable. If a mother drinks alcohol, she should not breastfeed for two hours per alcoholic beverage and pump the milk and dump it so that the infant does not ingest breast milk that may have alcohol in it, according to Baby Center.
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