What Foods Should I Cut Out Of My Diet If I'm Nursing & The Baby's Very Gassy?

Nursing your little one is good for health because your milk supplies all of the nutrients she needs to grow and develop. You may have noticed that your baby gets gassy on occasion, and some babies are sensitive to the foods their mother eats. If your baby is gassy on a regular basis, take note of what you have eaten in the past few hours and try eliminating it from your diet to see if that is culprit. Some foods are more likely to be at fault than others.

Dairy Foods

While the most commonly blamed foods that cause gas in breastfed babies include cabbage and broccoli, it is more likely that your baby's gas comes from dairy foods. Baby Center notes that any food that contains milk, milk products, casein, whey or sodium caseinate can upset your baby's stomach and lead to an increased amount of gas. Try eliminating milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream from your diet to see if your little one's symptoms improve. Read food labels if milk appears to the be the culprit because many foods contain milk or milk ingredients.

Nuts

La Leche League notes that the proteins found in foods like nuts can also contribute to an increase in gas in your breastfed baby. Keeping nuts out of your diet will keep these proteins out of your milk, which can help improve your baby's discomfort and fussiness. Eliminate peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, walnuts, cashews and other nuts from your diet for several days to determine if they are the cause of the gas or not.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, oranges, lemons and limes, can cause stomach discomfort and gas pains in breastfed babies. The acids in these foods are responsible for the effect they have on your nursing little one, and cutting them from your diet may bring your baby some relief. Other acidic foods, such as tomatoes and strawberries, can have similar gas-producing effects.

Spicy Foods

Foods with strong spices like chili peppers or curry can also cause stomach discomfort and gas in your breastfed baby. Some of these spices can be quite strong for your little one's developing digestive system and keeping them out of your diet may help alleviate symptoms and bring relief.