Garlic may seem like a harsh taste to give an infant, so many nursing moms avoid it, along with other strong flavors that can affect the taste of breast milk. In most cases, however, newborns don't mind garlic-flavored breast milk. If you think your baby has an intolerance to garlic in the breast milk, you can eliminate it from your diet. The term "food intolerance" means different things to different people; true garlic allergy or intolerance occurs very rarely.
Taste Preference
If your baby nurses less than normal after you eat garlic, he may just not like the taste. This isn't a true food intolerance, which causes a rash, gastrointestinal symptoms or respiratory symptoms. If you're sure it's the garlic causing the problem, cutting down on your garlic intake should eliminate the problem. Babies don't normally develop gas or colic based on what you ate, despite the persistent belief that they do, lactation consultant Kelly Bonyata explains on her website, KellyMom.
Studies on Garlic in Breast Milk
A study conducted by researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center and reported in the October 1991 issue of "Pediatrics" showed surprising findings on garlic in breast milk. Researchers found that garlic changed the flavor of breast milk approximately one hour after ingestion. The garlic taste and smell peaked two hours after ingestion and then decreased. The surprising part was that babies sucked longer when breast milk was garlic-flavored, researchers reported, seemingly indicating a preference for garlic-flavored milk.
Colic and Diet
Some cultures use a much larger amount of garlic than others in food preparation. Breast-fed babies in these areas don't exhibit a higher incidence of colic than areas where garlic isn't so heavily used. Either babies become used to the taste in the womb or most babies actually like garlic, as the Monell Chemical Senses Center seems to indicate.
Allergic Substances in Breast Milk
Garlic, like other foods you eat while breast-feeding, can cause an allergic reaction in your baby. A garlic allergy is rare in the general population, according to a Taiwanese study reported in the January 2004 issue of "The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology." The most common allergens found in breast milk include cabbage, corn, eggs, wheat, fish and shellfish, peanuts, tomatoes, onions, berries, nuts, spices, citrus fruits and juices, and chocolate, according to lactation consultant Karen Zeretzke. A baby with a garlic allergy might develop a rash, hives, respiratory symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
References
- KellyMom: Does a Mom Need to Watch Everything Ehe Eats to Avoid Having a Gassy Baby?
- iVillage: Breastfeeding: Do You Need to Avoid Garlic or Spicy Foods?
- The Journal of Clinical Allergy and Immunology: Identification and Immunologic Characterization of an Allergen, Alliin Lyase, From Garlic
- Pediatrics: Maternal Diet Alters the Sensory Qualities of Human Milk and the Nursling's Behavior
- Le Leche League International: Allergies and the Breastfeeding Family
