A gassy baby is an unhappy baby. If you're breast-feeding, some elements of your diet may be causing your baby to develop gas. Cutting these items out of your diet can help identify what's causing gas so that you can avoid them while you are nursing. It's a short-term loss that can go a long way to a solid nap and a good night's sleep.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables are often a source of gas for adults, let alone babies. Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli all fall into this category. While they are touted for their healthful effects, try eliminating them from your diet until your baby's digestive system matures if gas is presenting a problem.
Onion and Garlic
Both onion and garlic make food tasty, but they can cause your baby's stomach to turn very gassy. Gas from these two foods can cause gassiness for up to 24 hours, notes Babycenter.com. Avoid them for the first few months of your newborn's life and introduce them slowly when his gastrointestinal system matures, at about 3 months.
Dairy
While you need calcium, many children have issues tolerating products made from cow's milk. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and even yogurt, can cause diarrhea, a red rash and gassiness in a breast-fed baby.
Citrus
Proceed with caution if eating limes, oranges or lemons. Introduce one a week at a time to see if it causes your baby gas. Once one works successfully, wait a week to try another to avoid causing tummy issues in your newborn.
Chocolate
Sadly, chocolate can cause diarrhea, gas and fussiness, notes Babycenter.com. Cut the chocolate out for a week before reintroducing it to your diet. If gas, diarrhea and fussiness start again after reintroduction, cut it from your diet.
Common Allergens
Many children grow to have peanut, egg, soy, wheat and fish allergies. While it's somewhat less common in breast-fed babies, try deleting each of these, one at a time, from your diet to see if it solves any gassiness in your baby. Since these are more complex and difficult to eliminate, try keeping a food journal to help track what you've eliminated and the resulting behavior in your newborn.
Member Comments