Top 11 Foods to Stay Away from While Breastfeeding

Reason to avoid: Chocolate can give you a significant amount of processed sugar that can ‘disturb your babys sleep. Plus, this sugar can also be hard to digest. Chocolate has no nutritional value, so the intake of it should be kept to a minimum. If eating chocolate while breastfeeding newborn is in moderation, you should stay on top of such side effects.

Reason to avoid: Spicy foods can cause not only gas but also other digestive problems in infants, such as heartburn. They are hard to digest even for adults, so you shouldn’t take this risk during breastfeeding. The main problem is the presence of capsaicin that will cause acid reflux. These foods can cause colic pain, allergies, and affect your baby’s taste as well.

Reason to avoid: Some infants are allergic to citrus fruits, which is why they should eat them in the first year. Babies can develop rashes or other skin problems from these fruits so, try to keep them away for the first 18 months. Because of the high level of acid in these fruits, they can cause irritation to your baby’s digestive system.

Reason to avoid: Allergy risks plus a lot of sugar intake. Raw honey can come with a dangerous compound called Clostridium Botulinum. This can cause botulism, a disease that can be fatal in a matter of hours.

Note: You will notice that raw honey and organic honey are often confused. This happens because organic honey is a type of raw honey. Even so, there are certain aspects that make these two types of honey differ from each other. Organic honey is raw honey produced in better quality conditions. The nectar used for this honey is of a higher quality and the bees are strictly supervised. The nectar is checked with a critical eye so that it comes from organic sources with no pollution. Also, organic honey is packed by following the FDA standards. While organic honey has to be raw honey, raw honey doesn’t have to be organic honey which is why the two types of honey should be separated. As for botulism risks, organic honey is considered safer than raw honey due to the strict regulations followed by the producers.

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Reason to avoid: Strawberries can also cause allergic reactions in the first year of life. This is even more important if you have a family history of allergies. They also cause gas and irritation due to their intense flavor.

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Reason to avoid: Some pediatricians warn mothers about the allergenic aspect of kiwis so you should avoid them to stay on the safe side. They can also cause gas and fussy reactions to your baby.

Reason to avoid: Onion can cause gas, skin reactions like hives, eczema, ear infection, runny nose, and even breathing problems. So, onions might have their benefits, but a young baby will be at risk for severe side effects as well.

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Reason to avoid: Garlic might cause gas and other discomforts in your baby. It has a strong smell that will change the smell of your milk as well. The taste will also be different. Some children don’t like the intense flavor, and they become fussy or irritable.

Reason to avoid: The laxative fruits such as prunes or pears might cause you to lose essential minerals and nutrients. They can also increase the colic pain in babies due to their laxative effect and fast fermentation properties.

Reason to avoid: A coffee a day never killed anyone, but too much coffee can be unsettling for your baby. Coffee can disturb their sleep and cause gas. It is also high in acid, which can decrease the level of iron in the milk. Your baby might become fussy and even develop a mild addiction to caffeine.

The last food to be avoided while breastfeeding is alcohol.

Reason to avoid: Avoiding alcohol altogether is the safest option for breastfeeding moms. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), moderate alcohol consumption by a nursing mother up to 1 standard drink per day is not known to be harmful to the infant ONLY IF the mother waits at least 3 hours after a single drink before nursing.

However, exposing alcohol above the moderate limits through breast milk could be damaging to the baby’s development, growth, and sleep patterns. Moreover, alcohol consumption above the moderate limits may also weaken a mother’s judgment and ability to care for her child safely.