Foods that cause colic in babies during breastfeeding
“In the first 6 months of life, the mother’s and baby’s intestines are one and the same,” says Dr. Marielly Herrera, pediatrician at Pablo Perret White.
Of course, this is said colloquially, as it’s not physically possible—but it means that as long as a baby is breastfeeding, the mother’s gut health will have a direct effect on the baby’s gut health.
So, if we want to improve the baby’s colic, we can do so by improving both the mother’s and the baby’s intestinal function at the same time. Keep reading, mom—there’s hope.
What are colics?
To diagnose colic, a baby must cry for more than three hours a day, at least three days a week, for three consecutive weeks. But here we’ll give you recommendations that any mother can follow without meeting those criteria.
As a mother, hearing your baby cry—even for just 30 minutes—can be distressing, and you’ll want to do everything possible to help them feel better.
Until their first year, most babies feed from the wonderful restaurant mothers produce: breast milk.
Breast milk doesn’t come from nowhere—it’s made from the nutrients, fluids, and reserves that the mother has.
The quality of breast milk depends on the mother’s health—what she eats, environmental toxins, hormonal function, mindset, water intake, immune system, gut flora, and genetics.
We already know that genes influence only about 25% of our health or disease development, while the environment accounts for 75%. Of that, diet is the easiest factor to control—so by making certain changes, improvement can be seen.
Recommendations for you, mom
1. Remove inflammatory foods
Avoid foods in your diet that pass into breast milk and cause or worsen your baby’s symptoms. What a mother eats does affect her milk and her baby’s health. The most common foods that can cause adverse reactions are:
- Grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, and rice)
- Dairy
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Coffee
Nowadays, there are blood tests to identify which specific foods might be causing you harm. If you consume any of the foods listed daily, try removing or reducing them.
2. Keep a food diary
Record what you eat and the symptoms your baby experiences—such as hiccups, crying, or changes in stool—to identify foods that may not be well tolerated and are causing your baby discomfort.
Keep an open mind—even a lettuce leaf or a nut can trigger a reaction. The foods mentioned above are the most allergenic, but everyone is unique and can react to different foods.
If you feel that a food—even a “super healthy” one—doesn’t make you feel good, avoid it and replace it with something that suits you better.
Remember, food effects can take between 2 and 48 hours to appear, so what you eat today could affect your baby tomorrow.
3. Replenish with natural foods as much as possible
We live in a fast-paced world where it’s not always easy to eat naturally, but the more whole foods you include, the better your milk will be for your baby.
Most processed foods are loaded with sugar, dairy, chemicals, and pesticides that can affect your milk. Natural foods—such as vegetables, fruits, tubers, nuts, legumes, fish, chicken, or avocado—provide the nutrients needed to make high-quality milk for your baby’s healthy growth. Try to include them daily.
4. Go to the bathroom every day
This helps eliminate toxins created daily by the body’s metabolic processes and from environmental exposure. It also helps remove harmful bacteria, all of which contribute to better-quality milk.
To stay regular, eat fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water daily, and reduce your intake of sugar and dairy. Supplementing with magnesium citrate before bed or marine plasma can also help improve bowel movements.
5. Take supplements
If your baby seems to have trouble digesting your milk, you may need to improve your digestion first.
In addition to the previous steps, natural supplements can help. Don’t choose the cheapest or most generic brands, as they may contain sugar, yeast, or heavy metals.
Digestive enzymes are key for better digestion—they help “break down” food in the intestines for proper absorption and to produce good-quality milk. The mineral molybdenum can also help reduce gas and improve digestion for both mother and baby.
6. Probiotics for babies
There are now probiotics formulated for infants—but always consult a specialist first. Look for a supplement that contains Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, with at least 5 billion CFUs.
These bacteria help improve digestion and reduce intestinal inflammation. They can be mixed with breast milk.
We have tried and recommend Probiota Infant by Seeking Health.
7. Check the formula
If your baby drinks formula and is experiencing colic or waking up frequently at night, consider switching to a more hypoallergenic one.
Consult your pediatrician, but based on our market research, we recommend the following:
- Carbohydrates: Prefer formulas containing lactose, maltodextrin, tapioca, or corn syrup.
- Proteins: Look for hydrolyzed whey protein, hydrolyzed casein, or amino acids.
In Europe, brands like Alfaré, Nutriben Confort, Hipp Hypoallergenic, and Capricare are good options.
In the U.S., we recommend Elecare, Neocate, and Alimentum Ready.
There are also non-dietary recommendations—like relaxation, exercise, and keeping your baby upright after feeding—that can be very helpful.
We believe that if we heal from the inside—by improving the mother’s health and breast milk quality—the baby will feel much better too.
References:
https://centrespringmd.com/7-ways-reduce-colic-holistic-approach/
NutriWhite Editorial Team
