Sometimes, the foods a mom is eating can make a baby fussy or have symptoms of colic. Though there is not a lot of science behind the practice, many babies seem to be less fussy when the mother eliminates certain foods from her diet. The problem is, there are many foods that seem to cause fussiness in some babies, and finding out which one may be making your baby fussy can be very difficult. You can either try eliminating one food at a time, or if your baby is very fussy, eliminating all possibilities and then add back foods one at a time.
The following foods are the most common culprits, roughly in order:
- Chocolate
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas)
- Broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes
- Peanuts, peanut butter, other nuts
- Citrus fruits
- Cow’s milk
- Milk products: cheese, yogurt, etc.
- Spicy foods, garlic, peppers
- Herbs
- Medications, including prenatal vitamins
- Beef
- Chicken
- Corn
- Eggs
- Wheat products
You can try eliminating foods one by one; most foods will be out of your system and your milk in about 12-24 hours. However, some foods, like cows milk, can take a week or two, so be patient and keep a record of your diet and your baby’s fussy periods.You can also start on a very bland diet for 1-2 weeks and then slowly re-introduce these foods back into your diet, one by one. Wait 48 hours between each new food, and keep a record of your diet and your baby’s fussy periods.
The blandest diet would be based on turkey, rice, products made from rice flour, potatoes, squashes, pear juice, and water. Take a calcium supplement while on this diet. You can stay on this diet until your baby is no longer fussy, or two weeks. If your baby is not any better after one week, then your diet is not likely responsible. Remember that no diet is likely to cure all fussiness.
Add oatmeal and oat products, carrots, peaches, grapes, and salmon back to your diet for a week or two. Then you can add soy products, including soy milk, and chicken. Then you may add beef, wheat, corn, eggs and nuts. Gradually add back milk products. Lastly, slowly add back cows milk, citrus fruits, peanut butter and peanuts, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage, peppers, and tomatoes. You may also add back chocolate (and caffeine) if you so desire.
