Foods that can cause baby colic while breastfeeding

Colic is very common during the first months of life of the little ones, but they are very uncomfortable, causing abdominal pain and constant crying in the child. In that sense, know that there are some foods that cause baby colic and for that reason, nursing mothers should consider avoiding them.

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How can the foods that the mother consumes cause colic in the child?

There is no scientific evidence showing the relationship between maternal nutrition and the onset of colic in children, but many mothers observe this association in their routine. Therefore, first, it is necessary to exclude other causes of colic and, having done that, some changes in the diet can be made.

The baby must be fed exclusively with breast milk until 6 months

One of the hypotheses for colic in babies is the immaturity of their intestine. In this sense, one way to avoid this problem is to offer, as recommended by health authorities, exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age. That's because this food is specific to the child and already contains everything she needs.

Fix possible gripping errors

Another hypothesis for colic in little ones is that it is caused when babies swallow air during feedings. Therefore, observe if the child is breastfeeding the right way, that is, check if everything is right with the following items:

• the baby's belly should be leaning against the mother's while breastfeeding;
• his mouth should not only cover the nipple, but also part of the areola;
• the lips must be turned outwards and, in addition, he must suck the milk and not use the nipple as a pacifier.

Foods that can cause colic in toddlers

If everything is in order with the items mentioned above, then some foods can be the cause of the baby's colic. For this reason, mothers should avoid them or change their consumption habits. Check out:

1. legumes

Legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils) can cause gas due to the presence of phytate, which is considered an anti-nutritional factor. Therefore, you should soak these foods for at least 12 hours before preparing them.

2. cruciferous vegetables

Some cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and spinach can pass colic-causing substances into breast milk. However, these foods are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, so they should not be excluded from the diet, but avoided if the baby really has colic when the mother consumes them.