While breastfeeding tends to reduce the chances of colic in a baby, there are a few ways to lower the risk even further when you nurse your infant. One of the main tips is to avoid certain foods, since many babies seem irritated by products like caffeine and spicy food. If your baby seems to display symptoms of colic during breastfeeding despite your avoidance of irritating foods, you might need to cut out items that tend to cause an allergic reaction in babies, such as nuts and cow's milk. Finally, know that regularly burping your baby can help reduce gas, lowering the chances of discomfort that typically leads to exhausting crying episodes.
Some breastfed babies are sensitive to various foods, resulting in stomach irritation. For example, caffeine is known as a major cause of colic during breastfeeding, so you should limit caffeinated soda, coffee, and tea, as well as chocolate. Spicy foods should also be consumed in moderation only, and perhaps completely cut out of your diet if you notice signs of colic in your baby soon after you eat such products. Even seemingly healthy foods can result in colic during breastfeeding, such as acidic fruits, as well as vegetables that have a tendency to cause gas. This means that you should reduce your intake of oranges, broccoli, and onions, to name a few common culprits.
An allergic reaction in a baby can result in a lot of crying due to discomfort, and some foods are more likely to cause this issue than others. Cow's milk is one of the most well-known allergens that can result in colic during breastfeeding, though nuts and soy are also common irritants. If you notice constant crying from your infant soon after you eat these items, you should consider cutting each one out of your diet, one at a time. If about a week passes, and you notice no reduction in crying from your baby, you can try eliminating a different item from your diet until you notice a change for the better.
Colic during breastfeeding can also be caused by a buildup of gas in the baby, even if you have made an effort to cut irritating foods out of your diet. In fact, excess gas is often caused by your baby swallowing too much air while eating. You can prevent this from being an issue by burping your infant every few minutes during feeding, as well as holding him at a slight incline rather than on his back while he eats.