kateandlisa
My baby cries all the time and may be gassy. Is something wrong with my milk or could it be something I am eating? Hunger, needing a diaper change, wanting to be held or snuggled are all reasons baby may be crying. Figuring out why the baby is crying is sometimes challenging.
Many babies have gastric discomfort. This may not mean the baby has colic. Colic usually can be defined by bouts of high-pitched crying lasting more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days per week and for more than 3 weeks in a well-nourished and otherwise healthy baby.
A breastfed baby’s crying is usually not related to the mother’s diet. Cow’s milk is the one food that has been shown to relate to crying and colic. Eliminating cow’s milk from the mom’s diet for two weeks should improve the baby’s crying and colic, if that is the problem.
Eggs and fish have been implicated in causing reactions – eczema and proctocolitis in the baby. Spicy and gassy foods should be excluded on a case-by-case basis and not as a general rule.
Breast milk conveys the flavors of the culture to the baby by flavoring the mom’s milk. Babies get used to the flavors in their mom’s diet by swallowing amniotic fluid which, like breast milk, takes on the flavors of the mom’s food. By eating the flavors of your culture or family, your baby will recognize those flavors when they are old enough to start solid foods and may be less likely to be a picky eater.
So, in cases of lots of crying, eliminate dairy, eggs and fish. Then try eliminating spicy and gassy foods individually for a period of two weeks. If there is still a issue, consult a healthcare provider for further assessment.
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