Food Allergies Are Not to Blame
Parents can be quick to blame colic on a food allergy. Since babies less than four months old consume nothing but milk (either breast milk or formula), infant formula automatically becomes the culprit. However, there is plenty of scientific evidence that refutes this hypothesis.
Infant Formula as Scapegoat
Some people blame commercial infant formulas for causing colic. They attribute their baby's crying to discomfort caused by difficult-to-digest milk protein in the formula. Doctors know this is not the trigger for colic because switching formulas almost never stops a colicky baby from crying.
If your baby truly has milk protein allergy, she will most likely experience other problems, such as blood in the stool, extremely foul-smelling stools, or excessive vomiting. A colicky baby should not have these symptoms.
Breastfeeding Qualms
In addition, some mothers tend to blame themselves for the excessive crying that characterizes colic. They believe that there must be something in their diet that is showing up in their breast milk, thereby causing the baby to be fussy. In the vast majority of cases, this is untrue. There are very few foods in a breastfeeding mother's diet that will alter a baby's behavior.
While it is true that the food the mother ingests can alter the makeup and flavor of breast milk, these changes should not cause discomfort in babies. Most babies can taste the small trace amount of foods in the mother's diet, and they may feed less if they are not accustomed to the taste. However, it should not trigger crying or gas.
Fact
Dairy products in the mother's diet seldom cause stomach problems in babies, contrary to what many people claim. In addition, lactose intolerance in babies is an extremely rare condition. It is almost never the reason for your infant's excessive crying.
The few exceptions to this rule include alcohol and caffeine. The trace amount of alcohol that passes into breast milk can excessively sedate an infant. It is unclear whether this can be harmful to the baby and the developing brain, so most pediatricians recommend against alcohol consumption while breastfeeding.
Consumption of caffeinated drinks during breastfeeding can also affect your baby. She may take longer to fall asleep or may even act jittery. Be mindful of your caffeine intake while breastfeeding.
