What shouldn't a nursing mother eat?

A nursing mother doesn't need to severely restrict her diet; eating balanced and healthy is usually enough. That said, keeping an eye on foods that might cause gas, fussiness, allergic reactions, or sleep problems in your baby can be helpful:

• Caffeine (tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks): staying under 300 mg daily (about 2 cups of drip coffee) is suggested. Too much can make your baby jittery and sleep-deprived.
• Alcohol: absolutely should not be consumed while nursing—it passes into breast milk and can affect your baby's development.
• High-gas foods: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, dried beans. Every mother's tolerance is different; if you see your baby getting gassy or fussy, try cutting them out for a few days and add them back to see what happens.
• Milk and dairy: if your baby has eczema, extreme gas, or bloody mucus in stools, they might have a dairy allergy. But cutting it out isn't necessary without signs of allergy. If you're unsure, trying a 1-2 week break from cow's milk protein can be a test.
• Spicy and acidic foods: might bother some babies, but there's no blanket rule against them.
• High-mercury fish (tuna, swordfish, shark): it's wise to avoid these; salmon and sardines are good low-mercury choices.
• Allergens (nuts, eggs, soy, wheat): only cut these out if your baby shows actual allergy signs. Avoiding them preventatively isn't needed.

If you suspect a food, try cutting it out for a few days, then add the same amount back 2-3 days later and watch how your baby reacts. If you see anaphylaxis, bloody stools, poor weight gain, or severe rashes, talk to your pediatrician or pediatric allergy specialist.

*Note: This is not medical advice; please consult your doctor about medications and dosages.*