Eating Garlic While Breastfeeding?

Updated on June 26, 2013
L.G. asks from Cheyenne, WY
13 answers

Can you eat garlic (in small quantity, of course) while breastfeeding without altering the taste of the milk and without the baby becoming fussy and irritated? I love garlic in different meals but I am afraid it'll make my baby fussy! Thanks.

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

Garlic is so healthy-try it and see if the baby can/will tolerate it-all the best-remember, it is watered down a bit. How sweet you are!

3 moms found this helpful

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J.B.

answers from Houston on

I ate whatever I wanted and nursed my three for a year each, so I don't know that it matters really. There are different schools of thought on this but my experience is other than alcohol and a minor caffeine reduction, I just ate and drank nomally. Good luck!

11 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

I didn't change how I ate while breastfeeding - garlic, onions, broccoli, hot peppers, and other strong flavors are regular items in our menu and are things that my kids all tolerated when they were eating real food. Go ahead and eat what you normally would - if the flavor doesn't agree with your baby, he or she will let you know. One of the nice things about breastmilk is that it's not the same thing feeding after feeding after feeding, so your baby gets used to different tastes over time. The flavor can change, which is a good thing, just like the fat content, nutrient profile and immune content change in response to what your baby needs.

10 moms found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

It depends on the baby.
I ate curry, garlic and a whole lot of the "do not eat" list and they never ever bothered any of my 3. When my daughter was old enough one of her favorite foods was curry.
If you were eating things while you were pregnant your baby has already been tasting them. You are helping your baby develop their taste buds while breastfeeding by the foods you are eating.
I wouldn't stop eating the foods you love unless you notice an obvious issue in your baby.
Like I said, I've breastfed all 3 of my kids and not a one had any issues with anything I liked to eat and are now all very adventurous and great eaters.

8 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I ate garlic, a lot of garlic, well my whole life but nothing changed while I was breastfeeding. I figured the poor kids have had it coursing through their veins the whole time I was pregnant with them. It never effected their nursing or made them fussy.

7 moms found this helpful
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G.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Has your baby shown you that he/she does not like garlic or gets and upset tummy? If not, don't eliminate it from your diet. Baby has been tasting it in utero throughout your pregnancy if you normally eat garlic. I am a fairly heavy garlic eater, and neither of my babies had any issues with it.

My firstborn was born while I was in Korea. Over there, my Korean doc told me that if I wanted to boost my milk supply, I should fry up TEN cloves of garlic for lunch every day.

I suspect the advice we are given about garlic and nursing is as much (or more) about culture as about scientifically supported practices.

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S.R.

answers from Washington DC on

I've never heard that you shouldn't...There are plenty of cultures that cook with garlic in almost everything...I'm sure they nurse their babies just fine.

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H.?.

answers from Boise on

It depends on the baby, some babies have a hard time with the taste of garlic (whatever you eat affects the taste of your milk) and some babies have a harder time digesting certain proteins. Some moms avoid garlic, broccoli, and a variety of other foods because they noticed that after they ate such foods their babies were extra fussy or spit up more often. My poor mother had to avoid all dairy or I would projectile vomit (nice mental picture, right?) But in my case, my babies had no sensitivities. I had this wonderful appetizer at an Italian restaurant when one of my babies was just a month old, it was roasted Elephant Garlic (no actual elephants were harmed in the making of the dish, it is just called that because the garlic cloves are HUGE) on toasted bread. My baby had no problem at all with my garlic-y milk! My advice would be to experiment, eat something deliciously garlic-y and see how the baby reacts. Best of luck!

6 moms found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from Houston on

I exclusively nursed all three of mine and never even considered that garlic could effect breast milk and my babies. I didn't drink caffeine or alcohol at all but otherwise no restrictions.

5 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

I've never heard such a thing!!!

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P.N.

answers from Denver on

I've never had a problem with it. With food sensitivities and breast feeding, you kind of just have to test the waters. If your exclusively breastfed baby is spitting up a lot, or is fussy after a good feeding, you might have an issue with something in your diet. Could be beans, onions, dairy, etc. Most do fine no matter your diet though.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

I've never had problems.

3 moms found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Orlando on

You never know unless you try. Every baby is different. Everything you eat influences the taste of your milk. Breastfed babies are lucky in that regard...they get to experience lots of tastes before starting "real" food.

Interestingly, my nursing babies were unhappy if I ate food that I had found aversive and avoided during pregnancy.

1 mom found this helpful
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