How Much Caffeine You Can Have Depends On Your Baby
Babies may be sensitive to caffeine and breastfeeding or whatever their breastfeeding mothers drink or eat. Drinking a low to moderate amount of caffeine shouldn’t affect your baby. But every baby is different. And some can’t handle any caffeine at all. In this post, you’ll discover the average amount of caffeine your baby might be able to handle. But first, let’s review some details about caffeine.
Common Sources of Caffeine:
- Coffee
- Sodas
- Energy drinks
- Tea
- Chocolate
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How Much Caffeine Passes From Breast Milk to Baby?
Caffeine passes from mother to infant through breast milk. The amount of caffeine in breast milk is less than the amount of caffeine in the mother’s blood. Approximately 1% of the caffeine a breastfeeding mother consumes is passed into her breastmilk. That means that low to moderate amounts of caffeine consumption is unlikely to hurt your baby. The CDC recommends 300 milligrams or less per day, which is about 2 to 3 cups of coffee.
Can Caffeine Decrease My Breast Milk Supply?
Yes it can. Caffeine is a natural diuretic; it increases urine production. This can cause dehydration which decreases breast milk production. Make sure to drink lots of water if you consume caffeine.
How Long Does Caffeine Stay in Our Bodies?
When you ingest caffeine, it gets processed in your stomach, then into your blood. Next, the liver processes it and breaks it down. In a healthy adult, caffeine stays in the body for 3-7 hours.
Will My Baby Clear Caffeine as Quickly as I Do?
No; not at all. Although 1% may seem like a tiny amount gets passed onto your baby through breastmilk. But babies process caffeine differently because their liver and kidneys are immature. Babies can hold onto it for 65–130 hours! Preterm and newborn babies take even longer to break down caffeine. Mothers of these infants might consider having even less caffeine or no caffeine. Ask your doctor for specific advice regarding your baby.
Some Signs of Your Baby’s Negative Reaction to Caffeine:
- Irritability
- Fussy
- Jittery
- Increased crying
- Poor sleeping patterns
- Feeding problems, including feeding refusal
- Reflux/Hartburn that doesn’t go away or that worsens
My Baby Has a Negative Reaction, But I Didn’t Have a Lot of Caffeine!
These reactions have typically been reported in infants of breastfeeding mothers with high intake of caffeine. However, some babies might have these symptoms with a breastfeeding mother who has only one (1) cup of caffeine. If your baby appears to have one of these symptoms after you’ve breastfed and you’ve had caffeine, then consider decreasing your caffeine intake or stopping it altogether.
Want to Know More?
Breastfeeding & Alcohol | Pump & Dump – Truths & Myths? Read more about it here.
What’s Next?
Stay tuned for my blog post, “Absence Seizures in Children Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Don’t forget to check out the video for more in-depth information on today’s topic! Watch the full video on my YouTube channel!
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