While you are breastfeeding, it is important that you eat a well-balanced diet. To achieve a healthy, balanced diet, you should try to eat foods from each of the different food groups below:
If your baby is sensitive to certain foods or drinks, you may need to avoid them. This is because traces of the food you eat, and drink pass through your breast milk to your baby. If you have any questions or concerns about this, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.
For More information about eating a well-balanced diet while breastfeeding, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/healthy-diet-when-breastfeeding/what-to-eat-and-drink-when-breastfeeding/
Food and drinks to avoid
Caffeine
Caffeine occurs naturally in lots of foods and drinks, including coffee, tea, and chocolate. It is also added to some soft drinks and energy drinks, as well as some cold and flu remedies. Caffeine acts as a stimulant, which can make your baby restless. While you are breastfeeding, you should restrict your caffeine intake to less than 300mg a day. Try to have decaffeinated tea and coffee, herbal teas, 100% fruit juice (but no more than 1 glass (150ml) per day) or water instead. Please see the table below for a rough caffeine guide.
Food or drink
Caffeine (mg)
1 can of cola drink (354ml)
40mg
1 plain chocolate bar (50g)
Up to 50mg
1 mug of tea
75mg
1 can of energy drink (250ml)
80mg (larger cans may contain up to 160mg)
1 mug of instant coffee
100mg
1 mug of filter coffee
140mg
Alcohol
Alcohol will pass through your breast milk to your baby when you feed them. Choosing not to drink any alcohol while you are breastfeeding is the safest option. However, if you choose to:
A unit of alcohol is equivalent to roughly:
For more information about foods and drinks to avoid, please visit:
Never share a bed or sleep on the sofa with your baby if you have drunk any alcohol. This increases your baby’s risk of cot death (sudden infant death syndrome)
For more information, please visit www.lullabytrust.org.uk/professionals/publications and download a copy of the 'Safer sleep for babies: a guide for parents and carers’ leaflet