reflux: the myth of colic ...

NOTE: This applies to premature babies to a point.

avoid certain foods and liquids

More so for older children and babies, there are certain foods that are known to cause or worsen reflux.  If you are breastfeeding, avoid these foods:

vegetables (due to high acid or belching)
- Broccoli  
- Green peppers
- Cabbage
- Brussel sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Tomato
- Tomato juice
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Onions
- Garlic
- Turnips
- Rhubarb
- Kale

fruits (due to high acid or lots of fiber and seeds)
- Apple (especially peels)
- Bananas (can cause constipation)
- Citrus fruits
- Figs
- Coconut

beverages
- Milk (lactose intolerance)
- Coffee (even decaffeinated)
- Tea
- Carbonated beverages
- Caffeinated beverages

starches
- Beans (gas producing)
- Oats (rolled oats acceptable)
- Tofu (avoid large quantities)
- Barley (pearled barley fine if cooked 10-15 min)

miscellaneous
- Fatty or fried foods (fats take longer to digest)
- Meat with connective tissue/gristle (take longer to digest)
- Chili powder
- Vinegars
- Chocolate (VERY HIGH caffeine content that will keep your baby awake)
- Molasses
- Peppermint / spearmint (Wintergreen is unrelated)
- Honey
- Caffeine (even decaffeinated coffee contains caffeine)
- Foods with "air" such as fluffy baked goods, meringues
- Swallowing air by sucking on hard candies or drinking from straws
- Rye seeds
- Meat extracts
- Black pepper (white pepper acceptable)
- creamy foods / gravies (high fat content)
- Rich pastries (high fat content)
- simple sugar foods
- excessive fiber (increase very gradually as tolerated)
- pectin
- high energy foods (digest slowly)
- MCT Oil (medium chain triglycerides, digest slowly)
- guargum (thickener, digests slowly)

List Source and Copyright: Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association - www.reflux.org