It is okay to take caffeine during breastfeeding but it should not be overdone. A small percentage of caffeine usually less than 1% get in your breast milk. The amount in your milk usually peaks a couple of hours after it has been consumed.

Newborn’s cannot efficiently  break caffeine down and as a result it  accumulates in their system. Your baby will be able to process it  more efficiently about 3 months of age and it gets better overtime.

Drinking moderate amount of caffeine may not have any effect on your newborn. However drinking more than 2 to 3 cups per day can contribute to  behavioral changes in both you and your baby. You may become more agitated, irritable or jittery. It can also cause sleeping problems.

However every baby is different. What may bother one baby may not bother another.

Which foods and beverages contain caffeine

Some foods include the following :

• coffee
• tea
• soft drinks
• energy drinks
• chocolate
• coffee ice cream

Some  herbal products and over the counter medication such as headache , cold and cough remedies may also contain it. You need to read labels to find out .

If you suspect that your baby is reacting  to caffeine, you should  try and avoid its food sources for about a couple of weeks. However you have to know that abruptly discontinuing all food sources  may result in headaches or other symptoms of withdrawal for the mother. If the baby’s situation improves after avoiding caffeine food sources, then caffeine is the culprit.

If you have any concerns , talk to your doctor.