Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
Most babies do not need any foods cut out to deal with gas, and neither do breastfeeding mothers. Wind is a normal part of how young babies feed and digest, and much of it comes from air swallowed during feeds rather than from anything on the plate. Dal, rajma, chole, cauliflower and cabbage are not off limits. The exceptions are a true allergy or sensitivity, which usually shows up with other signs as well, and a small number of foods babies should not have for safety reasons.
If you are breastfeeding
Relatives often hand new mothers a long list of "gassy" foods to give up. The evidence does not back this up. The NHS page on colic says you do not need to make any changes to your diet if you are breastfeeding, and the CDC guidance on maternal diet and breastfeeding says women generally do not need to limit or avoid specific foods, and should eat a healthy, varied diet. Eating well matters more right now than avoiding vegetables and pulses.
A few babies do react to something in their mother's diet. The AAP explains in its article on infant allergies and food sensitivities that a mild sensitivity can make a baby cry, fuss or feed more often after the mother eats spicy or gassy foods, and that these reactions almost always last less than 24 hours. If you notice a clear pattern with one food, you can leave it out for a while and see if anything changes. If nothing improves, talk to your paediatrician before cutting out more foods. The AAP's guide to gas relief for babies warns against cutting out so much that you do not get enough to eat, and points out that food is not the only cause of infant gas.
True allergy is different from fussiness. The AAP says reactions in breastfed babies are most often to cow's milk in the mother's diet, and can include a rash such as eczema or hives, vomiting, severe diarrhoea often with blood in the stool, or difficulty breathing. These need a doctor, not a home remedy.
If your baby has started solids
Babies usually start solid food around 6 months. The NHS list of foods to avoid giving babies and young children is about safety, not wind: no honey before 1 year, very little salt, no added sugar, and no whole nuts under 5 because of the choking risk. It does not tell parents to avoid lentils, beans or vegetables. Well cooked, mashed dal and vegetables are ordinary first foods in Indian homes, and our post on baby led weaning basics covers ways to start.
If one food seems to upset your baby, mention it to your doctor, and do so straight away if the reaction includes a rash, vomiting or blood in the stool, which the AAP lists among the signs of a food allergy.
Easing wind
Because swallowed air causes so much gas, how your baby feeds matters more than what anyone eats. The NHS and the AAP suggest:
- holding your baby upright during feeds so they swallow less air
- burping your baby during and after each feed
- for bottle fed babies, trying a slower flow teat if milk seems to come too fast, and letting mixed formula settle before feeding, since shaking adds air bubbles
- gently moving your baby's legs in a cycling motion while they lie on their back
- supervised tummy time while awake
- cuddling, gently rocking over your shoulder, or a warm bath when your baby is crying a lot
Talk to your paediatrician before switching formula.
Remedies without evidence
Gripe water, gas drops and herbal or probiotic drops are widely sold. The NHS says anti colic drops and herbal or probiotic supplements are not recommended, as there is no evidence they help colic, and the AAP notes that studies suggest simethicone gas drops do not help either. Traditional remedies such as hing paste or castor oil on the tummy have no reliable evidence behind them. The NHS also advises against spinal manipulation or cranial osteopathy for crying babies, since there is little evidence it works and it may hurt your baby.
When to call a doctor
See your paediatrician if you are worried about your baby's crying, if nothing you try seems to help, or if colic symptoms continue after 4 months of age. Contact a doctor promptly if your baby has blood in their stool, a rash or hives, or keeps vomiting after feeds. Go to the nearest emergency department straight away if your baby has difficulty breathing, or has a weak or high pitched cry, or a cry that does not sound like their usual cry.
This article replaces an earlier post by Pooja Shah.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.
