I'm currently breastfeeding my newborn. Is it true that I need to stay away from caffeine, dairy and peanut products for as long as i am breastfeeding? How can I tell if my lo is allergic to the above food items? Reason I'm asking is because I've seen people selling bm booster cookies that usually contain chocolate or peanut butter. Thanks!

In general, it is alright to take most stuff in moderation. Here is a guide (a list of 5 food) as to what you should limit (taken from: http://www.thebump.com/a/foods-avoid-when-breastfeeding), namely: - Fish (avoid high-mercury fishes, e.g., swordwish, king mackerel; fishes with lower levels of mercury should be fine when taken in moderation, e.g., shrimp, salmon, canned light tuna etc) - Alcohol (can be taken occasionally, simply wait till the alcohol has cleared your body before breastfeeding) - Caffeine (fine in moderation. Caffeine can passes into your bloodstream and into your breastmilk, high consumption may interfere with your baby’s sleep) - Peppermint (high intake may inhibit milk production) - Sage (also may inhibit milk production with high intake) Here’s another useful article on what to consume during breastfeeding: http://sg.theasianparent.com/diet-during-your-breastfeeding-period/ Some of my friends would pay attention to their intake of some common foods that infants tend to have allergic reactions to: cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, soy, shellfish and peanuts. They would keep a lookout for allergic reactions in their babies if they have consumed any of these food. Allergic reactions could be breaking out in hives or an eczema-like rash, having mucusy or bloody diarrhea, coughing and/or vomiting. Here is an article which you may find helpful: http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/the_kids/2013/04/how_to_tell_if_your_baby_is_allergic_to_proteins_in_your_breast_milk.html