Is It Safe for My Baby? - Caffeine

(e.g., coffee, tea, chocolate, colas, ingredient in some pain medication)

Risks During Pregnancy

• Drinking more than 300mg/day (about three cups) of coffee regularly increases your risk of miscarriage and having a low birth weight baby.

Recommendations During Pregnancy

• Check the amount of caffeine in food, drinks and pain medication and limit the amount per day.

Risks During Breastfeeding

• Large amounts of caffeine may cause irritability and poor sleeping patterns in the baby.

Recommendations During Breastfeeding

• Check the amount of caffeine in food, drinks and pain medication and limit the amount per day.
• Ask your doctor or lactation consultant about the possibility of timing your caffeine intake with breastfeeding times.

This much caffeine	...is contained in:
40 to 180 mg	coffee, average regular size cup (8 oz/230 mL); many of the coffees available for take-out are in larger sizes.
20 to 90 mg	tea, average cup (8 oz/230 mL)
36 to 90 mg	cola,regular, and some other soft drinks (in a 12 oz/355 mL can)
50 to 125 mg	energy drink,regular (in a 17oz/500 mL bottle)
up to 50 mg	bar of chocolate,regular (2 oz/45 g)

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