Dear Lactnetters,

Has anyone noted any adverse reactions by a baby to a mother eating hot spicy
foods ( ie chili pepper use)?  Mothers who use hot spices all the time
sometimes note that when their babies get older, they take to spicy food quite
easily.   (I found this too until my daughter started teething big time, then
that spicy Indonesian food bothered her gums).  Observations, anyone???

Have you known any mothers to run into trouble with their use of capsaicin
-containing creams or ointments (used for arthritis, etc.) around babies?
Thinking there must be some potential for this, as adults sometimes get the
ointments in their eyes after rubbing the remedies on their arthritic joints,
even after washing their hands.

Any responses much appreciated.

Sheila Humphrey  BSc(Botany)  RN  IBCLC