Hi, everyone. I did NOT mean to suggest that mothers *avoid* chocolate (like I would advise avoiding smoking, for example). I suggest, in general, that they eat chocolate *in moderation*, like I advise drinking coffee, tea and cola (caffeine, in other words) in moderation. If, however, the baby is colicky, fussy, bothered about something, I may suggest that mother cut out caffeine, chocolate, gassy veggies, and think about cutting down on dairy to see if it helps (not everything at once, of course!!) I DO stand on my previous that women should be told that effects of chocolate MAY be like those of caffeine. According to my Webster's New World Dictionary, theobromine (extracted from cacao plant and present in chocolate) is an alkaloid used in medicine as a nerve stimulant and is related to caffeine. Some babies may be extra sensitive to their mom's intake of theobromine and get "colicky"; other kids' moms can pig out on chocolate every day and it won't faze them at all. In other words, IMO, this is NOT an "urban myth", but just another thing to be aware of when baby is driving parents up the walls and everyone is telling mom something is wrong with her milk and she "must" wean..... I really liked that line about the nurses saying the gift chocolates were bad for moms so they got it for themselves.... :-) Judy Knopf, an experienced wall-climber