Gram Research analysis of 1,324 mother-child pairs found that mothers who ate a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy had babies with 15 percent lower odds of developing both colic and eczema together. Babies whose mothers ate more seafood had 25 percent lower odds of these conditions, while babies whose mothers ate more inflammatory foods had 34 percent higher odds. However, diet is just one factor among many that influence infant health.
A new study of over 1,300 mother-child pairs found that what pregnant women eat may influence whether their babies develop colic (excessive crying) or eczema (itchy skin rashes) in their first months of life. Researchers discovered that mothers who ate a healthier Mediterranean-style diet with more seafood had babies with lower rates of these conditions. Interestingly, the study also found that inflammatory diets and higher nut intake were linked to increased colic risk in some babies. While these findings are promising, experts emphasize that diet is just one factor among many that influence infant health, and parents should consult their doctors before making major dietary changes during pregnancy.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cohort study of 1,324 mother-child pairs from Massachusetts found that each one-point increase in maternal Mediterranean Diet Score during pregnancy was associated with 15 percent lower odds of infants developing both colic and eczema combined.
According to research reviewed by Gram, mothers who consumed one additional serving of seafood per week during pregnancy had babies with 25 percent lower odds of developing both colic and eczema, compared to mothers with lower seafood intake.
A 2026 analysis of 1,324 pregnancies found that higher maternal Dietary Inflammatory Index scores during pregnancy were associated with 34 percent higher odds of infants developing both colic and eczema combined.
Among 1,324 mother-child pairs studied from 1999 to 2003, 11.5 percent of infants developed eczema alone, 20.6 percent developed colic alone, and 4.6 percent developed both conditions by six months of age.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether the types of foods pregnant women eat can predict whether their babies will develop colic (constant crying and fussiness) or eczema (red, itchy skin) during their first six months of life.
- Who participated: 1,324 mother-baby pairs from the Boston area who were followed from early pregnancy through their baby’s sixth month. The mothers averaged 33 years old, and about 40 percent had a personal history of allergies or skin conditions.
- Key finding: Babies whose mothers ate a Mediterranean-style diet (rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, and olive oil) had 15 percent lower odds of developing both colic and eczema together. Babies whose mothers ate more inflammatory foods had 34 percent higher odds of these conditions.
- What it means for you: If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, eating a healthier diet with more fish and fewer processed foods may help reduce your baby’s risk of colic and eczema. However, diet is just one piece of the puzzle, and you should talk with your doctor about your individual situation.
The Research Details
Researchers followed 2,128 pregnant women starting in 1999 and tracked their babies until October 2003. They asked mothers about their eating habits twice during pregnancy using detailed food questionnaires. They then checked in with families when babies were about six months old to see if the infants had developed colic or eczema. The researchers calculated two diet quality scores for each mother: the Mediterranean Diet Score (which measures how closely someone follows a Mediterranean eating pattern) and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (which measures whether a diet promotes inflammation in the body). They also looked at specific foods like seafood, nuts, dairy, and eggs to see if any particular foods were linked to infant health problems.
The study was designed as a prospective cohort study, meaning researchers followed people forward in time and collected information as events happened, rather than looking backward at medical records. This approach is stronger than simply asking people to remember what they ate years ago. The researchers carefully adjusted their analysis to account for other factors that might influence results, such as the mother’s age, race, education level, smoking status, and personal history of allergies.
Understanding what pregnant women eat could help doctors give better advice to reduce infant suffering from colic and eczema. Colic causes babies to cry for hours and distresses families, while eczema causes uncomfortable itching and skin damage. If diet during pregnancy truly influences these conditions, it offers a simple, low-risk way for pregnant women to potentially protect their babies’ health. This research also helps scientists understand how early life nutrition shapes the developing immune system and digestive tract.
This study has several strengths: it followed a large group of real families over time, collected diet information during pregnancy rather than relying on memory, and carefully measured outcomes by asking mothers about specific symptoms. However, the study relied on mothers to report whether their babies had colic or eczema, which could introduce bias if some mothers are more likely to notice or report these conditions than others. The study also cannot prove that diet caused the differences in colic and eczema because many other factors influence infant health. Additionally, the study population was mostly from one geographic area in Massachusetts, so results may not apply equally to all populations.
What the Results Show
The main finding was that maternal diet quality mattered most when babies had both colic and eczema together, or when mothers had a personal history of allergies. For every one-point increase in the Mediterranean Diet Score, the odds of a baby having both colic and eczema decreased by 15 percent. Conversely, for every one-point increase in the Dietary Inflammatory Index (meaning a more inflammatory diet), the odds of having both conditions increased by 34 percent.
When researchers looked at specific foods, they found that seafood intake was protective. Mothers who ate one additional serving of seafood per week had babies with 25 percent lower odds of developing both colic and eczema. Interestingly, nut intake showed a more complex pattern: higher nut consumption was linked to increased colic risk in babies without eczema, but this association disappeared when babies had both conditions.
Dairy and egg intake did not show meaningful associations with either condition in this study. The protective effects of diet quality and seafood were strongest among babies whose mothers had a personal history of allergies or atopic conditions (conditions involving the immune system overreacting to harmless substances).
When researchers looked at colic and eczema separately rather than together, the diet scores did not show significant associations. This suggests that maternal diet may be most important for babies at higher risk of developing both conditions simultaneously, or for babies whose mothers have allergic tendencies. The study also found that the associations between diet and colic were stronger in families with a maternal history of atopy, suggesting that genetic predisposition and maternal diet may work together to influence infant health.
This study adds important new evidence to a growing body of research suggesting that maternal nutrition during pregnancy influences infant immune system development and risk of allergic diseases. Previous research has shown that Mediterranean diets reduce inflammation and support immune health in adults, and this study extends those findings to pregnancy and infant outcomes. The finding about seafood aligns with earlier research showing that omega-3 fatty acids from fish may support immune tolerance and reduce allergic responses. However, the complex relationship between nut intake and colic is somewhat surprising and suggests that the relationship between specific foods and infant health may be more nuanced than previously thought.
The study cannot prove that maternal diet causes differences in colic and eczema because it is observational rather than experimental. Mothers reported their own diet and their babies’ symptoms, which could introduce bias if certain types of mothers are more likely to report health problems or follow healthier diets. The study population was mostly white and college-educated from one region, so results may not apply equally to other racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups. The study measured diet only twice during pregnancy, so it may not capture the full picture of eating patterns. Finally, colic and eczema have multiple causes beyond maternal diet, including genetics, infant microbiome, and environmental factors, so diet is just one piece of a complex puzzle.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, pregnant women may consider adopting a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish, and olive oil while limiting processed foods and inflammatory ingredients. Eating fish one or more times per week appears particularly beneficial. However, these findings should be viewed as suggestive rather than definitive, and pregnant women should discuss dietary changes with their healthcare provider to ensure they meet their individual nutritional needs. The evidence is moderate in strength, meaning while the associations are real and statistically significant, diet is just one factor among many that influence infant health.
Pregnant women, especially those with a personal history of allergies, eczema, or asthma, may benefit most from considering these findings. Parents of infants with colic or eczema should know that while maternal diet during pregnancy may have played a role, many other factors contribute to these conditions, and they should work with their pediatrician on management strategies. Healthcare providers counseling pregnant women about nutrition may want to emphasize Mediterranean-style eating patterns as part of overall healthy pregnancy nutrition. This research is less relevant for women who are not pregnant or planning pregnancy, though the general benefits of Mediterranean diets apply to everyone.
If a woman adopts a healthier diet during pregnancy, the potential protective effects would only be visible in her baby after birth, typically becoming apparent by six months of age when colic and eczema symptoms emerge. Women should not expect immediate changes in their own health from dietary modifications, though Mediterranean diets generally support better health over weeks to months. For women already pregnant, making dietary improvements now could still benefit their baby if they have several months of pregnancy remaining.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can what I eat during pregnancy affect whether my baby will have colic or eczema?
Research suggests maternal diet during pregnancy may influence infant colic and eczema risk. A study of 1,324 pregnancies found that Mediterranean-style diets with more seafood were associated with lower risk of both conditions, while inflammatory diets were associated with higher risk. However, diet is just one factor among many.
What specific foods should pregnant women eat to reduce baby’s colic risk?
Eating seafood one or more times weekly appears most beneficial, with each additional weekly serving linked to 25 percent lower odds of colic and eczema combined. A Mediterranean diet emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish, and olive oil while limiting processed foods showed protective effects in research of 1,324 mother-child pairs.
Does eating nuts during pregnancy increase my baby’s risk of colic?
A study of 1,324 pregnancies found higher nut intake was associated with increased colic risk in babies without eczema, but this association disappeared in babies with both colic and eczema. The relationship is complex and may depend on individual factors, so discuss nut consumption with your doctor.
Should pregnant women avoid dairy and eggs to prevent infant eczema?
A 2026 study of 1,324 mother-child pairs found no meaningful association between maternal dairy or egg intake during pregnancy and infant eczema or colic. These foods can remain part of a healthy pregnancy diet unless your doctor recommends otherwise for individual reasons.
Is maternal diet the main cause of infant colic and eczema?
No, maternal diet is just one factor. Colic and eczema result from multiple causes including genetics, infant microbiome, environmental factors, and immune system development. While diet may influence risk, it does not determine outcomes. Consult your pediatrician about managing these conditions.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log weekly seafood servings and calculate a simple Mediterranean Diet Score by tracking daily servings of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish, and olive oil intake. Users can set a goal of 2-3 seafood servings per week and track adherence.
- Users planning pregnancy or currently pregnant can use the app to build a Mediterranean-style meal plan, set reminders to include fish twice weekly, and log meals to monitor diet quality. The app could provide simple recipes and shopping lists focused on Mediterranean ingredients.
- Track diet quality scores weekly during pregnancy and correlate with infant health outcomes (colic symptoms, eczema appearance) after birth. Users can review their pregnancy diet patterns to identify which specific foods or meal patterns may have influenced their baby’s health, creating personalized insights for future pregnancies.
This article summarizes research findings and should not replace professional medical advice. Pregnant women should consult their obstetrician or midwife before making significant dietary changes. Parents concerned about infant colic or eczema should contact their pediatrician for evaluation and treatment recommendations. This research shows associations between maternal diet and infant outcomes but does not prove causation. Individual results vary based on genetics, environment, and many other factors beyond maternal diet.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.