Can You Drink Coffee When Breastfeeding?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS: food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding · Last updated 28 October 2026
Keep it low. The NHS says try not to have more than 300mg of caffeine a day while breastfeeding: a mug of filter coffee has about 140mg, and a mug of instant about 100mg.
What the guidance says
Caffeine passes into breast milk and is a stimulant, so it can make some babies restless. The NHS says cutting it out is sensible, but if you do have caffeine, try not to have more than 300mg a day. That is a higher limit than in pregnancy (200mg). The totals include all sources: coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks and chocolate. Examples from the NHS: a mug of filter coffee has about 140mg, and a mug of instant about 100mg.
You can also check the calorie content of coffee alongside its safety information.
300mg or 200mg? Why the numbers differ
Breastfeeding caffeine advice is not the same everywhere. The NHS figure for breastfeeding is higher than its pregnancy figure, while the EU safety body groups breastfeeding with pregnancy. Rival pages usually quote one number and do not say the other exists.
| Source (date) | Daily caffeine figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NHS: food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding (modified 28 Jan 2026) | 'try not to have more than 300mg a day' | The NHS pregnancy limit is lower, at 200mg a day |
| EFSA (opinion of 27 May 2015) | 200mg a day for pregnant and breastfeeding women, from all sources, spread through the day | EFSA's figure for other healthy adults is up to 400mg a day |
| Nutrition Society page (reviewed Nov 2016) | 'less than 200mg a day', based on EFSA | Older page |
| La Leche League Canada (2022) | Dietitians of Canada suggests 300mg (2 to 3 cups of coffee) a day | Says there is no agreed safe level because babies differ |
| Healthline (9 Jan 2019) | 'up to 300 mg of caffeine per day' | US article; cites studies, not the NHS |
In the UK, follow the NHS 300mg figure, but if your baby is premature, very young or unsettled, the lower EFSA 200mg figure is a reasonable personal ceiling. That second part is our suggestion, not a quoted rule.
What fits in a day: the NHS drink values worked through
The NHS gives these approximate amounts. The two right-hand columns are our arithmetic against the 300mg NHS figure and the 200mg EFSA figure.
| Drink (NHS amounts) | Caffeine | How many in 300mg | How many in 200mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mug of filter coffee | 140mg | 2 (280mg) | 1 (140mg) |
| Mug of instant coffee | 100mg | 3 (300mg) | 2 (200mg) |
| Mug of tea | 75mg | 4 (300mg) | 2 (150mg) |
| 250ml can of energy drink | 80mg | 3 (240mg) | 2 (160mg) |
| 354ml cola | 40mg | 7 (280mg) | 5 (200mg) |
| 50g plain chocolate bar | up to 50mg | 6 (300mg) | 4 (200mg) |
The NHS breastfeeding page says up to 50mg for a 50g plain bar; the NHS pregnancy page puts the same bar at under 25mg, so treat chocolate as a small contributor either way.
The coffee-shop problem
The mug figures above are for coffee made at home. Which? published caffeine figures for five chains on 25 August 2026 (reported by ITV News and The Irish Times / PA; the reports do not describe the test method). Against the NHS 300mg breastfeeding figure, our arithmetic:
| Drink (Which?, Aug 2026) | Caffeine | Share of 300mg | Share of 200mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa medium cappuccino | 325mg | About 108% | About 163% |
| Costa flat white | 241mg | About 80% | About 121% |
| Greggs cappuccino | 235mg | About 78% | About 118% |
| Caffè Nero cappuccino | 221mg | About 74% | About 111% |
| Pret cappuccino (355ml) | 180mg | 60% | 90% |
| Starbucks cappuccino or flat white | 89mg | About 30% | About 45% |
One medium Costa cappuccino is over the whole NHS day on these figures. Drink size and the chain's current recipe change the result, so check the chain's own caffeine information if you drink one daily.
Will it affect my baby? What the sources say
- How much reaches the baby. La Leche League Canada says a baby receives only about 1.5% of the caffeine you drank, and levels in milk peak 1 to 2 hours after you drink. Healthline puts it at about 1%.
- Age matters. La Leche League Canada says caffeine takes longer to clear in premature babies, babies under six months and babies with other health problems. Healthline says the same about newborns.
- What high intakes may do. The NHS says caffeine can make a baby restless. La Leche League Canada says high intake may make a baby irritable, fussy or wakeful, with jitteriness and sleep problems linked to more than five cups of coffee a day.
- Where caffeine hides. Coffee (decaf has a small amount), black, white and green tea, cola, energy drinks, yerba mate, guarana, and some over-the-counter pain, cold and diuretic medicines (La Leche League Canada).
If you want to cut down
The NHS advises cutting caffeine out where possible if your baby seems restless. Practical options named by the sources: decaffeinated tea and coffee (Nutrition Society), and keeping tea and chocolate in mind as they add up. Herbal teas have their own rules; see herbal tea when breastfeeding.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding (published 21 July 2023, modified 28 January 2026) — 300mg a day; filter 140mg, instant 100mg, tea 75mg, energy drink 80mg, cola 40mg, plain chocolate bar up to 50mg; caffeine can make a baby restless
- EFSA: Caffeine (topic page; opinion of 27 May 2015) — 200mg a day for pregnant and breastfeeding women; 400mg for other healthy adults; opinion 27 May 2015
- British Nutrition Foundation / Nutrition Society: Foods or drinks to avoid while breastfeeding (last reviewed November 2016) — older page: under 200mg a day (EFSA); decaffeinated alternatives
- La Leche League Canada: Caffeine and breastfeeding (updated 2022) — rival: 300mg (Dietitians of Canada); 1.5% reaches baby; peak 1 to 2 hours; premature and under six months; sources of caffeine
- Healthline: Caffeine while breastfeeding (9 January 2019) — rival (US, 2019): 300mg; about 1% reaches milk; newborns clear it slowly
- ITV News (25 August 2026): how much caffeine is in your go-to high street coffee (Which? research) — Which? high-street caffeine figures, 25 August 2026
- The Irish Times / PA (25 August 2026): Costa cappuccino has three times more caffeine than Starbucks, study finds — same figures, PA copy
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — NHS pregnancy page: 200mg limit when pregnant (last reviewed 15 June 2026)
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More for the feeding months
Coffee: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In pregnancy | Limit — 200mg caffeine a day |
| Past the date on the label | Yes — best before is about quality |
Common questions
How much coffee can I drink while breastfeeding?
The NHS says to try not to have more than 300mg of caffeine a day, which is about two mugs of filter coffee (140mg each) or three of instant (100mg each). EFSA and an older Nutrition Society page give 200mg a day.
Is the breastfeeding caffeine limit different from the pregnancy limit?
Yes in the NHS pages: 300mg a day when breastfeeding and 200mg a day in pregnancy. EFSA treats pregnant and breastfeeding women the same at 200mg.
Does caffeine in my milk keep my baby awake?
It can in some babies. About 1 to 1.5% of what you drink reaches the baby, and the NHS says caffeine can make a baby restless. Premature babies and babies under six months clear it more slowly.
How long after coffee does caffeine peak in breast milk?
La Leche League Canada says levels in breast milk peak 1 to 2 hours after you drink it.
Is decaf coffee OK while breastfeeding?
Decaf still has a small amount of caffeine (La Leche League Canada) but the Nutrition Society suggests decaffeinated tea and coffee as the alternative.
Is a coffee-shop cappuccino within the limit?
Not always. Which? figures from August 2026 put a Costa medium cappuccino at 325mg, above the NHS 300mg daily figure, and a Starbucks cappuccino at 89mg.
What about energy drinks?
The NHS counts a 250ml can at about 80mg. Count it toward the same daily total as coffee and tea.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS: food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.