The 0-3 age range is a critical period for a baby's development. The health of their digestive system directly impacts their overall growth. However, the digestive tracts of babies in this age group are particularly fragile. Many mothers report that their babies frequently experience issues like diarrhea and vomiting. So, who is to blame for a baby's sensitive stomach? Is it the mother's indulgence that leads to bad habits, or is it inadequate nutrition that causes a weak digestive system and low resistance?
Indulgent Mothers Fostering "Bad Habits" in Babies
Today, every baby is the apple of their parents' eyes. Parents go to great lengths to satisfy their child's every need, often inadvertently fostering unhealthy eating habits. These bad habits can severely damage a baby's digestive system.
1. Irregular eating patterns. Many babies refuse proper meals yet snack constantly—a habit that weakens digestive function. Persistent picky eating is equally harmful, as excessive consumption of any single food strains the stomach.Moreover, the vast array of commercially available beverages, laden with excessive additives and artificial colors, offer no benefits whatsoever to a baby's digestive system. Fried foods like French fries, chicken wings, and fried dough sticks are severely depleted of nutrients, high in oil content, and easily burden a baby's stomach. They can cause indigestion and loss of appetite, ultimately affecting the intake of regular meals.
2. Adults chewing food for babies. Fearing babies might bite into food too hard and damage their teeth or cause indigestion, some adults chew food thoroughly before feeding it to babies. This easily transfers bacteria into the baby's body. Adult mouths harbor numerous bacteria and viruses. While adults' stronger immune systems may prevent illness from certain pathogens, babies exposed to the same bacteria are highly susceptible to various diseases.
3. Feeding extremely cold or hot foods. Ice cream's sweetness often makes babies unwilling to stop eating. However, extremely cold food entering the stomach rapidly constricts gastric mucosal blood vessels, impairing gastric acid secretion and digestive enzyme production. Babies' stomachs are extremely delicate, and prolonged exposure can cause varying degrees of damage.Additionally, feeding excessively hot food can cause varying degrees of damage to the oral mucosa, esophageal mucosa, and gastric mucosa.
Infants' and toddlers' digestive systems are extremely fragile and easily affected by various factors, leading to gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, mothers should nurture their babies' digestive health from an early age, avoiding arbitrary practices and providing comprehensive care.