Babies are constantly growing and developing, both in terms of their physical and physiological aspects. They cannot simply be seen as miniature adults. Babies have their own physiological characteristics, and understanding these characteristics is important for understanding their growth and development patterns, as well as guiding their healthcare and disease prevention.
Baby's physiological characteristics: Vigorous growth and rapid development: Babies are full of vitality, and in the process of growth and development, both in terms of body structure and various physiological functions, they are constantly and rapidly developing towards maturity and perfection. This vigorous growth and rapid development is more prominent in younger children, with faster physical growth and intellectual development.
Delicate organs and immature form and function: Delicate organs refer to the internal organs. Delicate means weak and unable to withstand attacks, while immature form refers to the structure of the body, including limbs, skin, bones, muscles, blood, and other bodily fluids. Function refers to various physiological activities, such as lung function, spleen function, etc. The delicate and immature organs and the incomplete form and function of the body mean that the various systems and organs of the baby's body have not fully matured and their physiological functions are not perfect.
When a baby is born, their organs are not fully developed, and they rely on the innate yin and yang qi and the postnatal nourishment of water and food in order to gradually grow and develop until around the age of 14 for girls and 16 for boys. Therefore, throughout childhood, the organs are delicate, and the form and function are immature. Furthermore, the more young the child, the more prominent these physiological characteristics are.
Looking at the specific content of delicate organs, both the form and qi of the internal organs are insufficient, but among them, the lungs, spleen, and kidneys are particularly deficient. The lungs are responsible for the body's qi, and in babies, the lungs are not fully developed and their function is not strong. However, the growth and development of children require lung qi more urgently than adults, so the lungs are delicate.
When babies are born, their spleen is not yet fully developed, their stomach qi is not active, and their digestive power is weak. In addition to normal physiological activities, babies also need continuous growth and development, which requires the spleen and stomach to digest and absorb the essence of water and food. Therefore, the spleen is often deficient. The kidneys are the foundation of innate vitality and store essence. Since babies' kidneys have not yet been fully nourished by prenatal qi, they rely on the postnatal spleen and stomach to gradually become full. However, the rapid growth and development during childhood often surpasses the nourishment they receive, so the kidneys are often deficient.
In order to raise children properly, modern parents must pay attention to not providing overly refined and highly nutritious diets. The diet should be based on grains and coarse roots. With the improvement of living standards, parents tend to improve the dietary level of their children without considering the negative effects of overly refined and highly nutritious food. This can affect their digestive function and lead to early maturity, both of which are harmful.
As for the amount of food to be consumed, it is best to let children eat until they are "70% full." Baby's diet should not be based on being full, but rather on being "70% full." This is because the baby's organs are delicate and their digestive function is not yet fully developed. If they eat without moderation, it can damage their spleen and stomach.
