In today's family life, if there is a baby at home, almost all parents revolve around the baby. Because they are the only child, adults want to give the best to the baby. Many parents are overly concerned about their children's nutrition and want them to eat more nutritious food. However, they do not realize that "a child should always be slightly hungry and cold." This daily practice eventually leads to the baby's weak digestive function and disrupts the normal order of the digestive system. The infant's digestive system is not yet fully developed and has weak digestion ability. If they eat too much or eat a variety of food, it can easily cause indigestion and lead to diarrhea. So what are the causes and symptoms of infant diarrhea? How to deal with infant indigestion and diarrhea? What are some home remedies for infant diarrhea? Today, I will introduce to all new mothers the causes and symptoms of infant diarrhea, how to deal with infant indigestion and diarrhea, and some home remedies for infant diarrhea.
Types of Infant Diarrhea
1. Breast milk diarrhea
The baby's digestive capacity has certain limits. If they eat more than they can tolerate, it can cause diarrhea. Some mothers' breast milk contains more nutrients (mainly fat) than the baby needs, which can cause diarrhea, also known as "physiological diarrhea." If the baby has an increased frequency of bowel movements but no other symptoms, has a good appetite, does not vomit, and has normal growth and development, it is not caused by a disease. Introducing complementary foods gradually can gradually transition the baby's bowel movements to normal. Mothers do not need to worry too much. Babies with "physiological diarrhea" do not require medication. Generally, changing the baby's diet to cow's milk or other dairy products can be effective. If you do not want to wean the baby, you can also shorten the feeding time each time, letting the baby only consume the first half of the milk with more protein and less fat, which can also improve the situation. If necessary, mothers can drink a large glass of diluted saltwater 30 minutes to an hour before feeding, which can dilute the milk and then feed the baby.
2. Indigestion diarrhea
The most common cause of diarrhea in infants is improper feeding, either eating too much or too little; excessive heat or sudden exposure to cold weather; frequent changes in food, etc., which can cause diarrhea due to indigestion. Symptoms of indigestion diarrhea include fever, vomiting, and loss of appetite. The stool appears watery, like egg drop soup or even with mucus.
3. Infectious diarrhea
Diarrhea caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal invasion of the gastrointestinal tract is called infectious diarrhea. Most children with this type of diarrhea have a fever, vomiting is not necessarily the main symptom, the stool has an abnormal odor, and may contain mucus or pus. If not treated promptly, the diarrhea can persist or worsen. The characteristics of the diarrhea depend on the pathogens that cause it.
Causes of Infant Indigestion
1. The food given by parents is not easily digestible
The baby's gastrointestinal function is weak and digestion ability is poor. Sometimes parents are too eager to add complementary foods to the baby. For example, some parents start giving the baby rice cereal before the baby is 4 months old. At this time, the baby's body has not yet produced the enzymes needed to digest starch. If the baby eats rice cereal, it can cause indigestion. Sometimes, if parents do not handle the food carefully, such as not cutting the meat finely enough for the baby, the baby can also easily have indigestion.
2. Parents give the baby too many new foods
Some parents want their baby to try new things, so they give the baby some foods they have never eaten before. If the baby finds it delicious and the parents feed them a lot, it can put a lot of pressure on the baby's stomach. So when feeding, parents should not give too much at once. They should gradually increase the amount and let the baby adapt to it. Otherwise, the baby's stomach may not be able to handle it.
3. Parents' food combinations for the baby are not reasonable
After the baby is around 4 months old, parents need to add complementary foods other than milk to the baby, such as fruit juice, vegetable puree, rice cereal, etc. At this time, it is important to pay attention to the combination of various ingredients to ensure that the baby receives a balanced nutrition. In addition to properly combining foods, parents should also avoid combining foods that are incompatible with each other to prevent the baby from feeling unwell.
Symptoms of Infant Indigestion
1. For young infants, it often manifests as spitting up, while slightly older children may experience vomiting, but it is generally not severe and the vomit has a sour smell.
2. Affected children may have decreased appetite, bloating, increased intestinal sounds, and even "gurgling" sounds in the abdomen that can be heard without a stethoscope.
3. Bad breath. When food stagnates in the stomach, it often first manifests as bad breath. Particularly in the morning, bad breath and mouth acidity indicate food stagnation. In this case, reducing or skipping a meal can help restore gastrointestinal function.
4. Foul-smelling stool. When there is a small amount of undigested food residue, although it is not loose, it is a precursor to poor digestion and should be adjusted immediately by reducing the amount of food to prevent diarrhea.
How to Deal with Infant Indigestion
1. Observe the condition. In addition to improper feeding, gastrointestinal inflammation, overuse of antibiotics, sudden exposure to cold weather, low resistance, or exposure to cold can all cause indigestion. Therefore, when the baby shows symptoms of indigestion, it is important to determine the cause. Once you know the source of the problem, you can take targeted measures to relieve the condition.
2. Reduce the amount of food. If it is found that the baby's indigestion is caused by eating difficult-to-digest food, parents should not give the baby too much food. They can eat some porridge or puree, which are easier to digest.
3. Get plenty of rest. Regardless of the cause of indigestion, the baby needs plenty of rest. With sufficient sleep, the baby can better recover and strengthen their immune system.
4. Drink digestive aids or decoctions. If the baby's indigestion is more severe, they can drink some digestive aids or decoctions. These medications can help the baby digest food faster and have a certain effect on regulating the gastrointestinal system.
5. Massage. What should parents do when the baby's indigestion causes diarrhea? If it is simple diarrhea, parents can massage the baby's abdomen. This method can alleviate the symptoms. Parents can massage the baby's navel and abdomen counterclockwise. The pressure should be moderate.
Dietary Remedies for Infant Indigestion
1. Carrot soup
Ingredients: 100g carrots, sugar to taste.
Method: Wash and cut the carrots into small pieces. Place them in a pot with an appropriate amount of water and cook until soft. Add sugar, bring to a boil, and consume.
Function: Invigorates the spleen, aids digestion, and relieves dryness. Carrots are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin A, and also contain a good amount of vitamin B2 and folic acid. They are known as "the common people's ginseng."
2. Millet mushroom porridge
Ingredients: 50g millet, 50g mushrooms, 5g chicken gizzard.
Method: Wash the millet and mushrooms. Cut the mushrooms into small pieces or mince them. Wash the chicken gizzard. Cook the millet and chicken gizzard in water to make porridge. Take the soup and cook the mushrooms until soft. Consume in multiple servings.
Function: Invigorates the spleen, aids digestion, and resolves food stagnation. Millet invigorates the spleen and stomach, chicken gizzard aids digestion, and mushrooms invigorate the spleen and stomach and aid digestion. This porridge benefits the stomach, stimulates appetite, and promotes digestion. Regular consumption can prevent and treat infant indigestion.
3. Hawthorn cake
Ingredients: 300g fresh hawthorn, 300g Chinese yam, sugar to taste.
Method: Peel and remove the cores of the hawthorn. Wash the Chinese yam and peel it. Cut into pieces. Put the hawthorn and Chinese yam in a bowl, add sugar, steam until soft, then press into small cakes and consume.
Function: Invigorates the spleen, resolves stagnation, aids digestion, and stimulates appetite. Hawthorn contains a large amount of vitamin C and acidic substances, which can promote gastric juice secretion and increase gastric enzymes, thereby aiding digestion. Chinese yam invigorates the spleen and benefits Qi.
Home Remedies for Infant Diarrhea
1. Apple puree. Ingredients: Apples, salt.
Method: Cut the apples into pieces and mash them into puree. Consume 2-3 times a day, 30-60g each time. Alternatively, take one apple, wash and cut it into small pieces, add 0.8-0.9g of salt, 5g of sugar, and 250ml of water. Boil it into a soup, divide it into 2-3 servings, and consume.
Function: Suitable for infants over 6 months old. Apples contain malic acid, which can adsorb toxins, and tannic acid, which has astringent properties. They are suitable for treating infant diarrhea.
2. Carrot juice. Ingredients: Fresh carrots, salt.
Method: Take fresh carrots, wash and cut them into small pieces. Put them in a pot with 3g of salt and an appropriate amount of water. Cook until soft, remove the residue, and take the juice. Consume 2-3 times a day.
Function: Helps invigorate the spleen and aid digestion.
In conclusion, I have provided a simple introduction to the causes and symptoms of infant diarrhea, how to deal with infant indigestion and diarrhea, and some home remedies for infant diarrhea. I hope this information can be helpful to all new mothers in childcare.
