Can Probiotics Be Added to Infant Formula for Fussy Babies?
Infant probiotics My baby is currently over three months old and has a severe aversion to milk. Can I add probiotics to the baby formula? Thank you.
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If the infant does not exhibit symptoms such as fever, throat inflammation, herpetic pharyngitis that prevents feeding, vomiting, or diarrhea, and shows normal activity levels, along with height and weight following their growth curve without significant deviation, this is consid...[Read More] Can Probiotics Be Added to Infant Formula for Fussy Babies?
Understanding Baby's Bowel Movements: Breastfeeding and Solid Foods
Issues with stool in exclusively breastfed infants with complementary foods? Hello Doctor: My baby is almost 7 months old and is still exclusively breastfed. He/she eats half a bowl of rice porridge and fruit puree daily, but hasn't had a bowel movement for five days. Is thi...
Dr. Zhang Yingwen Reply:
1. The bowel habits of infants consuming complementary foods are generally similar to those of others; therefore, please observe for signs of abdominal distension, excessive crying, or decreased appetite. If these occur, please visit a pediatric outpatient clinic. 2. You may us...[Read More] Understanding Baby's Bowel Movements: Breastfeeding and Solid Foods
How to Tell If Your Baby Is Hungry: Tips for New Parents
The baby is hungry? Doctor: I would like to ask how I can observe if my child is hungry at home, as it is usually just my wife and me taking care of the little one, and when should the next meal be scheduled?
Dr. Zhong Ruixian Reply:
Dear Parents, I apologize for the late response due to recent busy schedules. Generally, infants around 3 months old need to be fed approximately every 3-4 hours, resulting in about 6-8 feedings per day. Newborns typically require more frequent night feedings. However, when a ba...[Read More] How to Tell If Your Baby Is Hungry: Tips for New Parents
Understanding Infant Refusal to Feed: Causes and Solutions for Parents
Three-month-old infant shows signs of milk aversion? Hello Doctor, my baby is currently three and a half months old. Usually, he/she consumes 130cc every three hours, with six feedings a day, and does not require night feedings. However, this week, he/she has only been drinking a...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If the infant is not experiencing fever, throat inflammation, herpetic pharyngitis that prevents feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, or any signs of infection, and is active with height and weight following their growth curve without significant deviation, this is considered a benign ph...[Read More] Understanding Infant Refusal to Feed: Causes and Solutions for Parents
Essential Tips for Introducing Solid Foods to Picky Toddlers
Infant complementary foods Hello: Since our little one will turn three years old after the summer vacation, I have bought some complementary foods for him to eat. Both my partner and I work during the day, so we leave our child with a nanny, and we take him back in the evening. O...
Dr. Zhang Yingwen Reply:
If a balanced diet provides sufficient nutrition, there is no need to supplement with additional nutritional products. However, if there are issues with picky eating leading to poor development or growth delays, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician for a professional assessm...[Read More] Essential Tips for Introducing Solid Foods to Picky Toddlers
Understanding Infant Feeding Aversion: Causes and Solutions for Parents
More than a month of milk aversion? Hello Doctor: My baby is currently over one month old and weighs 4.8 kg. He is bottle-fed with breast milk five times a day, consuming about 130-140 cc each time. However, for the past week, he has shown less interest in drinking milk. He is fe...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
As long as the child has normal activity levels and their height and weight are increasing appropriately, and they are not experiencing illnesses such as fever, throat inflammation, herpetic pharyngitis from enterovirus, or gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea (some of whic...[Read More] Understanding Infant Feeding Aversion: Causes and Solutions for Parents
Nutrition for 8-Month-Old Babies: Safe Foods and Teething Tips
Baby Nutrition My sister is now eight months old. I feed her milk, and then after a few minutes, I give her a little bit of porridge (just plain rice porridge with a bit of seaweed sauce). I would like to ask Dr. Chang if an eight-month-old child has started teething and if she c...
Dr. Zhang Yingwen Reply:
It can be consumed occasionally, but it is not recommended for regular intake. For infants and young children, it is advised to focus on fresh foods when introducing complementary foods. Additionally, seaweed paste has a high sodium ion content and is a processed product, so it i...[Read More] Nutrition for 8-Month-Old Babies: Safe Foods and Teething Tips
Is Exclusive Breastfeeding Enough? Addressing Iron and Calcium Concerns
Exclusive breastfeeding Hello Dr. Hsiao, I would like to ask about breastfeeding. I am a mother who exclusively breastfeeds, and I recently read reports that babies who drink breast milk may lack iron and calcium, which makes me very worried. My baby is now one year old; how long...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
The claim that breastfeeding leads to iron and calcium deficiencies is exaggerated and remains controversial. I personally believe a more accurate statement is: breast milk is the best source of nutrition for normal newborns. Full-term, healthy newborns should be breastfed as soo...[Read More] Is Exclusive Breastfeeding Enough? Addressing Iron and Calcium Concerns
Understanding Your 9-Month-Old's Stool Color Changes: When to Worry
The stool color of a baby over nine months old is grayish? My baby is over 9 months old. After switching from breast milk to formula last month, the stool color has become lighter. Recently, there have been occasional grayish stools mixed with light yellow. Is this an issue relat...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
If the stool color has been grayish-white for an extended period, it is likely unrelated to formula milk. It is advisable to consult a pediatric gastroenterologist at a major hospital to determine if an abdominal ultrasound is necessary to rule out any issues with the biliary sys...[Read More] Understanding Your 9-Month-Old's Stool Color Changes: When to Worry
Is Your 8-Month-Old Baby Not Eating Enough? Pediatric Insights
The baby is not getting enough to eat? Hello Dr. Chang, I have a question regarding my little one who has a younger sister. She is now over eight months old, and I would like to know if it is common for a child of this age to experience feelings of hunger. She only has bowel mo...
Dr. Zhang Yingwen Reply:
Humans are inherently equipped with a self-regulating instinct. Therefore, when they are not adequately fed and their basic physiological needs are not met, they express this through crying and fussing. After six months, some children may experience a phase of milk aversion, so i...[Read More] Is Your 8-Month-Old Baby Not Eating Enough? Pediatric Insights
Concerns About Chewing Skills in a 2-Year-Old: What to Know
A 2-year-old who does not chew? If he refuses to eat any solid foods and only drinks milk, could this indicate a delay in some aspect of his development?
Dr. He Shenglong Reply:
Hello: It's important to try various methods for introducing complementary foods without forcing it; keep the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. I recommend referring to the Children's Health Handbook (new edition, pages 54-55, on introducing complementary foods) for mor...[Read More] Concerns About Chewing Skills in a 2-Year-Old: What to Know
Calcium Deficiency in Infants: Signs, Concerns, and Solutions
Calcium deficiency in infants? Hello Dr. Hsiao, I would like to ask about an article I recently saw online regarding calcium deficiency in babies. It suggests that babies should start eating solid foods at 4 months, but I only started my baby on solids this month at 6 months. My ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Most infant complementary foods are rich in calcium, and starting to introduce these foods at 6 months old should not lead to calcium deficiency symptoms, so there is no need to worry too much. The infant was born weighing 2170 grams and measuring 43 centimeters, and at 6 months ...[Read More] Calcium Deficiency in Infants: Signs, Concerns, and Solutions
Understanding Your Baby's Bowel Movements and Formula Feeding Concerns
Baby bowel movements Hello, doctor. I would like to ask about my baby who is currently 8 and a half months old. She was exclusively breastfed until 6 months, after which she started having formula milk at night and breast milk during the day. Her bowel movements were 1 to 2 times...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
1. An increase in the frequency and water content of stools indicates diarrhea. There are many potential causes, such as viral gastroenteritis or the introduction of new dairy products that the baby may not be able to tolerate. If you suspect that the new dairy product is causing...[Read More] Understanding Your Baby's Bowel Movements and Formula Feeding Concerns
Improving Infant Constipation: Formula and Solid Food Ratios Explained
The ratio of breast milk to formula? Hello, regarding the topic, can this improve the issue of constipation in infants? If so, what would be the appropriate ratio? Can complementary foods replace main meals? Aren't they primarily for training chewing skills? Additionally, I ...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
1. The osmotic pressure of breast milk and formula milk differs, making it inadvisable to mix them, and it does not help improve infant constipation. 2. As the infant grows older, complementary foods should gradually become the main meals, while the original milk products should ...[Read More] Improving Infant Constipation: Formula and Solid Food Ratios Explained
Understanding Your Baby's Soft Stools: Is It Normal?
Baby's stool Hello, doctor. Sorry to bother you. My baby is now one year old and has recently switched from formula. Currently, the stool is not watery but soft and mushy. The issue is that my baby is having bowel movements about two to three times a day, and each time it&#x...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Formula intolerance typically occurs within three days of switching, presenting as rashes or watery diarrhea. If the stool is soft and similar in consistency to previous bowel movements, it should not be a concern. By the age of one, a child can consume a variety of complementary...[Read More] Understanding Your Baby's Soft Stools: Is It Normal?
Can Babies with Hydrocephalus Safely Consume Solid Foods?
Can babies with hydrocephalus consume solid foods? Hello Dr. Hsiao: Previously, during the four-month vaccination, it was found that the baby had 0.7 cm of hydrocephalus in the brain. I would like to ask, since the baby is now over four months old and has only been drinking dilut...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Hydrocephalus (commonly referred to as "water on the brain") generally does not require fluid restriction, and the dietary principles are similar to those for a normally developing infant. However, if there are additional complications, such as certain heart conditions ...[Read More] Can Babies with Hydrocephalus Safely Consume Solid Foods?
Introducing Solid Foods for Infants with Hydrocephalus and Heart Conditions
Issues with Complementary Foods My baby has 0.7 cm of hydrocephalus (it is still uncertain whether it is true hydrocephalus), and he also has a patent foramen ovale. However, the width of the patent foramen ovale has already decreased compared to the measurement taken at two mont...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
Heart conditions that require fluid restriction are usually more severe. Your pediatric cardiologist should remind you that a patent foramen ovale in infants is typically a mild heart issue that often resolves on its own (it may not even be classified as a heart disease), and the...[Read More] Introducing Solid Foods for Infants with Hydrocephalus and Heart Conditions
Does Long-Term RO Water Consumption Affect Child Development?
Developmental delay in children Does long-term consumption of reverse osmosis (RO) water cause developmental delays in children?
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
There is a common belief that children require minerals for their development, and that using reverse osmosis water to prepare milk for infants under one year old may lead to a deficiency in minerals that could negatively impact their growth. However, to my knowledge, there is cu...[Read More] Does Long-Term RO Water Consumption Affect Child Development?
Can a 6-Month-Old Baby Safely Consume Nutritional Supplements?
Can a baby who has just turned 6 months old consume PediaSure nutritional products? On February 12th, I gave my baby some nutritional supplements mixed with water. Starting on February 13th, he began having loose stools, going more than 3-4 times a day, and his bottom became red....
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
1. During diarrhea, it is advisable to limit dairy products. Generally, start with diluted half milk, and if diarrhea is severe, it is recommended to switch to lactose-free formula. 2. A 6-month-old infant weighing 7 kg has not yet reached the lower percentile curve (below 3%),...[Read More] Can a 6-Month-Old Baby Safely Consume Nutritional Supplements?
Baby Growth Concerns: When to Switch Formula and Nutritional Tips
Baby growth issues? Is it necessary for a baby to wait until they are one year old to switch to formula for one-year-olds? Can I switch a week early? My baby has grown two teeth since nine months but hasn't grown any new ones close to one year. Does this indicate a nutrition...
Dr. Xiao Kaiwen Reply:
1. It should be fine to switch a week early, as long as there are no adverse reactions within three days (such as rashes or diarrhea), indicating that the baby can tolerate it. 2. As long as growth and development are normal, there will be no nutritional deficiencies; dental grow...[Read More] Baby Growth Concerns: When to Switch Formula and Nutritional Tips