Top 10 Helpful Tips Every Mother Should Know for Optimal Infant Health Development

Chive belongs to the onion family, also known as 'Cửu thái tử,' 'khởi dương thảo,' and other names. The scientific name for chive leaves is Allium ramosum L. Chive is a natural seasoning herb in the same family as onions. The leaves are broader and flatter than onion leaves, with larger flower buds and a stronger pungent smell. Studies have shown that chive leaves contain high levels of B vitamins and essential minerals like copper, pyridoxine, iron, niacin, manganese, thiamine, calcium, riboflavin, and more. Particularly, chive leaves are rich in Vitamin K, a crucial mineral for strong teeth, aiding in the easier and smoother teething process for babies. The leaves also contain antibacterial compounds like allicin, odorin, and sulfites that help prevent infections and soothe irritations effectively. A few weeks before the first teeth appear, babies often bite their hands, grind their gums, and may develop a mild fever.

To relieve pain and reduce fever during teething, mothers can purchase fresh chive leaves, wash them thoroughly, chop them finely, and squeeze out the juice. Then, gently dip your finger in the chive leaf extract and rub it on the upper and lower gums of the baby. For babies who are still breastfeeding, parents can apply the chive juice to the baby's tongue and mouth. Besides using chive leaves to soothe teething, other traditional remedies like mung bean sprout tips or the old saying “teething is painless and fever-free like mung bean sprouts” can be used as well. These methods are harmless and can effectively ease the baby's discomfort.

Carrots are not only a common food in daily meals but also a valuable remedy used to treat various ailments, including diarrhea. Carrots contain a large amount of pectin, which, when it reaches the intestines, swells into a gel-like substance that can soothe bowel movements, thus reducing diarrhea. Additionally, it helps promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while suppressing harmful bacteria and toxins in the large intestine. Pectin also absorbs mucus, water, stomach acid, bacteria, and toxins, helping to restore the intestinal lining and normalize stool consistency. Due to its rich mineral content, especially potassium, carrots help replenish lost electrolytes caused by diarrhea. For these reasons, carrot soup is commonly used in clinical practice as a treatment for diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a serious condition for infants. Before starting solid foods, many parents give their babies carrot soup or porridge. Preparing carrots is simple: just wash fresh carrots, cut them into small pieces, and boil them. After boiling, blend the carrots with the cooking water until smooth and mix it into the baby’s porridge. For babies who are still breastfeeding, in addition to milk, you can offer carrot soup or porridge with lean pork or chicken. Cook it softer and thinner than usual, adding about 100 ml of carrot soup. Feed the baby small portions over 6-8 meals a day. Once the diarrhea subsides, gradually reduce the amount of carrot soup and increase the porridge portions. When the stool has returned to normal, switch back to a regular diet. Parents should prioritize additional meals for the baby for a few weeks to help restore strength. If the baby is still experiencing diarrhea, giving carrot juice before administering medicine can quickly stop the diarrhea without causing harm.

Newborns with physiological jaundice typically experience elevated bilirubin levels in their blood, which is often caused by the high number of red blood cells being broken down. This process creates yellow pigments called bilirubin in the skin. Since babies are still developing, their liver is not fully functional and cannot filter out all the bilirubin from the blood. The remaining bilirubin appears in the skin and eyes, causing the baby to look jaundiced. In most cases, this condition doesn't require medical treatment. The best solution is to give the baby daily sun exposure before 7 AM, as sunlight at this time is gentle on the skin and can help break down the bilirubin.

It is also a good idea to supplement vitamin D naturally through daily morning sun exposure or with vitamin D drops as recommended by a healthcare professional. After 1-2 weeks, the baby’s skin should return to its normal color. However, if the jaundice persists or if the baby shows unusual symptoms despite sunbathing and vitamin D supplementation, it is important to seek immediate medical attention, as there may be other underlying health issues that require treatment.

Many mothers today still use the method of applying moringa leaf juice to treat thrush in newborns, which has been quite effective in the early days at home. Moringa, also known as Androgynus Merr, belongs to the mustard family. In traditional medicine, moringa has a sweet taste and is warm in nature, often used for its diuretic effects, cooling properties, and detoxification abilities. Additionally, moringa is known for its cleansing properties, helping regenerate damaged cells, boosting blood circulation, and reducing inflammation in the mouth caused by thrush. Nutritionally, moringa is rich in essential vitamins and trace elements, including Vitamin C, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, and protein. These properties make moringa a natural solution for cleaning, reducing inflammation, and disinfecting the mouth and tongue. For even greater antibacterial benefits, it’s best to combine moringa leaves with honey.

To use moringa for treating thrush in newborns, the process is fairly simple. First, wash the moringa leaves thoroughly with a saltwater solution and soak them for 15 minutes to ensure they are safe for the baby. Next, add a pinch of salt and grind the leaves into a paste using a mortar and pestle. A blender will not be as effective for this. After grinding, strain the mixture and pour the juice into a clean bowl. If the juice is too thick, you can dilute it with a little water. Use this juice to gently clean the baby’s tongue and wipe it after breastfeeding for 15 to 20 minutes to prevent the baby from spitting up.

Fish mint is a small herbaceous plant, thriving in humid and slightly shaded areas, often found in damp environments, streams, and water ditches. Fish mint, a member of the nettle family, grows with roots and stems that lie beneath the soil. Research has shown that fish mint contains 0.0049% essential oil, with quercetin in the leaves and isoquercitrin in the flowers and fruits. These compounds possess diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral properties and can quickly alleviate coughing. Raw fish mint has a strong odor, which may make it difficult for babies to consume, so boiling the leaves helps eliminate the smell, making it more palatable. If the baby prefers sweet drinks, a small amount of sugar can be added.

In traditional Chinese medicine, fish mint is sour and cooling, making it ideal for reducing body heat and cooling the body quickly, especially in children. Many mothers trust fish mint as an effective remedy for fever, and it shows rapid results. Mothers are advised to give fish mint juice 2 to 3 times a day. After the first day, the baby will experience a reduction in fever, and after 2 to 3 days, the fever should be gone completely. Aside from boiling the leaves, you can also crush fish mint to extract the juice and give it to the child twice a day. As a natural antibiotic, fish mint should be administered about an hour after meals for maximum effectiveness in reducing fever.

Modern scientific studies have shown that 100g of betel leaves contain up to 2.4% essential oil, along with various phenolic compounds. These compounds possess powerful antibiotic properties against bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, diplococcus, Bacillus subtilis, and E. coli, as well as strong antifungal effects against many types of fungi. This explains why betel leaves are considered a natural miracle remedy. Betel leaves have a strong, pungent taste and a distinct aroma, making them effective for treating coughs, reducing inflammation, disinfecting, and offering good antibacterial protection. Betel leaves are particularly beneficial in keeping the limbs and abdomen of infants warm, mimicking the warmth they experienced in the womb.

Furthermore, you can heat the betel leaves and apply them to the baby’s stomach to help soothe crying. This method is commonly used for babies who experience colic due to weak digestive systems. In addition to applying the leaves to the abdomen, some mothers also use them on the baby's buttocks, thighs, arms, and legs to help calm the child. If the baby has hiccups, warming the betel leaves and placing them on the baby’s soft spot for 10 minutes will help alleviate the hiccups. For babies with cuts, rashes, swelling, indigestion, or constipation, grinding betel leaves and applying the paste to the affected areas can be highly effective.

In fact, the fine hair covering a newborn's body, called lanugo, begins to develop between weeks 18 and 20 while the baby is still in the womb. This layer of hair, along with the white vernix coating, serves to protect the baby's skin from amniotic fluid. After birth, some babies still have lanugo, especially on the ears, shoulders, and back. This is normal and not a cause for concern. Typically, this hair will fall out by the time the baby turns one year old, but in some cases, it may last for two to three years. One of the most common methods for removing this excess hair is to regularly bathe the baby in soybean water.

Soybeans are a nutritious food that also offer a natural solution to help remove unwanted hair in newborns. To use this method, take a handful of soybeans, rinse them thoroughly, and boil them for about 10 minutes. Allow the water to cool before gently massaging it onto the baby's skin during bath time. This process encourages the hair to fall out gradually. Using this method twice a week will leave your baby's skin soft, smooth, and free from irritation. It's a safe, natural way to remove hair without causing any pain or discomfort. Parents can confidently use soybean water to bathe their babies.

It is commonly passed down through generations that pregnant women should eat carp to ensure a healthy, beautiful baby with rosy lips and fair skin. Traditional medicine considers carp to be a valuable remedy for women, especially during pregnancy. Carp is used to treat cold-related illnesses, digestive issues, and to improve blood circulation. It is often recommended for expectant mothers and postpartum women to nourish their bodies, ease swelling, boost milk production, and regulate blood flow. This is why many families prepare dishes made from carp for mothers-to-be. However, experts suggest that carp supports the development of the brain and nervous system and helps prevent birth defects by providing essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and selenium. This may explain why these traditional beliefs have been passed down. According to Dr. Son, carp is packed with a wide range of nutrients, including protein, lipids, phosphorus, isoleucine, lysine, vitamins A, B1, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, E, K, H, PP, and essential amino acids such as tryptophan, threonine, valine, histidine, leucine, selenium, iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and copper. The fish is rich in high-quality protein while being low in saturated fat.

In addition to its health benefits for mothers, such as anti-inflammatory effects, improved heart and digestive functions, and anti-aging properties, carp also positively impacts the development of the fetus. Notably, it helps with fetal development by providing protein and supporting the growth of a healthy brain and nervous system, reducing the risk of birth defects. Carp's rich protein content, delicious flavor, and firm texture make it a popular choice for nourishing both mothers and babies. Carp is often prepared in various dishes such as carp porridge, carp cooked in soy sauce, or carp simmered with pickled vegetables.

Several herbs are commonly used to treat coughs, such as basil, chives, perilla, kumquat, and tangerine. One popular herb is the perilla plant, a natural remedy that is safe for both adults and children with no side effects. The leaves of the perilla plant are especially effective for treating mild coughs as they contain essential oils like p-cymene, methylthymol, and limonene, which help alleviate coughs very effectively. There are numerous ways to use perilla leaves for cough relief, either on their own or combined with other ingredients to enhance their therapeutic effects.

When the respiratory system is triggered by external irritants, it responds with a reflex to expel air from the lungs, known as coughing. Many factors can cause coughing, such as allergies, viral infections, asthma, pneumonia, or stress. Perilla leaves are very effective for treating both coughs and sore throats. For young children, persistent coughing can be dangerous and may lead to lung or bronchial damage. To treat a child's cough, you can use 10g each of perilla, basil, and chives, steam them with honey for 5 to 10 minutes, and give the extract to the child to drink. This herbal remedy is commonly used to treat colds, sore throats, and bronchitis in both mothers and newborns.

Pig's stomach is known for its sweet taste and warm properties. It helps strengthen the spleen, improve digestion, and remedy deficiencies. In traditional medicine, this dish is not only used to treat stomach issues but also helps with conditions like physical weakness, anemia, liver inflammation, jaundice, cirrhosis, diabetes, urinary disorders, prolapsed uterus, nocturnal emissions, malnutrition in children, and excessive sweating at night. Because of these benefits, pig's stomach is highly beneficial for pregnant women and their babies. It strengthens both the mother's immune system and the baby's digestive health. One popular dish made from pig's stomach that many pregnant women love is pig's stomach stewed with pepper.

Pig's stomach stewed with green pepper is a nutritious meal for pregnant women. With a high protein content and low fat, it's great for digestion. This dish is not only delicious and nutritious but also suitable for all ages. The tender pig's stomach, perfectly balanced with the light spiciness of green pepper and the sweet broth, makes it an irresistible dish. Pig's stomach stewed with green pepper is a great meal that helps pregnant women ensure a healthy digestive system for their babies. Starting from the 32nd week of pregnancy, it's recommended to incorporate this dish into the diet like any regular meal, and from the 33rd week, it should be consumed regularly to help keep the mother warm and prevent the newborn from experiencing diarrhea or dehydration during fever.