Question
The 5-month-old baby coughs while eating but not when drinking milk, and the tongue coating is slightly white, with urine slightly yellow. What is the matter, and what should be done?
Answer
Coughing while eating in a baby may be a sign of indigestion. Parents are advised to gently massage the baby’s abdomen in a clockwise direction daily to promote gastrointestinal motility and absorption. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the baby’s main food, such as formula milk, is easily absorbed and digestible. Remember, medication should be avoided as much as possible because ‘medicine has three parts of poison’. Helping the baby absorb through physical methods is safer and more effective than taking medicine.