Although most mothers are very careful when taking care of their babies, there may be some negligence and accidents at times. Babies are naturally playful and curious, often stuffing their hands into their mouths, which may cause harm to their bodies by eating unclean or harmful things. So, what happens if a baby accidentally eats their hair?
Usually there won't be major issues. If a baby accidentally eats only one or two strands of hair, it usually won't cause much harm. Because the main component of hair is protein, it can be digested and dissolved by stomach acid in the stomach. However, the baby's digestive ability may not be very strong, and they cannot digest their hair. Their hair will be excreted as feces along with food residues in their stomach and intestines.
However, it should also be noted that if the hair is relatively hard, it may also scratch the baby's soft mouth and esophageal wall, so it is still advisable to avoid the baby swallowing foreign objects as much as possible. If the baby has obvious and serious abnormal reactions, such as coughing or vomiting, after accidentally eating hair, it may be due to hair sticking to the respiratory tract or injuring the esophagus and other parts. It is necessary to go to the hospital for examination in a timely manner.
After a baby accidentally eats their hair, it is important to observe their reaction and pay attention to their bowel movements to see if their hair has been expelled. If parents are nervous, they can also give their babies diluted vinegar to help with digestion, but do not directly give them vinegar as it can cause significant irritation to their throat and other areas.
