Baby In China Left With Tissue Damage After Mother Uses Online Advice To Prevent Finger Sucking
As per the report, the parents took their baby, nicknamed Lele, to the Hunan Children's Hospital in central China's Hunan province on July 14 for immediate treatment.
As quoted, Luo Yuanyang said part of the skin and tissue on the baby's index finger had died and also warned that if not treated promptly, the finger could have required amputation due to tissue damage.
"Chewing things is a baby's way of exploring the world," the doctor said, further adding that the habit usually disappears at two or three years old.
"Parents only need to keep their hands clean," she added.
The healthcare professionals also cautioned parents against following unverified online tips, especially those that could harm their children's health.
There's a documented case where a mother's hair accidentally got wrapped around a two-month-old baby's finger, causing swelling and risking amputation, emphasising the need for vigilance and proper care.
In a similar case, a mother urged other parents to wash baby sleepsuits inside out after her baby developed hair tourniquet syndrome, which mostly affects infants, The Sun reported.
It happens when hair becomes tied around their toes, fingers, tongue or umbilical stump. The mother, Danielle Beardsley, believed she hadn't washed the sleepsuit inside out, and either hers or her older daughter's hair got caught inside the sleepsuit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Chinese Mother Delivers Food With Sick Daughter In Meal Box, Wins Hearts Online
A heartwarming yet heartbreaking story from eastern China's Anhui province has gone viral, showing the resilience of a 25-year-old mother, Zhu, who delivers food while caring for her 4-year-old daughter battling cancer, according to South China Morning Post. Zhu was filmed by an influencer transporting food on an electric bike, with her sick daughter, Nuoxi, resting inside the meal-carrying box attached to the vehicle. Nuoxi, who has been fighting a tumour for two years, was seen with a vein-detained needle and chemo port. Her father, also a full-time delivery rider, is unable to care for her during the day. Determined to fund her daughter's treatment, Zhu takes her along during deliveries, sometimes carrying food in one hand and her daughter in the other while climbing stairs, according to SCMP. The video has touched millions online, drawing sympathy and support for the mother-daughter duo's strength and sacrifice. Zhu said despite time pressures, her daughter's small gestures made it worthwhile. The child has undergone multiple surgeries and treatments but remains positive. After a video went viral, donations poured in, and the local government and Meituan provided aid. While some raised health concerns, the father now plans to work more so Zhu can stay home. Others urged proactive government support. Food delivery is a popular and relatively well-paid job in China, especially among migrant workers. With 545 million users, the sector sees daily spending of 3.3 billion yuan (US$460 million). Many delivery workers report working 14-15 hours daily. Meituan introduced an anti-fatigue feature to enforce 12-hour limits, but some riders complain it reduces their earnings and consider switching platforms to avoid the forced breaks.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Indian Express
China offers subsidy to promote fertility, but money can only solve part of the problem. Here's why.
China's government this week announced a childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about $500 or Rs 44,000) per year for every child under the age of three. The People's Daily, the Chinese Communist Party's newspaper, described it as a way of 'supporting fertility and to promote the building of a fertility-friendly society'. China has tried similar measures locally earlier, but the policy announced on July 29 was the first time it was rolled out nationwide. The population of China, the world's second most populous country (after India), has been contracting in recent years. There have been fewer Chinese births than deaths for three consecutive years since 2022. In fact, most parts of the world are grappling with declining Total Fertility Rates (TFR), which is the average number of children a woman is likely to bear in her lifetime. China's neighbours South Korea and Japan have some of the lowest fertility rates globally, and Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has frequently sounded the alarm for the United States. The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD)-2021 estimated that globally, TFR more than halved from around 5 in 1950 to 2.2 in 2021. This signals better education and financial independence for more women, and greater agency in making reproductive choices. Infant mortality rates have come down drastically during this period, women are living increasingly healthier lives, and couples are able to give their children a higher quality of life. However, an extremely low TFR can have long-term consequences for societies. These include increasingly unsustainable proportions of people in the above-60 age group and a shrinking of the working-age (15-59 years) population, leading to labour shortages, higher dependency ratios, higher taxation to fund the cost of healthcare for the large numbers of the elderly, and changes in social structures and relationships. Individuals like Musk believe that collapsing birth rates can lead to the disappearance of entire populations, and present a bigger threat to civilisation than climate change. India's overall TFR stood at 1.91 in 2021. This is less than the 'replacement level' of 2.1, or the number of children that a woman would need to have to replace herself and her partner in the next generation. This figure assumes there will be no in- or out-migration, which is not the case in reality. India's lowered TFR is the result of decades of government investment in family planning, changing social attitudes about family sizes, rising costs of raising children, and improvements in the education of women. Many of these factors are common to other countries that have seen a decline in TFR. The only major region in the world with a high TFR today is sub-Saharan Africa, where medical advances have reduced child mortality, but fertility remains high due to cultural reasons, poverty, and the lack of decision-making powers for women. As countries around the world grapple with declining fertility rates, many, like China, have introduced subsidies and tax incentives to encourage couples to have more children. One reason for this is the understanding that the rising cost of living is a major deterrent to parenthood. Almost 4 in 10 respondents in an online survey of more than 14,000 adults in 14 countries carried out by the United Nations Population Fund and YouGov in June said financial limitations were stopping them from having the families they wanted. However, these measures have had only a limited impact. The think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies noted in a 2023 article that 'Representative studies on the expansion of financial assistance show that the effects are positive but limited.' The article cited a 2013 study that reported that child allowances, even if doubled, lead to the probability of childbirth increasing by only 19.2%. In 2006, demographer Peter McDonald identified two reasons for the decline in TFRs. One, rising social liberalism, in which individuals in modern societies were re-examining social norms and institutions, and increasingly focusing on individual aspirations. Two, the withdrawal of the welfare state in major Western economies in the 1980s and 1990s, which led to 'loss of trust in others, loss of a sense of the value of service (altruism), decline of community…and fear of failure or of being left behind'. Both processes deprioritised having children as a mandate for living a good life, McDonald concluded. 'The solution to low fertility…lies in providing a greater sense of assurance to young women and young men that, if they marry and have children, they will be supported by the society in this socially and individually important decision,' he wrote. McDonald also argued that incentivising policies have failed in countries like Japan and Singapore because they targeted particular types of women (like high earners) rather than reforming societal institutions. What more can governments do to address the situation? Guo Yanhong, deputy head of China's National Health Commission, said the new childcare subsidy 'works in tandem with related policies regarding childcare, education, employment, taxation and housing', Xinhua reported. Supporting childbirth requires a comprehensive policy package, including financial support, parental leave, and cultural measures, Guo said. Also, cultural shifts happen over a long time, and are often intangible and difficult to detect. Monetary support is something governments can directly control. Anne Gauthier, professor of comparative family studies at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, told the BBC that behind the higher-than-European-average TFR of France could be the generous social policies followed by the French Ministry of Families over the decades. However, countries such as Finland, which have some of the most progressive policies for parental leave after childbirth, as well as subsidies, continue to see low TFRs. While the specific context may be different in each country, it would seem that throwing money at the problem of falling TFRs can only do so much. Accompanying changes in how society treats the raising of children, and how people see work and fulfilment, are important as well. Rishika Singh is a Senior sub-editor at the Explained Desk of The Indian Express. She enjoys writing on issues related to international relations, and in particular, likes to follow analyses of news from China. Additionally, she writes on developments related to politics and culture in India. ... Read More
News18
a day ago
- News18
Internet Salutes This Delivery Rider Mom Who Balances Work And Motherhood
Last Updated: The mother carries her 4-year-old daughter, Nuoxi, who is suffering from cancer, during her work, as she cannot afford childcare services. A heart-wrenching video of a Chinese mother carrying her daughter in a delivery box while working as a food delivery rider has gone viral on social media. The 25-year-old mother, surnamed Zhu, has garnered widespread sympathy and attention for her situation. She carries her 4-year-old daughter, Nuoxi, who is suffering from cancer, during her work, as she cannot afford childcare services. The video caused a sensation on social media platforms after it went viral, garnering sympathy and even donations. Her Daughter Was Diagnosed With A Tumour The incident took place in Anhui province, China and an online influencer captured footage of a woman and her child. The mother delivered food on an electric bicycle in the summer heat, carrying her daughter in a box attached to it. According to Zhu, her four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a tumour two years ago. Her child had undergone three surgeries, nine chemotherapies, and twelve radiotherapies. What's In The Video The video was shared on Instagram by a user named @mustsharenews. 'She worried about customer complaints if she took too long, but said every moment with her child was worth it," the caption of the post read. The description of the clip mentioned, 'Mother in China puts sick child in delivery box while working. The 25-year-old mother said that she couldn't afford childcare, as she is paying for her daughter's cancer treatment." The footage features Zhu carrying her daughter in hot weather through a delivery box attached to her bike. She stated that she occasionally receives complaints for delivering items late, but the difficulties are worth it because she gets to spend time with her daughter. She stated that it warms her heart when her daughter does kind gestures, such as hitting the life button while delivering orders. Zhu And Her Husband's Struggle Zhu and her husband, Guan, who is also a delivery rider, are finding it challenging to balance work and childcare. They can't afford childcare services, so Zhu takes Nuoxi with her on her delivery rides, placing her in a box attached to her electric bicycle. Guan works full-time and thus is unable to look after his daughter. Response From The Public and Authorities The video has sparked an outpouring of donations and sympathy from the public. The local government has also responded promptly, helping the family apply for an allowance. Additionally, the food delivery company Meituan has also provided financial aid to the family. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. First Published: August 01, 2025, 17:21 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
