An alarming incident in China has sparked heated debate online after a grandmother accidentally mixed white liquor (baijiu) instead of water into her infant grandchild’s formula. According to reports, the baby—then just 1 month and 24 days old—developed a flushed, red body soon after feeding.
It wasn’t until 4 p.m. that day that the grandmother sensed something was wrong and called her daughter-in-law. The shocked mother rushed home and immediately took the baby to the hospital for treatment. Now aged 9 months, the child appears outwardly fine but must continue follow-up visits to monitor brain development and undergo health checks.
Photos shared on Weibo show the infant’s face and body turning bright red after ingesting the alcohol. The story quickly went viral, with many netizens questioning how the grandmother mistook strong-smelling liquor for water:
- “Maybe she couldn’t smell it anymore. My grandma lost her sense of smell in her 50s.”
- “This baby’s survival is pure luck.”
- “How could she not smell white liquor? It’s so strong when you pour it.”
- “My mother-in-law once tried to mix formula with 70°C water without testing it. Thank goodness I caught it in time.”
Medical experts warn that infants’ livers are virtually unable to metabolize alcohol. As little as 0.3 g/kg of alcohol (about 10 ml of strong liquor) can be lethal for a one-month-old. In this case, the grandmother reportedly mixed 120 ml of formula with white liquor—over 15 times the estimated lethal dose. Alcohol can damage neurons and may lead to long-term problems such as intellectual delays, epilepsy, and respiratory suppression.
Doctors stress that if an infant accidentally ingests alcohol, do not induce vomiting, as it may cause choking. Instead, take the baby to the hospital immediately, keep the child lying on their side to maintain a clear airway, and bring the container or packaging of what was consumed to help doctors assess and treat the case.
