Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is an etiology-unknown, non-specific, chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestinal tract with complex pathogenesis. Generally, patients with IBD present with repeated abdominal pain, diarrhea, mucus and blood in the stool, and even various systemic complications. More and more studies believe that it is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs through the interaction of environment, genetics, intestinal flora, visceral sensitivity, and mental factors. In recent years, the incidence of IBD has been increasing year by year. Early-life exposure refers to the exposure from fetal period to childhood. Early-life adverse exposure (drug exposure, stress exposure, delivery methods, etc.) can have short-term or long-term effects on the intestines of infants, further affecting the physical and mental health of adolescents, adults, and even the elderly, this leads to long-term health effects. A number of studies have found that early-life adverse exposures are involved in the occurrence and progression of IBD. The occurrence of adverse exposure in early life can promote the occurrence and progression of IBD by changing the intestinal flora, immune function, epigenetic inheritance and visceral sensitivity. However, the mechanism by which early-life adverse exposure changes susceptibility to IBD remains unclear. In-depth study of the relationship between early-life adverse exposure and the occurrence of IBD can help prevent the occurrence of diseases at an early stage and reduce the burden of adulthood. This will greatly benefit the improvement of life and health and the rational use of medical resources. This article reviews the relationship between common early-life adverse exposure and the risk of IBD.