This is a topic that has become more relevant to me in the last few months. I recently had a baby boy and unfortunately he has been plagued with oral thrush recurrently for the last two months. Baby thrush has a very typical appearance in that it has white patches on the inside cheeks and tongue. Thrush is a fungal infection, by any of the Candida species. You may also see patches that resemble cottage cheese or milk curds on the sides or roof of the baby’s mouth. Typically baby thrush happens in babies who are two months or younger. However, it can still happen in older babies.
Everyone has yeast in his or her bodies, as it is a normal part of the digestive system. When there is an imbalance, however, a Candida infection could set in. Hormonal changes and antibiotics are the main factors that are likely to tip the balance toward a yeast infection, either in the baby or the breast-feeding mother. Thrush symptoms in a baby may include a white coating on the baby’s tongue. If the coating is on the baby’s tongue but nowhere else, then it is probably just milk residue. Thrush will be on the tongue but also on the sides of the mouth, and will cause the mouth be very sore. The first thrush symptoms you are likely to notice will be your baby’s crying when breastfeeding, sucking on a pacifier or a bottle. If this happens, look for the white patches. If you touch a white patch with a gauze-covered finger, the white stuff won’t come off to easily but if it does, it will leave a raw, red patch underneath. Some people believe that thrush can be contracted from sucking on a bottle or pacifier too much, but the reality is that some babies are just more susceptible to thrush in infants than others. No matter how careful you are it’s possible for you or your baby to get thrush. Thrush in infants is very, very common in the first two months of life.
There are experts who advise you to give your baby sterilized water after feeding, to get rid of milk residue. You should also make sure your nipples dry between feedings. If the baby is on antibiotics, they are especially at risk, because the antibiotics will kill off the good bacteria. The main corrective step to remember is proper cleaning and sterilization of bottles or nipples in breast feeding mothers. If you are using bottles you can soak them in water and vinegar for 20 minutes then wash with baby safe soap and then sterilize in boiling water. It is important to remember to do these steps with all items that make contact with baby’s mouth, including pacifiers, teething toys etc. Baby’s face and hands should be washed regularly along with caregivers and also bibs, burp rags and cloths. Unfortunately there is not a whole lot you can do for infants suffering with oral thrush. There are treatments that are safe for adults but that are not recommended for infants. So, proper cleaning and sterilizing are key.
Tags: Naturopathy, Naturopathy Chronicles, Naturopathy Oral Thrush, Naturopathy Candida
