Healthy Habits: Treating Thrush in Babies

As new parents, it’s natural to need some help along the way, no matter how much preparation you’ve done. It’s also normal to jump to the worst conclusions when something unexpected comes up, especially with newborns. However, sometimes the most bizarre symptoms have the most straightforward fixes. If your baby has become more cranky during or after feedings, check their mouth for white patches. Thrush or Candidiasis is a certain kind of infection caused by an overproduction of a yeast called Candida. You may be familiar with this term as it already occurs in the body and is the same bacteria that causes vaginal yeast infections in adult women. In new babies, it can happen in the mouth. For the most part, thrush doesn’t cause much pain, but some may develop a sore mouth, which results in trouble breastfeeding. Thankfully it is easily treatable and preventable once you know what to look for.

 

Does Your Baby Have Thrush?

 

If you have noticed behavior changes while feeding and thick white patches in the mouth or tongue, thrush may be the cause. These sores may look like breast milk residue; however, you can check this by seeing if they will gently wipe away. Not all babies will display the same symptoms. These velvety white patches may show up in addition to other symptoms like diaper rash, and an overall redness in the mouth, and excessive fussiness during mealtimes. There’s no need to don’t panic, treatment of thrush is usually straightforward, and there are several options.

 

What Causes Oral Thrush in Your Baby?

 

Research has shown thrush to be more frequent during infancy. This is because the immune system is still developing and unable to successfully combat new infections. Oral thrush is especially common after a course of antibiotics or the use of steroid-based medications. While healing you, the medicine will also kill the good bacteria keeping the Candida at bay, causing an unchecked overgrowth. It’s also common for a mother to pass along Candida during vaginal birth. Yeast flourishes in a warm, moist environment. If pacifiers, toys, and a mother’s breasts are not kept clean and dried, the yeast may be even more likely to grow inside your child’s mouth.

 

Ways to Prevent and Treat Thrush

 

Thrush is pretty common and quite treatable. In some cases, it can clear on its own. However, you should always consult your pediatrician first. Antifungals are usually applied directly to the sores and should be left to sit for as long as possible. It’s best to do so for a fair amount of time after feedings with a soft sponge brush. Thankfully the infection usually begins to clear in just a few days.

There are also several DIY treatments you may want to try in addition to any antifungals prescribed. Depending on the severity, you may be able to manage symptoms with the following home remedies.

• Adding a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda or 1-2 drops of tea tree oil to a boiled and cooled water cup. Soak a cotton bud in the solution and gently wipe on the inside of the mouth or apply the paste on the mother’s nipples before breastfeeding.
• Virgin coconut oil is also an excellent alternative to prescriptions, especially since there are some strains of resistant Candida bacteria.
• Natural yogurt is chock-full of probiotics, making it another easy home remedy that can effectively stop the thrush from spreading. Ensure that it’s unflavored and unsweetened because the sugar will have the opposite effect on the Candida. If your child is still too young to eat the yogurt, you can try applying it to affected areas with a cotton swab.

 

If you’re still breastfeeding, you should note that it can be easily spread back and forth from mother to baby during feedings. The bacteria can even linger on bottles, utensils, and toys. Be sure to treat the mother’s nipples simultaneously and throw away any stored breast milk as it could also be contaminated with yeast.

Newborn babies can be unpredictable, and it’s usually better to be safe than sorry. That being said, there is no need to be scared if your little one does have thrush. After a quick trip to the doctor, some home remedies, and some preventative precautions, you and your baby will be back to growing together in good spirits in no time.