Oral Thrush Babies

Oral thrush babies that breastfeed

Oral thrush in infants, which is most common at about four weeks of age, may occur more than once in some infants. It usually clears by itself…there are ways to avoid and/or treat it...

What is oral thrush?

A yeast or thrush infection happens when mom or baby’s natural flora and bacteria become imbalanced.

Is oral thrush contagious?

An oral thrush baby can infect mom during breastfeeding, this is why its so important that mom and baby get treatment together…even if mom isn’t showing any signs of thrush…this is to prevent giving the infection to one another.

If mom has a yeast infection on her breasts or nipples she can also infect baby.

Read more here on the symptoms and treatment of thrush on breasts.

Oral thrush babies ~ Symptoms

Oral thrush symptoms in baby

(some oral thrush babies may not have any symptoms of oral thrush)

- Cottage cheese like substance inside and on baby’s mouth and tongue. The patches may bleed if rubbed off. They may appear as a rash too.

- An oral thrush infant may be uncomfortable breastfeeding because of pain in the mouth.

- Oral thrush infants may make clicking sounds while breastfeeding

- Thrush on baby may cause a whitish saliva

- Extra fussiness and irritability

- Increased dribbling

- Breast refusal

- Poor weight gain

- Nappy rash

Oral thrush babies ~ Causes

“How do babies get thrush?”

- If mom has a vaginal thrush infection during birth, baby may become infected when he passes through the birth canal.

- The use of antibiotics by mom or baby can sometimes cause an oral thrush infection in baby

- Baby can be infected by mom if she has a thrush (yeast infection) on her breasts and/or nipples.

- Premature babies have a less mature immune system and are more prone to getting a thrush infection.

- Unhygienic conditions can also cause a thrush infection (mom should always clean baby’s mouth with a disposable cloth instead of keeping a facecloth that can grow germs and fungus)

- Oral thrush is more common in babies with diabetes because of elevated levels of sugar in their bodies.

- Babies with HIV/Aids are more likely to get thrush infections

Oral thrush babies ~ Treatment

Treatment of oral thrush in baby if it doesn’t clear by itself after a week

- Nystatin Suspension is often used to kill the fungus that causes thrush. Your doctor will usually give this as an oral treatment for infant thrush and as a cream for mom’s breasts.

Mom and baby both need to be treated so that they don’t pass the thrush to one another. This usually takes two weeks to clear the oral thrush infection.

- Over the counter thrush treatment ~ Miconazole is a common treatment that can be bought over the counter without a prescription.

- Oral thrush toddler ~ A baby with thrush that is over a year old can be given some natural yogurt to improve his good bacteria levels

Natural treatment for oral thrush in babies

- Coconut oil for thrush ~ You can put pure, raw virgin coconut oil on your nipples and inside baby’s mouth to prevent passing the infection to one another. This will actually clear baby’s mouth from the yeast infection too.

- Tea tree oil for thrush ~ A few drops of tea tree oil can be used for thrush on baby's bottom

Oral thrush babies ~ prevention

How to prevent oral thrush in baby

- Sterilize all dummies or teethers

- Sterilize all bottles and teats before use

- Sterilize all pump parts daily

- Use disposable wipes when cleaning baby’s mouth.

- Give baby a sip of sterilized water after every breastfeeding session.

- Rinse your breasts with clear water after breastfeeding.

If the infant oral thrush keeps coming back mom should seek the advice of her physician.

Other pages on “breastfeeding problem” in connection with this page on oral thrush babies

- Thrush on breasts

- Breastfeeding stories

- Breastfeeding pictures

- Breastfeeding videos

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