How to Treat Newborn Thrush

Newborn thrush is a common condition that infants get while breastfeeding. If your infant develops the characteristic white patches on the inside of their mouth, it will often disappear on it’s own without treatment. If your baby is experiencing pain however, there are treatments to help clear up the infection quicker. Here’s how to treat newborn thrush:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. If your infant is in pain, call your doctor who will likely prescribe oral anti-fungal cream. This medication will be in a lower dosage that what is prescribed for adult thrush. You will apply this medication to the white thrush patches several times a day for up to 10 days.

2. The breastfeeding mother should also treat herself for Candida. She can apply Nystatin or Lotramin anti-fungal cream to her nipples so the thrush will not pass back to her newborn.

3. Wash all baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, breast pump equipment, and anything else that comes in contact with the baby’s mouth. This includes washing all toys as well.

4. After breastfeeding, the mother needs to let their nipples air dry completely in between feedings.

5. Take probiotics to prevent future cases of newborn thrush. These keep the “good” bacteria in place so they can fight yeast from growing in high numbers.

Tips & Warnings

• Since newborn thrush will often resolve on it's own, avoid giving your child anti-fungal medication unless it is necessary and your baby is in pain.

[jseven]

on 12/2/2009 Good tips, my daughter is on her 7th and has had this problem off and on.