How to Treat a Baby Burn
Any type of injury to an infant can cause even the most level-headed adult to panic. Burns can be especially scary because a baby's skin is so sensitive and it can be difficult to judge the severity of a burn. If you find yourself in a situation where you will need to go through a burn treatment procedure for your baby, there are several actions you can take to minimize your baby's pain and prevent further damage.
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Things You'll Need
- Cool water
- Cool compress
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Burn ointment
- Bandage
Instructions
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Get your baby to a comfortable, secure location if he is burned. Quickly assess the severity of the burn. Unless you can be positive it is only a minor burn, call 911 or rush your baby to the emergency room. According to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, a first-degree burn is typically red, sore, and sensitive to the touch. First-degree burns do not blister and do not leave a scar.
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Treat a first-degree burn by submerging the burned skin in cool water, then use a cool cloth or compress on the burn, keeping it in place for 10 or 15 minutes. Call your doctor or speak to the physician on duty in the emergency room, and ask about giving your baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give your baby aspirin because it can cause the deadly disease Reye's syndrome.
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Apply a cool burn ointment and a loose, clean bandage, especially if the burn blisters. Do not break the blisters because they are a natural part of the skins healing process. If the burn doesn't heal within two or three days, take your baby to see her physician.
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Tips & Warnings
For all but the first-degree burns, take your baby to the emergency room. Don't try to treat these burns yourself. Things to look for in more severe burns include extreme redness and blistering. The baby may look wet due to fluid loss. According to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, third-degree burns can look white or black and leathery on the surface.
For electrical burns, burns on the face, hands or genitals, or burns larger than two diameters, take your baby to the emergency room.
Do not use ice, which can cause further skin damage. Also avoid butter, powder or lotions.
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