Remedies for Baby Thrush

Thrush is a yeast infection that manifests in infants either in the form of oral thrush – white patches appear in the mouth – and, or thrush diaper rash.



Thrush causes an infant to be irritable, cranky, and troublesome during feeding because of a sore mouth.

Given the infant’s underdeveloped immune system, effective remedies for infant thrush are very important to sooth the discomforted child.

How do Home Remedies Work Against Thrush

Home remedies for thrush in babies focus greatly on the hygiene factor. It is very important to thoroughly wash and sterilize the infant’s pacifier, feeding bottles, teething rings, etc. after each use. Since yeast thrives in wet and musty places, make sure you dry the equipment in direct sunlight.

In order for the remedies for baby thrush to be effective, great care must be taken to avoid the oral thrush from spreading into a thrush diaper rash. There are a number of home remedies for infant thrush to ensure this:  

Natural ingredients like tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract and baking soda are popular home remedies for baby thrush. Mix a few drops of either ingredient with half a cup of water. Dip a cotton swab in the solution and rinse the infected patches in the baby’s mouth. Use the remaining solution to clean the infant’s bottom. If you are using a disposable wipe, ensure it is alcohol free.



A better option is to use soft cloth. It is also recommended that you dress your baby in soft cloth diaper which allows for increased air flow.

Mothers suffering from yeast infection are likely to pass it on to their infants and vice-versa. It is essential that mothers follow a diet inclusive of leafy greens and yogurt while avoiding refined sugars and carbohydrates. Breastfeeding mothers need to take extra precaution in case of oral thrush. Treat nipples in an effort to minimize risk of infection. Dab on the above solution on the nipples and pat dry in direct sunlight. Also ensure your innerwear is washed in warm water, reducing the risks further. 

Along with medication, if recommended, it is also essential to follow the above home remedies for thrush in babies. These allow for the infection to be targeted and treated, limiting chance of recurrence.

Thrush in babies is an extremely common problem, and one with which all of us have to deal with. The fungus, known as candida albicans, is a very common fungal strain and is present all over our bodies. It is also present in the digestive system of humans, but is kept in check with the help of the friendly bacteria that lines the intestines.



Although the immune system of the body does not allow this fungus to grow and affect the skin, it is possible that the fungus may grow and cause infection at several places on the skin. Baby thrush treatment is important in order to avoid any serious skin infections and complications. Baby thrush is usually due to diapers. However, it is also possible for babies to develop thrush on the lips and around the mouth as well. Baby thrush in the mouth is not a very serious condition. However, it may cause pain and discomfort to the baby. As the baby grows and its immunity becomes stronger, the baby does not experience thrush any more.

How do babies get thrush? Thrush is caused when the yeast known as candida albicans, which is present on the skin, begins to multiply and grow on it. Thrush is not only limited to babies, but can also occur in adults who have a very weak immune system or who eat very unhealthy foods. Thrush in babies symptoms depend on the place where the condition actually occurs. There are thrush remedies that can be used in babies to treat this unseemly condition. A baby thrush home remedy is the easiest and fastest way to get rid of the condition.



Here are some thrush home remedies that can be used to remedy thrush infections in babies:

• Gentian violet is one of the best thrush natural remedies. Gentian violet is a dye, which stains anything that it comes in contact with. Swab the inside of the baby’s mouth with gentian violet 1% solution. This can help in improving the condition and soothing the baby. Keep repeating until the baby’s condition is cured completely.

• Treating thrush is not a very difficult thing. However, to treat the condition effectively, you need to understand how to deal with the condition both in the mouth and as a diaper rash. Natural cures for thrush are usually gentler on the skin of babies and therefore are preferable.

• Mix together water and sodium bicarbonate. This mixture is very easy to apply on diaper rashes as well as thrush in the mouth. Thrush home remedies for babies cannot get simpler than this. The sodium bicarbonate increases the pH of the skin, therefore repressing the yeast and thus curing the condition completely.
  
  
  
  Keep using this home remedy till the thrush in babies symptoms begin to subside.

• Thrush in babies causes a lot of discomfort. If the rashes caused by this infection itch or hurt, the baby may become very difficult to soothe. Thrush in babies treatment should be sought immediately if the home remedies do not work. If you see the appearance of the symptoms of thrush in babies, you should immediately take the baby to a doctor. In case you want to try out home remedies first, do remember that the remedies will work best when the symptoms are not very severe.

• Thrush in babies is contagious. If a baby has oral thrush, the breast feeding mother may get the infection in her nipples and the milk ducts may also become infected, therefore causing a lot of discomfort to both the mother and the baby. Treating thrush in babies may take some time, but there are no thrush remedies when pregnant. If you are pregnant and you have a baby with thrush symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor instead of getting any other kinds of medications.

• If there is thrush in the baby’s mouth, you can use lingon berry jam to cure it. Lingon berry jam has a very strong taste and the baby may not find it very comfortable to have the jam in its mouth.
  
  
  
  However, the jam does show some positive result even if the result is seen only after some time. Since treating thrush in infants is not always the easiest thing, natural remedies are always considered the best.

• Treating thrush naturally, though safe and effective, is not as good a remedy as taking proper precautions to prevent such infections. Since the baby’s immunity is rather low, the easiest way to avoid new infections is to wash the toys and the pacifiers of the baby well before using them. You can also sterilize the bottles and any other things that babies put in their mouths. Use good quality diapers and change diapers as soon as they are soiled. The longer your baby remains in a soiled diaper, more are the chances of developing a thrush infection.

• Yogurt contains live cultures of the bacteria that helps keep candida albicans in check. To ensure that the yeast infection does not spread, you can feed your child some fresh yogurt. Live bacteria cultures can also be consumed as probiotic pills.

• To avoid spreading the infection, air-dry your nipples. Since yeast thrives in a warm and moist environment, wet nipples are the perfect place for the fungus to grow. As the fungus grows on the nipples, it can get transferred to the mouth of the baby when it is breast feeding. It may seem a little odd for you to sit or walk around with a bare chest, but in the long run, it will help you keep this infection in check.