Baby Yeast Infection

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Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth. Photo courtesy of webmd

While changing a nasty diaper, my husband noticed Sayle had a horrible diaper rash running up his little buttocks.  Sayle has never had a diaper rash before so the sight of a red tush was initially alarming to my husband. 

Fortunately for my husband, I am the smartest mom on the planet so I knew exactly what that rash was–a yeast infection.  In all honesty, my friend showed me her son’s yeast infection so I would know what one looked like.  I am glad she did because before I had seen that yeast infection, I never thought baby boys could get them!  I always knew all babies could get thrush, but never thought about yeast infections in the diaper area.     

Yeast infections are actually very common in babies.  Babies taking antibiotics are especially susceptible to yeast infections as they kill both the bad and the good bacteria.  A yeast infection can initially look like a typical diaper rash, but if it isn’t cleared up with traditional diaper cream within two days, it may be a yeast infection. 

Typical diaper rashes can also turn into a yeast infection if the rash is left untreated, which is why it is so important to keep that baby bum clean and dry!  Breastfed babies whose mothers are on antibiotics are also at-risk for yeast infections. 

If your baby has had thrush (yeast infection of the mouth) the baby may end up with a yeast infection in their diaper area too.  Thrush causes yeast to pass through the child’s digestive system and end up in their stool, which goes into the diaper.  A diaper can be the perfect breeding ground for yeast because they are warm, damp, and close to the skin.    

 According to babycenter.com, you can usually tell a yeast infection rash from a typical diaper rash because the rash will be well defined, beefy red, with slightly raised borders.  Even though Sayle’s rash was not beefy red, it was well defined and did have raised borders.  Yeast infection rash can also show up in the skin folds of the groin area. 

 Unfortunately, you cannot give your baby a Diflucan pill to treat the yeast infection; you have to go the old fashion route and use an anti-fungal cream such as Monistat or Lotrimin.  We had some Lotrimin in the bathroom so that is what we used and Sayle’s rash cleared right up.  When we realized Sayle had a yeast infection I started feeding him yogurt, but next time I will feed him yogurt as soon as we start the antibiotic as that helped get the yeast in his body back in check.

 After talking with one of my girlfriends about Sayle’s yeast infection she gave me this recipe.  Her son has had some horrific yeast infections and he has very sensitive skin.  She swears by this recipe so I thought I would pass it along.

Ingredients (written exactly how she said it)

Brand name Monistat 7 Day (do not get the store brand-has to be brand name)

Maylox or Mylanta (no flavor)

Maximum Strength Desitin (purple tube)

Hydrocortisone Cream

Use equal amounts of each ingredient.  She suggested putting it in an old butter container and keeping it chilled in your refrigerator for the duration of the rash.