Our younglings are very tender physically and their immune system is developing to fight all the varying environmental factors.
While the mother’s milk provides the necessary antibodies sometimes the baby can be infected by certain microbes. One such infection is thrush. Also known as oral thrush, this infection is due to the action of yeast-like fungi in the mouth.
This infection is highly treatable with home remedies and doesn’t require any kind of medication.
How to Cure Baby Thrush at Home?
Baby thrush can be treated with the help of simple things that can be found in our kitchen. Let us find out how to cure the thrush easily.
Saltwater
Salt has good anti-microbial properties and stops the growth of fungus immediately. If you find the thrush to be spreading, you can use salt water to wash the baby’s mouth.
Take a teaspoon of salt and mix it in a glass of water. Now using this solution, clean the baby’s mouth and give more importance to the area it is likely to spread.
You can perform this wash thrice per day till the spread is stopped completely. Make sure that you don’t make the solution very salty.
Most likely, the thrush might have spread from the mother’s breast while feeding. Therefore, it is recommended to clean the breast, especially the nipples thoroughly after feeding. You can also use this saltwater to clean.
Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many benefits and anti-fungal property is one of them. Apple cider vinegar prevents the growth of fungi in the applied area. The acidic nature kills the fungi and controls the infection.
Take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and dilute it in a cup of water. Now apply this mixture to the affected areas in the baby’s mouth.
It is important to dilute the vinegar before use, because it may affect the baby’s stomach and interfere with digestion. But there’s nothing to worry about if it is diluted thoroughly.
Apply this remedy twice per day over the thrush and you can see the decrease in the spread of the thrush.
Dilute Baking Soda Mixture
The alkalinity of the baking soda neutralizes the acidic nature of the fungi and kills the yeast effectively.
Take half a teaspoon of baking soda and mix it in a cup of warm water. After thoroughly mixing it, apply it over the affected area of the baby’s mouth.
It is best to apply this mixture over the mother’s nipples before breastfeeding the child to neutralize any fungal growth.
Use this remedy thrice per day if the infection is intense and reduce it to once per day as the spread decreases.
Coconut oil
There are numerous benefits in using products from coconuts. You can use its milk, drink its tender water and use its oil for cooking.
Coconut oil can also be used to treat skin-related diseases and infections. The caprylic acid inhibits the growth of yeast and cures the thrush spread in babies.
Apply coconut oil over the affected area and let it stay throughout the day. Apply it twice per day, every morning and every night to instantly cure and heal the infection.
If breastfeeding mothers apply it over their nipples, the infection will not spread to the baby as well as it heals any wounds over it.
Natural Yogurt
Yogurt contains naturally occurring probiotics and these beneficial bacteria clear the spread of thrush in babies.
Take unflavored and unsweetened yogurt and apply it to the baby’s mouth completely. It is important to choose unsweetened and unflavored yogurt because the yeast will feed on the sugar and spread more efficiently. Therefore, be careful while choosing the yogurt.
You can use this remedy any time of the day and it doesn’t do any harm even if the baby swallows it. Apply this cure till the infection recedes.
Breastmilk
Mother’s milk has natural antibodies and it also has the necessary nutrients to keep the baby healthy.
If your baby is breastfeeding, continue to do so and you can see the infection getting cured naturally. If your baby is not breastfed, you can take milk from your breasts and give it to the baby through a sipper.
The antibodies in the milk will fight against the thrush and prevent the spread. It will also neutralize the fungus and clears the thrush completely.
Keep your breasts clean and wipe the nipples with warm water every time after breastfeeding. Try to wear loose clothes to avoid sweating and use breast pads to keep the breasts dry from the leaking milk.
Also read this too:
- 11 Home Remedies for Infants with Diarrhea
- How to Treat Pneumonia in Babies Naturally
- How to Reduce High Body Temperature in Babies
- How to Prevent a Baby from Getting Stomach Flu
How Does Baby Thrush Occur?
Baby thrush is caused by the spread of yeast-like fungi known as Candida. It is common in babies and usually doesn’t cause any kind of infection.
But sometimes due to the following reasons, the baby might get infected:
- Weak immune system
- Born with low weight
- Infected mothers
- Dirty pacifiers
Because of such reasons, the infection might spread rapidly. Most of the time it is from the mother’s nipples and it is important to clean them every time after feeding.
If the baby has a poor immune system due to weakness in the body, the infection can spread easily.
Pacifiers are also a potential cultivating area for the fungus particularly if they are dirty. Also, if the baby continuously uses the pacifier, it may lead to oral thrush easily.
How to Prevent Baby Thrush?
Follow these guidelines to prevent thrush in babies:
Wipe the breasts and nipples thoroughly with warm water after feeding.
Try to wear light clothes to avoid sweating.
Use breast pads to absorb leaking milk.
Wipe the mouth of your baby thoroughly after eating and feeding.
Thoroughly wash all the things the baby gets into contact with. Especially things like pacifiers, sippers, cups, etc. should be washed properly and dried thoroughly.
Keep the floor and your entire house clean. Particularly the places where the child plays and lives must be dry and hygienic.
Conclusion
Babies can fight off infections with the help of antibodies from their mothers. Even if their immune system is weak, you can make use of these remedies to cure the infection effectively.
By maintaining hygiene, you can prevent your baby from contracting such infections and diseases.
