Hello Mommies,
My six week old daughter's neck has a strange smell to it. My husband and I have tried to clean it with a soft wet wash cloth, but she really fights us when we do. On either side of her neck where the smell is coming from her skin is red and has a very smooth look to it. The skin in this area appears thin. We keep our daughter clean and this is the only area with this smell. I am nursing her and I am sure that milk likely drips down when she is nursing. We are looking for the best way to clean this area. Thank you!
It's important to let the area completely dry after cleaning. Then, a bit of vaseline to stop the milk from getting her wet. I would go to the doc, but that's just me.
Very likely the reason she is resisting your cleaning is that it hurts. Years ago, in caring for a child in our home day care, we had a little girl who regularly had a sore neck. And it was as you have guessed, due to milk from nursing or her bottle. My husband used to lay her across his lap and hang her head over to where her neckj was fully exposed and clean it thoroughly. Then he would apply Desitin (ugh) because it was truly very similar to diaper rash. This worked well, and soon she would do everything she could to help him clean her little short neck.
Just clean with water and a very gentle soap. Put a towel over her neck when she's eating.
I remember this happening to my son. I think what I did was wait until he was sound asleep and wipe it with a warm washcloth and a mild soap. If her neck seems irritated, maybe apply a little A&D or whatever antichafing ointment you normally use. Going forward, make sure you're using a bib or cloth diaper under her neck to absorb any leakage, and then wipe her up immediately after.
I remember that smell as well, and believe like you it was spilled milk in creases in her skin. Since it is sensitive skin, you could apply a baby lotion or gentle cream and then wipe it with a soft cloth. Or use a baby wipe and gently wipe her neck. She probably fights it because it is sensitive. Otherwise try to get her neck really clean while you bathe her and then protect it with a good cream.
I also found a stinky little ring of dead skin behind her ears even though we washed there. The doctor recommended putting Vaseline on it and wiping it with a cotton ball. The dry skin rubbed off with the Vaseline, but it looked like we had never washed behind her ears in the crease even though we did. Embarrassing, but evidently not unusual.
To add to the other wonderful suggestions you've received, my 1 year old had (and still has) lots of extra rolls that needed extra attention. As a newborn/infant my husband and I had to make sure we dried each crease (sp?), including under her neck, after her bath and we then took a cotton swab dipped in baby oil and ran it through the fold, otherwise she would get rashes. I also did this for her ears since my oldest did get the red peeling behind one ear, as another mother mentioned with her child. My grandmother use to do this for us and my mom said we came home squeeky clean :-D
Oh, and I've had to use Desitin on rashes around the neck, too. One application usually did the trick.
It is irritation from the milk that spills when she eats. Give her a warm bath every night before bed. Use a soft wash cloth & mild soap-regular bar soap-dove unscented is fine-you don't have to waste your $ on 'baby only' soap as long as the bar soap is mild & unscented. But if you have the baby soap, go ahead & use that till it's gone. All babies will push you away when you try to clean the neck, that is normal, just do it anyhow in order to get her clean. It's completely normal-all babies get milk under the neck. It is red & irritated because you haven't been cleaning it-it will clear up as soon as you are cleaning it. Since it is irritated, beginning by doing it a few times a day with the wash cloth should get it cleared up in no time. Then once nightly will be fine for the upkeep in keeping her clean. Enjoy your first baby-there is nothing like the first time around! I have a 2 year old & 7month old. The 2nd time around is much less worrisome & easier once you have gotten thru it the first time. Happy Holidays!
I would take her to the dr to be sure she doesn't have yeast infection there. If she does she will need Nystatin or some other yeast medication. Yeast infections do hurt. Keeping clean and dry is a must whether it's a yeast infection or just the milk dripping. Check her periodically for drool and spit up as well, even when you aren't feeding.
Both of my daughters have had little funky spots in the various folds their tubbiness creates. For ODD, I was given a prescription for an anti-fungal. I used it for a few days, but it stained her clothes. So I just started keeping it clean - wiping it morning and night with a wipe when changing her diaper, and then making sure to dry it very well. It cleared right up when I did that, so I'm doing the same for YDD.
I push up on her chin while she's lying down on the changing table and get in and clean it - she doesn't like it very much but it only takes a few seconds and then it's done. Just remember that the alternative (not doing it) is worse!
I do like the suggestion a PP had to lie the baby across your lap with her head dangling down a bit so you can wipe it off gently while her neck is stretched. If you did it with a warm wash cloth she'd probably be less likely to fight it. And while it's weird to see them upside down with their heads dangling, my hubby has done that to both of our girls for fun and they actually seem to enjoy it. It certainly worked to quiet them down when they were fussy!
If you don't see a dramatic improvement with a few days of cleaning and drying (I can't emphasize the drying enough!) it well then I'd call your doc.
