Last night after my husb bathed our 7.5 mo old and brought him to me to dress and finish night routine, I noticed he had a rash - red spots - on his belly, some scattered spots on shoulders, ears, back. There are a few new ones this morning, but some of the others have disappeared. Everything else about baby is status quo, he doesn't seem to be itchy. Husb said he didn't notice if baby had them on his belly prior to bath, but did notice them on ears. I'm not sure if this was maybe caused by bath or husb was just oblivious. I have been introducing solids - just moved on to chicken a few days ago, which I will stop. Also just picked up a used exersaucer off Craigslist yesterday, which I cleaned throughly using the same cleaner I use on his other toys before putting him in it. Baby has never had particularly sensitive skin, and he has tolerated the free/clear detergent I've been using since the beginning.
I have zero experience with allergies - does anyone have ideas if this sounds more like a contact allergy vs. food allergy? Do they often look the same? He isn't distressed, so I'm hesitant to take him to the MD right away, but maybe I should? If not, how long should I wait for this to clear up before I do take him in?
Thanks in advance for your answers, Mamas!
So, yesterday after posting and reading the first few responses, I decided to make an MD appt just in case it was something serious. However, by the time I got my son up from his nap (about an hour after posting), and took his PJs off to get him dressed, the spots were mostly gone! Miracle! So I cancelled the appt. THEN...when I undressed him to get him ready for bed, they were back, twice as bad and looked like little red rings vs. just spots. He had a low level fever, so I took pictures last night and made another appt first thing this morning. They were improved somewhat by our 9:30 appt, but the MD said it was just hives, probably caused by something viral he picked up somewhere since it was coming and going, nothing to worry about as it would run its course within a week or two. Apparently heat makes them come out more which is why they were prominent after the bath and when he had a fever. SO, in the end it was nothing that needed medication, since he isn't itching, though she said I could give him some benedryl if he did start scratching.
Thanks for all your great advice and reassurance Mamas!
Back in the old days when children did not get vaccinated against everything under the sun, we mamas used to ask each other if we thought it might be chicken pox or rubella. I refused to vaccinate my children and believe they are healthier than there peers because of it. Yes, they did get chicken pox and german measles. You baby might have one of those diseases.
I hear that some intelligent parents have decided not to vaccinate.
Is your hubby fully rinsing ALL of the soap off of baby? If baby is sitting in a little bath tub, and your hubby uses lots of soap, perhaps he's having a reaction to the unrinsed soap.
Do you use a lot of soap or fabric softener in your towels and bedding? Fabric softener can bother sensitive skin...and be hard to rinse out completely. Put your towels into the washer with no soap. If you see bubbles while it's agitating, all of the soap is not getting rinsed out. Many people use way more than is needed, thinking it will mean cleaner laundry. It just means that your laundry doesn't get fully rinsed.
You said that you've been feeding some new foods. If you've introduced some new fruits or veggies, you might be onto something. Chicken would be an odd one...not many are allegic.
The exersaucer might also be a culrit, thought I doubt it.. Instead of using cleaner on it, you might consider taking it outside and hosing it down, washing with Dawn, and then rinsing again.
My kids had this happen and it scared the life out of me! Turns out I was worried for nothing. I took my youngest to the doctor after her spots didn't disappear for a week (I had chalked it up to her sensitive skin reacting to a detergent change), he looked and said that it's a viral thing little ones get. Looks kind of like a heat rash (If it's been hot there that's probably exactly what your little guy has. A bath can irritate already present heat rash) but if it doesn't go away it's just their body's way of fighting some germs. Kind of like a fever or a cough, just in a rash.
Watch him, if it doesn't go away I'd get him checked to be sure. Also, if you Google common skin rashes in infants it might help. Not always comforting when the pictures are yucky but sometimes it'll show you an idea of what it might be. Good luck!
Was your son recently sick? My son had Roseola when he was 10 months old and his rash showed up 2 days after his fever went away. He had a rash on his belly and chest. We took him to the doctor where we got the diagnosis. Just a thought.
has he been outside more than normal since the days are getting warmer? Is he dressed to the temperature in the house? Sounds like heat rash or just an irritation rash. Now if he spikes a fever or gets irratable it could be hand foot and mouth disease that one usually get some red bumps my son had those mainly on his tummy and butt with a few on his foot and quite a few in his mouth. Throw a little aquaphor on it and see if it helps the bumps go away.
Babies seem to get a lot of dry skin and redness , I would bet he's more than likely got a bit warm and sweaty , you could always call and speak to a nurse just to check though
My DD just had the same thing happen. Have you noticed any change in your son's demeanor? Did he seem a little more fussy than usual? Turns out my DD had Roseola. She had a runny nose with just a slight low grade fever for three days. Then the rash appeared. The rash wasn't itchy or anything, it was just one of those viruses that reared its ugly head! You should call your doc or nurse line just to double check!
take him to a natural doc, a MD would just give him steroids. He has some kind of allergy, we go to Portland Family Homeopathy, they're great. http://www.portlandfamilyhomeopathy.com/
I would call your doctor. Sometimes they can tell if it's serious just by talking to you over the phone (depending on your doctor), usually they want you to come in. It's probably nothing (babies get rashes all the time!), but it could be something serious (especially if it seems to be spreading or getting worse). Also, take his temperature to see if he has a fever. Your doc will want that info.
I could be either truly. But, when I get hives its almost always medicine related. However, I am allergic to several medicines and the reactions vary in severity. All of them include hives. Hives is a pre-cursor usually. That is what those spots sound like. I found I didn't itch when I got them the first couple of times but did later on. (Perhaps because someone told me they itched). I don't know for sure but I have many allergies to food, plants, nylon...I can break out in hives if the air quality is really bad actually. Anyone have a new aftershave or perfume? That's one that gets me in the lungs, but it could make some break out in hives. If you used any spice at all in the chicken that might be the cause. If you handled or your husband handled anything he was allergic to ...Its a pretty endless fight to find everything but with hives its usually pretty specific. If its chicken he probably would have had tummy problems as well, so I kind of doubt that. Is there anything in the chicken? Certain peppers can cause hives. (Cyan for instance does for my daughter). Even citric acid could be the cause..did you use lemon juice or even soy sauce..in which case does it have MSG? Without digestive issues as well, I question the food theory. But its a possibilty. Think about what he's come in contact with. If you bought the new toy used..sometimes the chemicals they use to clean it are suspect..he could simply be allergic to ammonia. I would ask my doctor about it doesn't clear up within a day. Mine usually did. However with infants I am not sure. If he appears to be in any distress otherwise I would have him checked out. No use waiting for it to get worse when it comes to allergic reactions. They are dangerous to deal with when they get worse and go untreated.
First, a few questions...
Are you up to date on your vaccinations? Have you been in contact with any body who has been sick with the old fashioned measles---etc, or kids that have not been vaccinated. Since it is too cold for a heat rash if you answered not to the previous questions I would give you doc a call if the rash persists. It never hurts to be cautious. Some rashes can lead to serious problems if your child is not breast fed or vaccinated and exposed to some diseases.
It sounds like they could be hives. Food allergies are dangerous, you should consult an allergist to rule it out. My son started getting random hives about that age, he was diagnosed with serious food allergies, after which he had several life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, but at that point we knew what it was and had Epi-pens. Anyway, the hives could merely be a reaction to hot bath water or who knows what else, but you should check with a pediatric allergist. A lot of general pediatricians don't know much about food allergies, which is scary, since reactions can be very serious and very quick. Wish you the best, hope you figure it out.
