Swollen Toe

I would call the pediatrician and try to get it looked at, better safe than sorry. My daughter bumped her toe on a toy last year, the next day it was red and swollen and then a red line started going up her foot. I had to take her to the emergency room because she developed an infection. Antibiotics cleard it right up, but I wouldn't have even thought to take her in if I hadn't called the doctor.

I would try soaking it in warm water with epsom salts. This will draw out infection or an ingrown nail. After soaking put on some neosporin and a bandaid. It should be better by evening. You can soak in the warm water with epsom salts as often as you think it needs. If it looks worse or more painful than I am imagining call the doctor! I am a liscensced nail technician and this is what I would do for myself! I have had to do this before and it works!

Could it possibly be what they call a "hair tourniquet?" That's when a loose hair gets wrapped tightly around a toe, causing much the same symptoms you are describing. It could be hard to see (the hair could be in a crevice of skin at the base of the toe or around the knuckle). It sounds strange, but is not uncommon.

my six month old's big toe is red and swollen

Is it near the joint? I don't know if babies can get it, but it may be gout. Just a thought.

I know this sounds weird, but if it's an ingrown toe nail, take a small piece of bread and dip it in milk. Put it on the red part of the toe and cover with a couple band-aids. Do this overnight for a couple of nights and it will be good as new. This works with finger nails and toe nails. It's one of those old family cures.
I also read a story about a little kid who had a fine hair wrapped around his finger or toe (can't remember which), but it was red and swollen from the hair cutting off the circulation. It's a stretch, but can't hurt to check it out.
Good Luck,
S.

No..as far as I knoww babies cannot get gout. Gout is a adult complication due to the buildup of uric acid in the joints that causes crystalization and pain.
I would consult your pediatrician on the toe redness and swelling. As babies nails grow, they can can ingrown toenails. Massaging the area will only irratate the problem more. Make sure when you cut nails, you cut them straight across. Hope this helps...I am a Medical Assistant for a local doctors office, we also have a foot doctor in the adjacent pratice.

You need to get her to a doctor soon. Red can mean infection and it is very dangerous to have an infection in your fingers or toes. The infection can quickly spread to the joint and you can lose the finger/toe. Call your pediatrician and tell them. They will probably want to see you today.

could be a spider bite...???

i would take her to the doc... talk to a phone nurse, who hopefully will not try to diagnose over the phone, but ask you to bring her in to be seen. She's not walking, so it's not likely that she's stubbed on something.. but if it's red, and swollen (hot to the touch??), you dont want to mess around with that. i would take her temperature too.. just to have this info for the doctor.

good luck - let us know what it turns out to be...