"Thrush in Baby's Mouth"

M.,
We had a similar problem with thrush. It did not resolve with the nystatin. After the nystatin did not work, we were given a prescription for oral diflucan---it worked really well for us, have not had a problem with thrush since.
M.

I've had 4 babies, all breastfed, and all of them had various degrees of thrush. You didn't say whether you are breastfeeding, but if you are, your breasts/body may be the source. You can continue to treat the baby with the nystatin but if you don't find and eliminate the source, you keep re-infecting the baby's mouth. I've never experienced it, but have been told by my pediatrician that the thrush can also appear in the genital area of baby girls because it is basically a yeast infection.
I have no medical proof, but I belive that my body naturally produces this yeast in my sweat. All it takes is for me to stay slightly damp from leaking breasts or from being overheated and I would quickly pass the yeast to the baby while nursing. So, here's my "prescription":

1. Don't just shower every day, clean your breasts every time you nurse. If your shirt or your bra gets wet with milk/ or even just damp - change clothes. I found that I simply couldn't use breast pads at all. When there was leakage, I had to change. I found some inexpensive maternity bras that were styled like a sports bra so I could have lots of them. I think they were at Motherhood Maternity??

2. If you're using pacifiers or bottles, sterilize DAILY by boiling for at least 10 minutes and then allowing to air dry. Also sterilize ANYTHING (teethers, toys) that the baby puts in its mouth. I would use a set of grill thongs to get the hot items from the boiling water because they would dry more quickly and completely when still hot.

3. The nystatin worked best for me when I would soak a q-tip with it and then rub the liquid into the white patches in the baby's mouth in addition to squirting a little medicine in the mouth. It is also important to do this directly AFTER a feeding or when there's 20-30 minutes BEFORE the next feeding. If you read the medication insert, you'll see that nystatin works by chemically bonding with the yeast and drying it out. You'll be able to see that the white patches take on a yellow tint if you're successfully coating them with the nystatin. Also, applying it directly this way - the baby has less of it to swallow. It would upset my babies' little tummies something awful.

4. Have your own doctor (or possibly the baby's pediatrician) prescribe a nystatin ointment for you to use on your nipples if you're breast feeding. Use this each time you wash after each feeding.

5. Wash your shirts and bras with the baby's things in hot water.

All of this can be a big pain and a lot of extra work, especially when you're already sleep deprived. Stick with it for a week to ten days (or for at least 3 days after all signs of the infection in the baby are gone) and it should be all over. Then you can sterilize stuff just once a week. You may find that you'll still need to wash your breasts after each feeding and keep washing your bras in hot water to keep the yeast from coming back. Congratulations on the new baby! Take care!

Hi M.,

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with thrush. I've never experienced thrush but I know it can be very troublesome at trying to eliminate. I think you'll find this link and the suggestions offered helpful.
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/yeast.shtml

NO SUGAR of ANY kind, you may need to avoid fruit for a short while. Your diet is absolutely essential if you're going to beat yeast.

Grapefruit seed extract 250 mg 3 or 4 times a day.

Coconut oil has anti fungal properties and can be used topically and ingested.

Start taking probiotics and giving them to your baby too.

Eat yogurt...no sweetened or fruit added ones.

Purchase some Gentian Violet to treat yourself and baby.(This turns everything purple)

Use a cup of vinegar in all wash loads, particularly towels, nursing bras and baby's diapers.

Sterilize any pacifiers, bottle nipples, nipple shield and pump parts daily and wash them in a vinegar solution or paint them with Gentian Violet.

Echinacea and Astragulus Root, and Vit C and B-complex vit. to boost immune function.

http://www.kellymom.com/ has excellent information and suggestions for treating and preventing thrush too. Good luck.

Peace,
J.

I echo what another mother said -- she may be reinfecting herself unintentionally. Whatever goes into her mouth may pick up the thrush germs, and if she puts it back into her mouth, it may reinfect her. If you're nursing her, get some nystatin for yourself. You may be able to put the same stuff that you're giving her by mouth on your nipples, but you'll probably need more than you've currently got, so you'll need a new prescription.

I've not heard about a vinegar solution for thrush, but you may be able to put that on your breasts to clear it up as well, instead of nystatin.

Do you nurse? If so, you could have thrush on your breasts as well and the baby can't get better until you do. A good friend of mine went through that. She used something called gingin violet(sp?). It makes the baby's mouth and you nice and purple but it works. Thrush is a fungus so be careful of foods that could feed it like sugar, yeast breads and cheese if you are nursing because some could pass throught he breast milk.
C.

Try Genetian Violet. It comes in tincture form and can be found at most health food stores. Apply with qtip to inside of mouth, directly on any white patches of yeast you can see.Do this once or twice a day depending on severity of thrush. It will stain the skin for short time so be careful not to get on skin outside mouth. Safe and extremely effective. I am a Mom to 2 kids ages 10 and 13. Also a hospice nurse and lay midwife. I have used this in the past with no adverse effects. Good luck! Stephanie

M. my son had thrush also, it was awful and nothing worked, then my mom told me about what they used in the 60`s, I can`t remember the name off hand right now (I`ll ask her today) it was called veleteen something some purple stuff they don`t use it any more these days, you will have to ask for it specificlly. Ask the Dr and I`ll ask my mom today. This stuff is FANTASTIC my son`s thrush cleared up in 3 days, but if you get it be careful not to spill it, as it is highly stainable.

A.

use a q tip to rub the nystatin on the spots also use white vinegar to soak the nipples of her bottle if she is bottle fed. I think i hear some where that thrust can be transmitted to the breast so be careful. but im not 100% on that one.

Hi M.!
My son, who is now 13, had thrush when he was a baby. My doctor told me to get "genson violet" to rub in his mouth. I know I didn't spell it right but that's how it sounds. Maybe you can ask your Dr or pharmacist about it. I can't remember how long he had it or how long it took to clear up, either. I do know it helped,though. But it also turned his mouth a bright purple color. Along with anything else he put in his mouth, including his hands or fingers. It was kind of funny, actually. I can't remember if it stained any of his blankets or clothing. Now that was 12-13 yrs ago, so I'm not sure if you can still buy it or not. And I've never had any other reason to look for it or buy it since then. Good luck, I hope this helps you some and I hope her little mouth clears up soon.
~M.

M., my pediatrician prescribes a liquid form of diflucan (sorry for the spelling, I'm sure its wrong) for thrush - this is a three or four day round, once per day and typically clears it up quickly. When your baby is a little older, you can also introduce yogurt into her diet (my son started it at about 7 months of age) and that helps a great deal - unless my kids have been on prolonged antibiotics, the yogurt does the trick. I caution any use of glycerin and recommend speaking with your pediatrician prior to trying it. One thing my pediatrician told me with my first child - mommy knows her child and the doctors should trust mommy's concerns and do what they can to alleviate the concern and the condition in the child. Try to talk with your pediatrician about the diflucan before trying anything you see over the internet. Good luck!

Are you taking a q-tip and rubbing the nystatin all in the inside of her mouth? You are supposed to rub the inside of the cheeks, roof , gums and the inside of the lips with about 1/2 teaspoon,3 times a day. See if that helps. And wash her mouth out with a washcloth after feedings. See if this helps

acidophilus is the the 'good bacteria' found in yogurt. You can also buy it in powder, liquid or pill form. The source can be either dairy (like yogurt) or vegetarian (carrot) so be sure to read the label if this is a concern for you. If you're breastfeeding you can take it yourself otherwise you can buy a formula designed for infants (it's powdered) and put some in the bottle. It has no taste and my kids always accepted it.

Hope that helps!

Mommy should be taking medication too if she is breastfeeding

hi M.! my son used to get thrush all the time. my doc told me to use "gentian violet." it's sold in the drug store, not sure what section, but you put in on their tongue with a cotton swab. now, it will turn their whole mouth purple, and it does stain, but it does help. you might want to talk to your doc or pharmacist about it, though, to make sure it's okay for your baby. hope this helps! :)

When my son had it, his doctor gave him some med. but it didn't work. I got to the point of washing his tounge with a warm wash cloth before and after each bottle feeding. I also checked in between bottles and if needed, I did it then also. Hope things get better soon.

I second Janet. Check out Kellymom, she has the best information.

I've had 2 out of 5 with thrush and it doesn't go away by itself! We did end up having to use Gentian Violet with the last bout, and I have to respectfully disagree with a previous poster, Gentian Violet is NOT a homeopathic, it is a chemical- you purchase it in a 2% or 1% solution, it is not a homeopathic dose, and it DOES have side effects besides purple skin and clothing. My daughter had ulcerations in her mouth from it. But nothing else we tried and had access to worked, and we had to get my cracked nipples yeast free or breastfeeding wouldn't have been able to continue. Anyway, it's not a treatment to take lightly, follow the directions if you use it.

I hope you're able to get it cleared up soon!

I have to agree with Amy J. My son had it for months. The only thing I will add to what Amy J said is to sterilize everything like crazy. Good luck to you!

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!!! Please go to the store (you may have to check out an herbal place) and get gentian violet. It is a homeopathic treatment. My daughter was on nystatin for 4 months off and on. The thrush can get into her esophagus and cause a lot of pain. You can also use it on you if you are breastfeeding. It will turn EVERYTHING purple but put it all in her mouth (use a medical glove) and cover everything in her mouth. Then, put her to bed for the night. You will only have to do this once or twice. This is a wonderful way to get a happy baby!!!!! Do it today!!!! The nystatin won't clear it up!!!! I am speaking from experience!!!!! ;)

Hi M.,
I so feel for you right now! My son had thrush from 2 weeks until 3 months old. I used the Nystantin and that stuff is a joke. I switched back to my old pediatrician and he put him on Diflucan. It is wonderful and you only have to give it once a day. Cleared it right up. It wont upset the baby's stomach. My son screamed for hours on Nystantin. So I would ask your doctor about that. The Diflucan made it go away in two days. He had to do a treatment of 2 weeks though. Anyways good luck with your little one. Diflucan saved my sanity.
Good Luck and take care!
J. Z

M.
The most effective and safest cure I've found is diluted vinegar. Dip a towel in the vinegar water mixture and gently wipe the inside of your baby's mouth. It doesn't taste good, but it won't hurt her...safe...natural...effective.

Try sterilizing everything that goes in her mouth...nipples pasifiers and see if that helps. You need to sterilize everything daily or befor you make her bottles. Maybe even buy new ones...a different kind. My granddaughter had thrush and it took a while to get rid of it. Good luck and god bless

M.,

I had the same problem with my now 6 month old. I Hate to tell you this but she keep on and off for almost three months before it finally competely went away. Keep using the med's the dr gave you and It will go away just in its on time.

Good Luck!
B.
Married 12 yrs, Full time Mom of two, 4yr old boy and 6 months girl.

You know what you really just need to take the syringe and make sure that the nystatin is on the sides of the month. You will know because alll "white spots" will appear yellow. It is more important to have the nystatin on the sides of the mouth than it is to swallow. Be patient and make sure you don't give any milk right after a dose of med. hope this helps E.

Try yogurt,with active cultures, for mom & baby. It works wonders.

M.~
Yes, get the gentian violet right away. I just had to order some for my new grandson, as the pharmacy was out. Let me tell you why:
When my first grandchild was born, she got thrush very quickly. They kept giving her prescription meds that didn't work. By the time the dr. was reminded by us of the gentian violet, she was having some problems. Somehow the prescription meds had caused her to not be able to absorb the calories when she ate. When she was 3 months old, she was smaller than a newborn! We almost lost her, and it was basically due to starvation! She was put on a soy formula, and started gaining immediately. (Changing formula was also Grandma's suggestion. She could not get nutrition from breast milk either.) We have always believed it had to do with those meds, and if she had been given the gentian violet in the first place, it would have been a matter of a couple of days.
Hope this helps.
Blessings,
S.

put it in the bottle everytime she has one and she'll get rid of it sooner or later.

Are you nursing or bottle-feeding?

What you need is Gentian Violet. You get in on the regular shelf in the drugstore; it's in a very little bottle. It is a VERY purple liquid that you put on a q-tip and swab inside the baby's mouth. If you are breastfeeding, do your nipples too. You will both be purple for a few days, maybe a week, but this will clear up the thrush fast and cheap. I spent lots of money on multiple different prescriptions before I tried this, and then wished I had tried it long before. Keep the baby dressed in something you don't care about, and wear old bras or breastfeeding pads in your bra, because the purple will stain.

Nystatin is the first line of defence that drs use, but it usually does not work. My sister's twins have had thrush 4 times now. They were on nystatin three times and then the doctor put them on something this last time that worked great. I'm sorry I do not recall the name, but you only give it once a day. You can ask your dr what other meds can they give b/c this is not working. You are right to take control of your daughters care. If something does not work then ask for something different. Someone mentioned taking an herb g(something) violet. I heard it was great, but be prepared for purple mouth and everything.

Hi M.,

I am the mother of three girls, 13, 10 & 7. My grandmother told me, when my baby had thrush, to take their wet pamper and run it on their tongue. I thought she was crazy at first but then she told me that when she had babies they did not have all of the medicines we do now and so they did what they had too and it worked.

Thrush is so painful. I got it one time from one of my children. Make sure your child's bottle nipples are sterilized after every use. The pacifier will have to go until the thrush is all gone. Any teething toys will have to be sterilized after each use too. If you breastfeed you will have to wash up really good after each feeding.
As for a natural cure, gentian violet helps. It's an old cure. People switched to a much less messier med when nystatin came out. I found my gentian violet at a small pharmacy.
Either way, no matter which meds you use beating this thing starts with what your child puts in their mouth. Good luck

She needs more "good bacteria" to fight it. I don't recommend nystatin. Try homemade plain yogurt. You probably don't do this, but don't give her sugar of any kind.

It is true that if you are breastfeeding you need to treat both the baby AND you at the same time, otherwise you could just be passing it back and forth. The violet works well. Also, you can try giving her a teeny bit of yogurt. Thrush is caused by the same thing as a yeast infection, it's just in a different part of the body. It's just that things have gotten a little off balance. I wouldn't give her a whole bunch at once, she is very young. First just try letting her have some off of your finger, then wait a day to see if anything happens reaction wise. If she doesn't have any adverse reactions, then give her a bite or two a couple of times a day. I hope you solve your problem!

Gentian Violet is what my doctor recommended after weeks of no luck with Nystatin.... it will dye your childs mouth purple for a few days and anything else her little mouth comes in contact with... .including your breasts if you nurse or nipples from bottles. It worked like a charm and finally cured her of it.

If you're nursing, use Lotrimin cream on your breasts and use it religously along with the Nystatin--don't skip any doses or applications. My youngest had thrush from July to October--the humidity of summer makes it hard to beat! But regular treatments kept it at bay and seemed to even make it go away, but it wasn't until the weather got cooler and drier that we were finally all done with it. Good luck!

The way to cure thrush in a baby or in anyone find someone that has never laid eyes on their father and have them to blow in the baby's mouth, beleive me it works.

My son had thrush as a baby. We tried the stuff the doctor prescribed, the purple stuff that another mom told me about, medicine the doctor prescribed on my breasts that had to be washed off before the baby nursed, vinegar on my breasts, etc. etc. For about two months we tried everything. I was at my wit's end. Then my mom, who is a dietician, told me to try plain yogurt. The baby could not really swallow it. I would put it in his mouth and most of it would drip out of his mouth, but some of it made it down. IT WORKED!