Baby Birthmarks & Rashes

Many babies also get rashes or have birthmarks. In this article, seven kinds of rashes and birthmarks are discussed.

Mongolian Spots

These birthmarks can vary considerably in size but are all flat areas of skin that contain extra pigment, which causes them to appear brown, gray, or even blue (like a bruise). Most often located on the back or buttocks, Mongolian spots are very common, especially in dark- skinned babies. They usually disappear before school age and are of no medical significance.

Pustular Melanosis

Small blisters that typically appear at birth, they peel open and dry up within a couple of days. They leave dark spots like freckles that usually disappear over several weeks. Some newborns may have only the spots, indicating that they had the rash before birth. While pustular melanosis is common (particularly in babies with darker skin) and is a harmless newborn rash, it is always important to have all blister like rashes evaluated by your baby’s doctor to make sure they aren’t due to an infection.

Milia

These tiny white bumps or yellow spots are found on the cheeks, chin, or across the tip of the nose, and are caused by skin-gland secretion. This common newborn rash generally disappears on its own within the first two to three weeks of life.

Miliaria

Often referred to as a “heat rash” or “prickly heat,” miliaria most often occurs in hot, humid climates or when babies are over-bundled. The rash can contain tiny sweat blisters and/or small red bumps. It shows up most often in skin folds and covered areas, and usually goes away within a few days.

Erythema Toxicum

Often called “E tox” for short, this rash is very common and usually appears within the first few days after birth. It consists of multiple red splotches with yellowish-white bumps in the center, and goes away within a week or so. It generally resolves if it’s left completely alone.

Capillary Hemangiomas

These raised red spots are caused by a strawberry-like collection of blood vessels in the skin. For the first week or so, they may appear white or pale, then turn red later. While they often enlarge during the first year, most shrink and almost disappear by the time a child reaches school age usually without requiring treatment.

Port Wine Stain​

Large, flat, and irregularly shaped dark red or purple areas. Caused by extra blood vessels under the skin, port wine stains are usually located on the face or neck but, unlike hemangiomas, don’t disappear without treatment. These birthmarks can be treated, sometimes with laser surgery by either a plastic surgeon or a pediatric dermatologist. 

If your baby was born vaginally, in addition to the elongated shape of his head, there also may be some scalp swelling in the area that was pushed out first during birth. If you press gently on this area, your finger may even leave a small indentation. This swelling (called caput) is not serious and should disappear in a few days.

Toy Safety Tips for the Holiday!

As you get ready for the hectic holiday season, we are reminded about important decisions that should take place before purchasing toys for children.  Let’s keep children safe by following these toy safety tips:

• Avoid toys with small balls and parts for children under age 3.
• If any piece or removable part can fit inside a toilet-tube roll, it is unsafe for a child under
• Don’t forget to check the ‘eyes’ of stuffed toy animals—if they can be pulled off, avoid that toy for young children
• Check toys for age warnings. If buying an age-appropriate toy for an older child but there is a younger child in the house, make sure the younger child does not have access to the toy.
• Avoid high-powered magnet sets such as Buckyballs and Buckycubes for children under age 14. If swallowed, magnets can cause injury, and in some cases, ingestion requires surgical removal.
• Get the right size helmets and safety gear for children using bikes, scooters, skateboards, and skates.
• Check your children’s toys often for breaks and damages. Immediately discard any broken toys and/or parts.  Broken toys can have sharp edges and cause injury.
• Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than age 8. Immediately discard broken balloons.
• Store toys on a shelf or bin to avoid injuries from tripping and falling.

Author,

Alicia High

Low Levels of Chemicals Impact Your Child’s Developing Brain

There is no safe level of exposure – low levels of chemicals have a major impact on your child’s developing brain. Watch this video to learn more:

Many parents assume that baby products are tested and would not be on the market if they were unsafe.

But the fact is that most chemicals in products have never been evaluated for their safety – not even the most basic safety review.

Even when science shows that a chemical is toxic and exposure is causing health issues, it can take years before manufacturers are banned from using it in products, if it is banned at all. Typically, when a chemical is finally banned, manufacturers are allowed to replace it with alternatives that are untested and likely just as toxic.

We simply cannot rely on our government or manufacturers to keep products safe. Therefore, it’s up to us, as parents, to make informed decisions about which products we will allow into our children’s environments.

When it comes to babies’ fragile development, a common sense approach for parents is to adopt the precautionary principle, which acknowledges that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

It may take 5-10 years or more between when we suspect harm and when there’s sufficient scientific proof of cause and effect to ban the substance. This timeframe can span your child’s most important development years, and by then it’s too late.

Where to begin?

Begin with what your children are sleeping on. Your baby’s mattress is likely to be the most prevalent vessel for toxic exposure, since it’s up-close, extensive, and long-term.

Babies sleep on a mattress for 10-14 hours or more a day during their most fragile developmental years.During this time, they are lying directly on the mattress, breathing in and absorbing chemical off-gassing. Baby mattresses include crib, cradle, bassinet, porta-crib, and co-sleeper mattresses. All of these types of mattresses typically contain materials that can be very toxic.

Children continue to need protection and they grow older and are sleeping in their own “big-kid” beds. Typical twin, full, queen and king-size beds contain unsafe materials, including flame retardants.

The good news is that there is a lot you can do to reduce or eliminate some of the major exposures and give your child a safer, more natural environment.

 Author,

 by Jane Sheppard 

How do we cope with colic?

Although colic isn't necessarily a sign that your baby's in pain, take her to your GP if she's crying for long periods. Your doctor can check if anything else is causing your baby to cry. 

In most cases of persistent crying, the GP will find that there is no underlying cause. You may start to feel more relaxed about your baby's crying once your GP has confirmed that she's fit and healthy. 

So, when your baby is having a bout of crying, just take a deep breath and carry on with the basics. Feed her on demand, wind her and change her nappy when she needs it. Try the soothing techniques that usually work well for her, whether that be singing to her or taking her for a walk in the pushchair.

Bear in mind that your tried-and-trusted techniques may not work every time. Colic means that, even though your baby is healthy, she may just cry for no obvious reason. While this can be stressful, remind yourself that you haven't done anything wrong, and that this phase will pass. 

Dealing with colic can be tough, and some parents feel depressed, helpless and even angry when faced with their persistently crying baby.

If your partner is at home, you could take it in turns to give each other a break. But if you're alone with your baby, you could:

• take your baby for a walk so both of you can get some fresh air
• ask a neighbour or friend to babysit while you have a bath or lie down in a quiet room
• phone a close relative or friend to talk about what you're going through
• cuddle and rock your baby, but put on headphones and listen to happy music, so that the only sound you hear isn't your baby's crying
• If you can't get out of the house, do some exercise or dance to a games console or DVD

If the tension mounts to the point where your stress turns to anger, put your baby down in her cot for five minutes and go into a different room to calm yourself. The last thing you want to do is to direct that anger towards your baby. If you need to, set a timer so you know how long it's been. 

When your baby is calmer:

• Have a rest, or some "me time", while your baby is sleeping.
• Listen to a relaxation podcast.
• Enjoy your baby by making a note of the good times you have together.
• Talk to your partner about how you're both coping and what you can do.
• Chat with other mums who have babies with colic in the BabyCentre community.

If you're struggling, it's important to seek help before you become overwhelmed. If you become anxious, your baby may pick up on this, making her more difficult to soothe. Don't be afraid to talk to your health visitor or doctor about how you feel. They're there to support you. 

You can also contact the charity Cry-sis on 08451 228 669. You'll be put through to a parent who has been in the same situation as you.

Read more about how to soothe a crying baby.

Author,

Anna McGrail

Medical writer and editor.

Colic

What exactly is colic?

Colic is a term used to describe uncontrollable crying in a healthy baby. Colic is common among newborn babies. It starts at about two to four weeks and is over by the time they are three or four months old. A baby with colic cries for more than three hours a day, for more than three days a week. It's hard to know who finds colic harder, a parent or a baby. Comforting a colicky baby may be very difficult and at times you may feel helpless. Listening to your baby’s crying may be enough to drive you to tears yourself. But you are not doing anything wrong, and your baby usually won’t be crying for any particular reason.

What are the symptoms of colic?

All babies cry. A healthy newborn baby can cry for up to two hours a day. If your baby has colic he may cry for much longer and you may notice the following:

• he has frequent bouts of intense and inconsolable crying

• he pulls his legs up to his tummy and arches his back while crying

• he passes wind while crying

• he clenches his hands

• he refuses to feed and sleep

A colicky baby usually cries in the evening and can go on late into the night. He may also cry earlier in the day, gradually becoming worse in the evening. Feeding your baby could take longer than usual if he is upset and restless.

Why does my baby have colic?

Scientists have been trying to answer that question for more than 50 years. We still don’t know what exactly causes colic. 

A popular theory is that a baby gets colic for a few weeks because his digestive system is still maturing. He may have frequent and painful tummy aches due to an allergy or intolerance to substances in breast and formula milk. 

Experts have suggested other possible causes of colic:

• the baby’s nervous system is still maturing and unsettled

• the baby is suffering from painful gas

• the mum smoked during pregnancy or is smoking around the baby

Some also believe that the baby is tired or over-stimulated, and that colic is his way of blocking out the world so he can sleep.

Is colic serious?

No - apart from the stress it creates for the household! For peace of mind, take your baby to the doctor to confirm that it is colic, and not a hernia or another medical problem.

Can my diet cause colic in my baby?

It is thought that traces of some food and drink in your breastmilk may cause colic. These include spicy food, wheat products, onions, garlic, legumes, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli) and alcohol. Try cutting out these items in your diet one at a time to see if it makes a difference to your baby’s colic. If the colic improves, then you have your culprit. 

If your baby is bottle-fed, you might want to try switching formulas to see if that's the irritant. And whether your baby is breastfed or bottle-fed, be sure to burp him after feedings. This will help relieve the pressure that builds up when he swallows air. 

Will all that crying hurt my child?

It is often believed that crying makes the baby swallow air, making the colic worse. There is no evidence to back this belief. 

In truth, it may be more painful for you to endure your baby’s constant crying. Colicky babies do just fine. In fact, the venerable Dr. Spock wrote, "In spite of hours of crying, they continue to gain weight, not just average-well but better than average. They are hungry babies. They gulp down their whole feeding". And one study even found that colicky babies turned out to be better problem solvers later in life!

Immunizations for children: What you need to know

Immunizations are designed to protect against serious illnesses ranging from polio and tetanus to measles, mumps, and the seasonal flu. Many people consider them the most important part of well-child checkups.

To find out more about the many illnesses prevented by immunizations, click on the links below under "recommended immunization schedule."

For a personalized list and schedule of immunizations recommended for your child, try our Immunization Scheduler.

How immunizations work

Immunizations are vaccines made of either weakened or "killed" versions of the bacteria or virus that causes a particular disease. When these altered viruses and bacteria are injected or taken orally, the immune system mounts an attack that stimulates the body to produce antibodies.

Once produced, the antibodies remain active in the body, ready to fight off the real disease. For example, if whooping cough broke out in your area, an immunized child would be much less likely to contract the disease than one who wasn't immunized.

2015 immunization schedule

Every year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices publishes a new schedule showing which vaccines are recommended and when to get them. This schedule is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

If your child is behind on immunizations, ask your doctor about the "catch-up" schedule.

DTaP, to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough):

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 15 and 18 months (can be given as early as 12 months as long as it's at least six months after the previous shot)
• Between 4 and 6 years old
• A booster shot at 11 or 12 years of age (called the Tdap)

Hepatitis A, to protect against hepatitis A, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:

• Between 12 and 23 months, two shots, six to 18 months apart

Hepatitis B, to protect against hepatitis B, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:

• At birth
• Between 1 and 2 months
• Between 6 and 18 months

Hib, to protect against Haemophilus influenza type B, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (not needed if the PedvaxHIB or Comvax brand of vaccine was given at 2 and 4 months)
• Between 12 and 15 months

HPV, to protect against human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and a cause of genital warts and of cervical, anal, and throat cancers:

• Three doses for girls and boys at age 11 or 12 years

Influenza (the flu shot or, for age 2 and up, nasal spray vaccine), to protect against seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine flu):

• Age 6 months and up, every year in the fall or early winter
• One dose for most children
• Two doses for children 6 months to 8 years old who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time or who haven't had two doses since July 2010

Meningococcal, to protect against meningococcal disease, the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. children in pre-vaccine days:

• Between 11 and 12 years
• A booster shot at 16 years of age

MMR, to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles):

• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old

Pneumococcal (PCV), to protect against pneumococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 12 and 15 months

Polio (IPV), to protect against polio:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• Between 6 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old

Rotavirus, (given orally, not as an injection) to protect against rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (not needed if the Rotarix brand of vaccine was given at 2 and 4 months)

Varicella, to protect against chicken pox:

• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years.

TEFLON CHEMICAL LINKED TO CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Children born to mothers who were exposed during pregnancy to higher levels of PFOA, the non-stick chemical DuPont formerly used to make Teflon, tend to put on more weight and do so more quickly than children of less-exposed women, a new study by researchers at Brown University found.

Ten years ago, independent research commissioned by EWG and the public health non-profit Commonweal showed that PFOA could pass from a mother to her unborn child in the womb. In 2012, a study by researchers in three Nordic nations showed that children whose mothers had been exposed to high levels of PFOA while pregnant were more likely to be obese at age 20.

Exposure to PFOA has also been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease and other diseases.

The new study provides more evidence of the link between PFOA and obesity. It followed 204 mothers in Cincinnati and their children from birth to age 8. The researchers divided the mothers into three groups based on the amount of PFOA in their blood. They found that children born to mothers in the two most highly exposed groups weighed less at birth and at age 2, but by age 8 they had put on one to two-and-a-half pounds more body fat than the average child in the study.

Joseph Braun, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Brown and leader of the research team, said the amount of extra fat was small, but still enough to increase a child’s risk of developing diabetes later in life. In the university’s news release, he said: “There isn’t a threshold at which we say you shouldn’t add more fat mass – any more fat mass is bad fat mass.”

Starting in the 1950s, DuPont used and later manufactured PFOA at its Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, W. Va. The company dumped PFOA waste in area landfills and the Ohio River, contaminating the drinking water of nearby communities and far downriver

Cincinnati is almost 200 miles from Parkersburg. Its water has been filtered to reduce levels of PFOA since 2002, and officials of the city’s water works said the levels of PFOA are lower than the federal government’s recommended level. However, recent research? has shown that the federal recommendation – which is not a legally binding limit – is hundreds of times higher than the level that would fully protect human health.

Under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency, DuPont and other chemical companies agreed in 2005 to phase out PFOA by the end of 2015. It is no longer made or used in the U.S., but the chemical industry is now using similar chemicals that may also be harmful but have not been adequately tested for safety.

A huge personal injury lawsuit, consolidating 3,500 claims against the company by people who got sick after drinking PFOA-laced water, is underway in federal court in Columbus, Ohio. In the first test case, the jury found DuPont liable for an Ohio woman’s kidney cancer and awarded her $1.6 million in damages.

CORRECTION: The original version of this blog post erroneously stated that levels of PFOA in Cincinnati’s water exceeded federal safety recommendations.?

Originally published on EWG’s EnviroBlog
By Bill Walker, Investigations Editor