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Baby Information
9/30/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson
Drooling
All babies drool. It is more excessive with some than others,
but generally, they all drool. Drool gets on you, on baby; on
baby's clothing… it is just part of having a baby. As your baby
grows, you may notice it gets worse rather than better. Before
you think your little tyke is defective, remember that this is
a necessary and normal part of baby's development.
While drooling is usually associated with teething, most babies
begin increasing their drool production a few months before the
first tooth even makes an appearance. Some experts believe that
the saliva is helping your baby prepare for solid food. Saliva
is one of the tools the digestive system uses to help break
down food. Babies, unlike adults, don't know how to swallow
their saliva, which is why it runs down their chins all the
time. Teething will also increase the saliva, and it is good to
be prepared for it since a lot will escape baby's mouth since
she will be chewing on everything she can get her hands on.
Drool can cause a mild rash on baby's skin if it isn't wiped
regularly. The best way to deal with drool is to keep baby
adorned with a bib. The bib can be used to quickly wipe the
chin, it protects baby's clothing, and by wiping it frequently,
helps protect baby's skin. When wiping drool, be careful to pat
it dry, don't rub. Rubbing can irritate the skin even further.
Be prepared to change the bib several times per day as it gets
wet. Another way to help prevent the skin rash is to apply a
very thin layer of lanolin on baby's skin where the drool is
most prevalent. The lanolin forms a protective, waterproof
layer that keeps the saliva off of the skin.
Excessive drool can also affect baby's bowel movements,
especially when baby is teething. The amount of saliva can add
looseness to the stools, so you may want to apply a little of
that lanolin to baby's bottom, too. To see if your baby's
drooling is teething related, check her gums. If they are
swollen or bumpy looking, expect to see some teeth in her near
future.
When drool dries on baby's clothes, it can cause a yellowish
stain that is almost impossible to remove. Using a bib keeps
baby's clothes looking a lot better for a longer period of
time. If you do get drool stains on the clothing, wash them
before it dries if possible. Treat the stain with detergent or
other stain remover. Once the drool has gone through the dryer,
the yellowing begins.
At From Pregnancy To Baby, we try
to provide you with all of the latest information about going
through your pregnancy from your first trimester to the first
years of your new babies life. We also provide the highest
quality books and products to help you through that time.
Source: http://www.frompregnancytobaby.com/Drooling.html
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