Do you remember the time when you drooled? I think most people's answers should be the same: they forgot. Actually, the ones who drool the most are babies. Recently, many moms around me have been asking me why their babies are drooling so much lately. Is this phenomenon normal? Should they see a doctor? What should they do when their baby drools? Today, I will help you understand why babies drool and what moms can do about it.
Reasons why babies drool
Babies are teething. The first reason I want to mention is that babies drool when they are teething. Everyone goes through the teething stage, and babies tend to drool when their teeth are coming in. This is because their saliva can nourish their gums, but if there is too much saliva, it can cause drooling. Parents don't need to worry as long as the drooling is not excessive.
Viral infection. Another reason why babies drool is due to a viral infection. Normally, healthy babies don't drool excessively. If a baby is drooling a lot, it may be due to a viral invasion, which affects the baby's self-control. In this case, parents should take the baby to the hospital for medical treatment without hesitation.
The baby is getting overheated. Another reason why babies drool is that they are getting overheated. In this case, parents should take their baby to a reputable hospital to see a doctor and follow the doctor's advice, whether it's taking medication or other measures. This should not be ignored.
Nursing care for baby drooling
1. Wipe it off promptly
Once a baby drools, it should be wiped off immediately with a clean towel. Since a baby's skin is delicate, be careful when wiping and preferably dab the saliva. The chosen towel should be soft and absorbent, made of cotton fabric.
Tip: Used towels should be washed and sterilized regularly and dried in the sun to kill bacteria. Avoid using scented wet wipes to wipe, as they may irritate the baby's skin.
2. Wash and moisturize frequently
Frequently wash the areas where the saliva flows with warm water and apply moisturizer or oily substances to protect the baby's delicate skin.
3. Change and sun-dry frequently
When a baby drools, it wets clothes, pillows, and bedding. Therefore, the baby's clothes should be changed frequently to prevent bacterial growth. Pillows, bedding, etc. should also be washed and sun-dried to kill bacteria.
4. Use a bib for the baby
If you want to reduce the frequency of washing clothes, you can consider using a bib for the baby to prevent saliva from dirtying the clothes. Mothers can also make their own simple bibs! However, choose soft and absorbent cotton products.
5. Avoid pinching the baby's cheeks too often
During the drooling phase, try not to constantly pinch the baby's chubby cheeks when playing with them. This can stimulate saliva gland secretion and worsen the baby's drooling.
6. Exercise the baby's swallowing ability
When introducing solid foods, mothers should consciously strengthen their baby's sucking and other abilities. After the baby starts teething, find ways to improve their chewing ability, such as giving them teething toys, egg pancakes, and other solid foods.
Babies drooling at different stages is a normal response, but it does not mean that prolonged drooling is good. Therefore, moms should pay attention to whether their baby's drooling is normal at different stages.
