Can’t help but worry when you see your little one’s tiny, dry, cracked lips? Many parents may wonder what causes dry lips in babies, whether they’re dangerous, and how to care for them. This article has the answers!
We’ll help parents understand the causes of dry mouth in infants and provide tips on how to properly care for your baby’s delicate lips to prevent and alleviate dry mouth. Moist lips not only help your baby feel comfortable, but also contribute to their suckling, eating, and overall health.
Symptoms that indicate your baby has dry mouth
Regularly observing your baby’s lips will help you quickly recognize dry lips. Let’s take a look at some of the signs that your little ones are crying out for moisture!
- Dry, cracked, and flaky lips: These are the first obvious signs. Your lips will appear dry, rough, and uneven, and may have white flakes that peel off.
- Red or cracked lips: As lips become drier, they may become red or develop small cracks, which can be painful and irritating to your baby.
- Reduced suckling or eating: If your baby is suckling or eating less, or seems unwilling to eat, it may be because his lips are sore, making it uncomfortable to move his mouth.
- Irritability, fussiness. Dry mouth can make your baby feel uncomfortable, itchy, or sore, so he or she may express it by being more irritable and fussy than usual.
What causes dry mouth in babies?
What causes dry, cracked lips in babies? Let’s take a look at the causes.
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climate
Dry, cold, windy or windy weather can easily cause your baby’s delicate lips to lose moisture. Even prolonged exposure to the sun can cause dry, cracked lips.
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behavior
Frequent breastfeeding or bottle feeding, mouth breathing (which may be caused by a cold or allergies), and frequent lip licking can all contribute to dry lips.
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Dehydration
You can notice this by having a dry mouth, dry tongue, crying without tears, less wet diapers, dry skin, cold hands and feet. If your child has these symptoms, you should take them to see a doctor immediately.
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Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that can cause dry, cracked lips, along with other symptoms such as high fever, rash, and red eyes.
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Skin problems
A baby’s skin is very delicate and sensitive. When the skin lacks moisture, it also affects the lips, causing them to become dry, cracked, and flaky.
- Dry Skin: A baby’s skin can be dry for a number of reasons, including dry air, frequent hot baths, soaps, or certain skin conditions. When skin is dry, lips can become dry as well.
- Skin rashes , such as atopic dermatitis, diaper rash , or psoriasis, can also cause the skin around the mouth, including the lips, to become dry, red, and irritated.
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Allergy
Your baby may be allergic to certain products, such as soaps, lotions, and laundry detergents, which can cause dry, irritated lips.
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Vitamin deficiency
Lack of certain vitamins or getting too much of certain vitamins (such as vitamin A , possibly through the mother during pregnancy ) can also cause dry lips.
Is it dangerous if a baby has dry mouth?
Dry mouth in infants is generally not serious, but it can be worrying for parents and make their baby feel uncomfortable. If your baby has dry mouth, it may cause the following symptoms:
- Infection: Dry, cracked lips can cause sores and provide an easier way for germs to enter the body.
- Problems with suckling: Dry, sore lips can make it difficult for your baby to suckle, affecting their nutritional intake and weight.
- Developmental delays: In some cases, dry mouth is caused by dehydration or an underlying disease, which can affect your child’s overall development.
Should babies with dry mouths be given water?
If your baby is exclusively breastfed, water is not necessary, but breastfeeding on demand (both day and night) will ensure your baby gets enough water.
Dry mouth in babies: When should you be concerned?
- Severe dry mouth, dry, cracked, peeling, bleeding lips
- There are other symptoms such as high fever, rash, lethargy, not suckling, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Symptoms do not improve, even after proper care, but symptoms do not improve or worsen.
- I suspect that my baby is dehydrated. He has a dry mouth, dry tongue, cries without tears, and has a low diaper wetness.
Parents should monitor their babies closely. If their lips are dry, cracked, or peeling, they suckle less, are fussy, or have other symptoms, they should consult a doctor to determine the cause and receive proper treatment.
How to care for a baby with dry lips and restore moisture to their lips
If you notice your baby’s lips are dry and cracked, don’t worry. Most symptoms will go away on their own within a few days. However, we can help relieve the symptoms and keep your baby’s lips moist again with the following simple methods:
Moisturize your lips
- Lip balm for babies: Choose a gentle formula that is free of fragrances, alcohol, and chemicals to prevent irritation. Apply a thin layer to your baby’s lips, especially after feedings, baths, or whenever their lips feel dry.
- Lanolin is a skin cream extracted from sheep fat. It is very safe and commonly used on babies’ delicate skin, including their lips. However, to be sure, consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.
- Breast milk: While your baby is nursing, you may express a small amount of breast milk and gently apply it to your baby’s lips. Breast milk contains nutrients and antibodies that help protect the skin and reduce the risk of infection.
Gently care for your lips
- After feeding, gently wipe your baby’s lips with a clean cloth dampened with warm water to remove milk stains and dirt.
- Avoid rubbing too hard. Rubbing your lips too hard can irritate the sensitive skin and make it more dry and cracked.
- Avoid using soaps , especially soaps that contain perfume or chemicals, as they can dry out and irritate your lips.
How to prevent dry lips
- Keep your baby hydrated by giving him or her plenty of milk or breast milk. For babies who have started taking supplementary foods, give them sips of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
- Increase humidity in the air. If the air is dry, you may want to use a humidifier in the room to help prevent your baby’s lips and skin from becoming too dry.
Precautions
- Natural oils such as olive oil and coconut oil, although they have moisturizing properties, should be consulted with a doctor before using them on babies as they may cause allergies or irritation.
- Petroleum jelly: It is recommended to consult a doctor before using it on infants.
Although dry mouth in most infants is not serious and can be treated at home, parents should not be complacent. If you’ve tried the various recommended methods but your child’s symptoms don’t improve or become more severe, you should take your child to see a doctor immediately, as dry, cracked lips can become a channel for germs to enter the body.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Thailand
