Natural Remedies for a Baby's Yeast Infection

A yeast infection in babies can be difficult to differentiate from a regular diaper rash. One clue that your baby has a yeast infection could be that your efforts to clear up the rash (diaper creams and regular changing) are unsuccessful. In order to fully clear up a yeast infection, you will need to use an over-the-counter or prescription yeast cream, such as nystatin. There are some things you can do at home to help your baby feel better, if she has a yeast infection.

Treating the Diaper Area

• Prevent the yeast from worsening and once it is cured, try to prevent it from coming back. Yeast infections thrive in dark, wet areas, so keep your child's diaper dry and clean; change him more frequently than you would if he did not have a rash. After wiping your child, let his bottom dry before you put on a diaper, so you won't trap moisture inside.

  Give your child's diaper area a little breathing room whenever possible. Let her go for a few minutes without a diaper after she has been changed and fasten her diaper loosely enough that some air can pass through it and her skin can breathe.
  Put her on a waterproof mat or sheet in case of accidents, if you give your child diaper-free time.

Treating Thrush

• Thrush is a form of a yeast infection that your baby may develop in her mouth. This could be from contact with a dirty finger or nipple, or the result of taking oral antibiotics for an infection of another kind. Keep all of her nipples and pacifiers clean and sterilized often if she has thrush. Boil them in hot water or wash them in your dishwasher instead of only hand-washing them. Also try to keep any toys she puts into her mouth, and her feet and hands clean to stop her from spreading her own thrush and re-infecting herself.

Other Remedies

• Yogurt contains probiotics, which can be helpful in curing a yeast infection. Feed yogurt to your baby if he is old enough to eat baby food; for a very young baby, you can even massage the yogurt directly onto his yeast infection.

  Garlic and tea tree oil are both useful in curing yeast infections in adults. You can feed an older child a garlic tablet, but you should always consult with your physician before using essential oils on an infant. You can either feed the tea tree oil to your baby or rub it on his rash if your doctor recommends it.

  Give your baby a soothing bath of warm water mixed with apple cider vinegar; this is a natural topical treatment for yeast. This bath will help soothe your child's soreness and help his skin heal faster.