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Infant Lip Care

The precious puckering lips of a newborn are sweet even as they quiver during a cry. Caring for those lips is not something that every parent thinks of having to do amongst the diaper changes and feedings. Like adults, infant lips can experience a few problems that require some special attention.

  1. Dry, Cracked Lips

    • Even babies can experience dry, cracked lips because of elements in nature, such as dry, cold winds. Using any old lip balm is not recommended or wise. Special products, such as lanolin or specially designed baby lip balm, are safe for the infant and not harmful if it gets in the infant's mouth.

    Lip Blisters

    • A common lip condition that many infants experience is that of lip blisters. Due to sucking, the infant will develop a blister or callous on the lips. These eventually fade over a short period of time without any treatment.

    Cold Sores

    • According to the BabyCenter medical board (babycenter.com) consisting of doctors and nurses, in the rare instance that the infant does develop a red or purple colored cold sore, treatment is limited to ice and ibuprofen (for children 3 months or older). For children under 3 months, a pediatrician should be contacted immediately as the cold sore could become fatal and ibuprofen may not be recommended because of the infant's age. Please consult your pediatrician before administering any medication.

    Cleft Lip

    • Cleft lip is a congenital birth defect where a gap exists in the lips. The recommended treatment for this condition is surgery shortly after the birth.

    Blue Lips

    • Blue lips on an infant is the result of low oxygen and could be caused from something simple like the child holding his breath while crying to a more serious condition such as Ebstein's anomaly (a rare heart disease). If an infant is observed with blue lips, it is imperative that the child is examined by a pediatrician.

    Impetigo

    • Impetigo is a very contagious skin condition characterized by a red sore that turns to a crusty yellow-orange color. Over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (check the label or consult your pediatrician on usage) typically resolves the infection. If further irritation persists, however, the child should be examined by a pediatrician.

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