Infected hangnail on baby?

[ParisJeTadore]

My lo's big toe looks pinkish and sensitive on one side of his toe next to the nail. I am no stranger to paronychia and it looks like the same thing.

I have been soaking his foot in salt water three times a day (we just started last night) but was wondering how long I should do this and when to go to the dr.'s. It's a long weekend here so I fear if it gets worse we won't be able to see our pedi for three days. Does anyone have any other tips for taking care of this? Also, how do I soak my lo's foot? I have been putting him in his bath with very little water but I don't want to soak his whole bottom in salt water....

 

[Indi84]

Could you ring a doctor? I'd think about putting antiseptic cream on, then a plaster then sock, but my lo can't put his feet in his mouth yet, and I'd want to check the cream was ok to use!

As per soaking can you hold him under his arms and let his feet dangle in, my baby loves loves being dangled lol!
Just after giving birth i got these in my fingers, every finger had one, some in both sides was so weird! after three weeks they all stopped coming back.

 

[kelkel]

My lo had a ingrown toe nail my peditrition told me to soak it in warm water ( i had to wrap it in a warm wash cloth) 3 times a day 15-20 min a day. After each. Soaking kind of peel the skin back away from nail. It worked for me (at least for now anyway)

Edit : I think it was epson salt i was told to put in the warm water. I didnt have any so i didnt use it but thought id add that

 

[ParisJeTadore]

Thanks ladies, I appreciate your advice.

Indi84: that's so weird. Did anyone explain to you why you got so many after giving birth? Oddly, a month postpartum I got not one but two paronychia which I haven't had in years (at least not as bad as they were...I actually needed antibiotics). Explain that?!

kelkel: did the washcloth have anything on it other than water?

 

[Indi84]

No, I didn't know they were a doctor thing really, I've had them occasionally before and they'd just gone away.. ( doctor phobic! All I can think is I was so run down and tired I couldn't fight the infection, or maybe I was over washing my hands to be clean for the baby? Was the strangest side effect!
Hope your little one is better soon

 

[Rachel_C]

Are you breastfeeding? If so, I would express a little milk and put some on it - breastmilk is pretty amazing! I'd just let it air dry on there and then dress LO as normal.

 

[kelkel]

I just had warm water on the washcloth.

Ohh and i put neosporin ointment on it 1-2 times a day

 

[ParisJeTadore]

Are you breastfeeding? If so, I would express a little milk and put some on it - breastmilk is pretty amazing! I'd just let it air dry on there and then dress LO as normal.

Yes! I do breast feed and that is an excellent suggestion. I will give it a try, thanks!

 

[Stellae]

Soaking it sounds about right, if you notice it getting worse I'd give the doctor a call, but for now I think you're doing the right thing . I know when a have a hangnail pressure feels good on it, so when Jack had one I put some antibacterial ointment on it and wrapped it in a bandaid I'd snipped to fit his tiny finger. Seemed to help!