Why the child is drooling? This question is beginning to worry parents of three-, two-month, and even one-month-old babies. Many mothers and fathers think that the baby is teething.
Does drooling really mean your baby is teething? Let's figure it out together.
Baby is drooling at 1 month
At this age, the baby first needs to exclude thrush or fungal stomatitis. With this disease, a white coating appears on the tongue and cheeks and drooling may occur. This disease is treated by a pediatrician.
Baby drools at 2 or 3 months
At about two months, babies begin active work salivary glands, and babies do not know how to swallow saliva. That's why drooling. (The baby learns to swallow saliva only at nine months.)
From about three months, the baby begins to move more confidently with his hands, first accidentally, and then more and more confidently pushing his fists, and later his fingers into his mouth. A little later, he will learn to put into his mouth and taste everything he can hold in his hands: toys, a pacifier, random objects. This is how he understands the world.
Drooling and the habit of pushing fists into the mouth in a child up to four or five months do not mean that the child is teething.
Read more about the features of the third month of a baby’s life
Baby drools at 5 6 or 7 months and older
Six months is the average time for teething, but it is not the same for everyone.
Some children erupt their first teeth at five, four, and even three months. Twice I had the opportunity to see children born with teeth.
On the contrary, other children cut their teeth later: at seven, eight, nine months and even at 1 year.
For some children this happens unnoticed by their parents. One day they discover teeth in the baby’s mouth. Sometimes the mother learns that the child already has his first tooth during an examination by the pediatrician.
But, unfortunately, not everyone does it smoothly and unnoticed.
How can you tell if your baby is teething?
- The baby becomes restless, capricious, sleeps restlessly, and eats worse.
- The gums in the area where teeth will soon become red and swollen.
- Teething causes itching and soreness of the gums, prompting the baby to constantly rub (scratch) the gums. If you touch the gums with a spatula or your finger in the place where teeth are being cut, you will notice that this gives the baby pleasure.
- The baby begins to drool, even more intensely than before. Some children have wet clothes on their chest (a bib is required), and the skin of their cheeks and chin turns red from irritation with saliva. Increased salivation during teething is associated with increased blood circulation in the oral cavity.
- Along with increased salivation, a runny nose or loose stools may appear. This is due to more intense blood circulation during this period not only in the oral cavity, but also in the mucous membranes of the nose and gastrointestinal tract.
- During teething, babies may experience an increase in body temperature.
- During teething, you can observe all these symptoms at the same time or only some of them, namely drooling and the child’s obsessive desire to put everything in his hands in his mouth in order to relieve itching in irritated gums.
From 6 months to 2 years 6 months, teething occurs with short breaks. In some children, this process is prolonged, and baby teeth continue to erupt until they are 3 years old and even 4 years old. Therefore, drooling or increased salivation can often be observed in a child of this age.
A child over 3 years old is drooling
Stomatitis in a child
This is a viral, bacterial or fungal disease of the oral cavity in a child, which is often accompanied by increased salivation. But in addition to drooling, other symptoms of stomatitis are also noted: rashes or plaque in the mouth, soreness in the mouth, increased body temperature, refusal to eat. Stomatitis most often occurs in children 2-7 years old. If your child has any of the above symptoms, you should take him to the doctor.
Changing teeth
From the age of 5-6-7 years, children change their milk teeth to permanent ones. At this age, teething is rarely accompanied by drooling because... the child is already able to control this process. But some parents may notice that the child drools while talking or sleeping; the reason may be the eruption of permanent teeth.
Baby drools at night
Children of any age and adults can drool onto their pillow at night.
As a rule, this is associated with impaired nasal breathing or diseases of the oral cavity.
If nasal breathing is impaired, a person breathes through his mouth all night, does not swallow saliva, and saliva leaks onto the pillow.
Nasal breathing in children is most often impaired due to enlarged adenoids, rhinitis (infectious or allergic) or due to a deviated nasal septum. To combat these problems, you need to contact an otolaryngologist.
With diseases of the oral cavity: stomatitis, gingivitis, as well as during teething, the production of saliva increases and the child is not able to swallow it during sleep. In these cases, you need to contact your pediatrician or dentist.
Now you know, why is my baby drooling?. Stay healthy!
You can often hear from mothers of babies: “My baby is 3 months old, he is drooling so profusely that I am worried - is this normal? Are all babies like this?”
Let's look at the reasons for this phenomenon; is it necessary or not to fight it? It also happens that a 2-month-old baby is drooling in a continuous stream, and the parents are confused possible options of your actions.
What is the reason for such a phenomenon as drooling?
Parents notice that their babies start blowing cute bubbles in the third month of life. It was during this period that they were already formed. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that your child (3 months) leaves a wet mark on clothes and toys. Drool runs down the chin because the baby does not yet know how to swallow it well. A young mother may feel like there is too much moisture. Sometimes this process occurs earlier - when the child is 2 months old. Drooling is very common at this age. And this is considered a normal physiological phenomenon. It’s just that the glands of such babies formed earlier. And occasionally you can hear that they are even drooling. Of course, this is not the norm, but each baby is individual. And if, apart from the fact that the child is drooling heavily, nothing else bothers him (his nose is breathing, drinking and eating milk as usual, etc.), then there is no need to worry about anything.
Drooling is also often associated with teething, and rightly so. Of course, this is too early for three months, but as was said earlier, each body is individual. In this case, there is no reason to sound the alarm if your child is 3 months old (drooling like a stream), and his gums are already swollen, which indicates the eruption of the first tooth. In this case, the child may be naughty and eat worse. But if everything else is fine (normal stool, not elevated temperature), then there is no need to worry. When the baby is teething, you can help if you give him special rings or toys to chew on, and in case of severe pain and anxiety of the baby, you need to lubricate the gums with an anesthetic gel (Cholisal, Kalgel, Kamistad Gel, etc.)
What is saliva for?
Young parents often think about this when they take off another blouse from their child. It turns out that saliva is more important for infants than for adults.
Firstly, it helps digestion, as it contains enzymes, which promotes better breakdown and absorption of food. Saliva also softens and liquefies food, promotes the formation of a food bolus, which is especially important when the baby begins to try harder foods.
Secondly, saliva performs a protective function. It moisturizes the oral mucosa, protecting it from drying out and cracking, and also has bactericidal properties (thanks to the substances it contains - lysozyme, lactoferrin, mucin, etc.) These characteristics are especially important, because we all know how babies love to pull everything in your mouth.
Thirdly, saliva plays a buffering role because it is able to neutralize alkaline and acidic compounds in the oral cavity. It also has a mineralizing effect. Saliva contains compounds of fluorine, phosphorus, and calcium, which saturate tooth enamel with microelements. But these functions will be important during the period when the child already has teeth.
How to care for a child with increased salivation?
If your baby is 3 months old (drooling profusely), then you need to change clothes as needed. You can use baby bibs, then there will be no need for continuous changes of clothes. It is also necessary to wipe the child’s face with sterile gauze or soft gauze as needed (this is important, because the child has a very soft skin) with an ironed handkerchief. Wherein Special attention Make sure to wash your hands regularly. It is the parents' direct responsibility to pour boiling water over the baby's toys and rings, which he constantly puts in his mouth.
All these measures are aimed at ensuring that the baby does not have a rash, does not form “jams” (cracks in the corners of the mouth that can become inflamed) and maceration (this is when, under the influence of saliva, the skin on the child’s face is irritated and areas of inflammation form).
If, nevertheless, you notice macerations or “jams”, then folk medicine they are recommended to be lubricated with olive, sea buckthorn, linseed oil. You can wipe it several times a day with herbal decoctions: calendula, chamomile, sage. And after the procedure, it is necessary to blot the child’s face and mouth with a handkerchief. Among pharmaceutical preparations, pediatricians recommend Bepanten. You can also lubricate with baby cream.
But now there are so many kids prone to allergies that, if possible, it is better to consult a specialist.
Other causes of increased drooling in infants
One of the reasons is when stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane) develops in the oral cavity. With this disease, ulcers or white plaque are visible on the tongue, gums, and palate. There may be a high body temperature. Ulcers with stomatitis are very painful. Therefore, the child often refuses to breastfeed.
Another reason may be the onset of the disease, which occurs at the time when the child is 2 months old (drooling profusely). This may be a common acute respiratory infection. Then the baby’s nose is stuffy, he sneezes, and is restless. The temperature may also be elevated, and the baby refuses to eat or drink.
The child drools profusely even with helminthic infestation. Therefore, it is very important to observe the rules of personal hygiene. Increased salivation is usually observed at night. As a rule, marks remain on the pillow.
Also in infants, excessive salivation can be observed in diseases of the digestive system (enterocolitis, gastritis, hepatitis) and in some neurological and mental diseases (for example, cerebral palsy, autism).
To summarize: when should you see a doctor?
A visit to the pediatrician is inevitable if, in addition to the following symptoms: high fever, bad smell from the mouth, hyperemic (reddened) and swollen gums, rashes, white plaque, wounds or pustules in the oral cavity. Parents should also sound the alarm when their baby has severe diarrhea (diarrhea); if it is difficult to breathe through the nose, and the mouth is open almost all the time; if saliva flows more abundantly at night; if “jams” have formed in the corners of the mouth and began to fester.
It's better to consult
It is also recommended to go to the clinic if the child is teething, and in this place the gums are moderately hyperemic and swollen; Subfebrile (37-37.5) temperature lasts for 2-3 days; mild diarrhea for several days; if “jams” in the corners of the mouth do not heal for a long time.
This article will help young parents determine what physiological processes are normal when their child is 3 months old. Are you drooling and have no other symptoms to worry about? So everything is fine. Stock up on napkins and bibs. But if you have noted other causes of salivation listed in the article, try to get an appointment with a doctor. An experienced pediatrician will examine the child, advise the parents and, possibly, prescribe the correct treatment. After all, you shouldn’t self-medicate, even when it comes to the health of an adult. And our children are too dear to us, so at the first suspicion of any disease (and even just if there are any doubts), you must immediately contact a specialist.
The first cause of drooling in infants– natural increase in the secretory activity of the salivary glands. They do not work at full strength, the saliva of very young children is viscous, and little of it is released.
From about one and a half months, the glands in the mouth begin to function more intensively. The child does not yet have time to swallow the copiously released liquid, so the saliva flows out. Soon the mechanism for regulating salivation becomes more mature, and the problem resolves itself.
A little later, the child begins. The eruption of the first teeth is also accompanied by increased secretion of saliva. Due to itching in the gums, the child constantly puts his hands in his mouth, various items, which further irritates the oral mucosa and stimulates the activity of the salivary glands.
Typically, with the appearance of the first tooth, saliva becomes noticeably less.
It is impossible not to take into account the bactericidal properties of saliva - since many bacteria enter the child’s mouth from the skin of the hands, teethers, rattles, and other objects, the body seeks to protect itself from pathogens, literally washing them away from the mucous membrane.
Much less often, active salivation is a consequence of any disease - most often it is an allergy, viral infection or damage to the central nervous system. In such cases, other symptoms are usually present - nasal discharge due to allergies and infections, impaired reflexes due to diseases of the nervous system.
What to do with increased salivation?
Since he is not yet able to take care of himself, parents will have to closely monitor the child’s condition and regularly wipe his mouth and chin dry so that the flowing saliva does not irritate the skin.
If, however, redness and peeling appear around the lips, ointments and creams with panthenol will help get rid of them, relieving irritation and stimulating skin regeneration.
Saliva may drip onto clothing, saturating the fabric. To prevent irritation from occurring under clothing because of this, it is best to temporarily put “bibs” on the child - collars with a waterproof lining.
A baby may choke on saliva in a dream and cough because of this - such a cough is not a sign of illness and is not dangerous to health. If the cough continues during the day and is accompanied by an increase in temperature, the child should be taken to the pediatrician to rule out infection.
If he has teeth, massage his gums with your finger wrapped in a piece of sterile bandage, or apply a special gel to them - this will relieve itching and pain, and reduce saliva production.
Drooling in a newborn is not such a rare occurrence. Usually they begin to flow strongly at two or three one month old baby. According to popular belief, excessive salivation indicates the imminent appearance of teeth. This is despite the fact that on average, the first teeth begin to appear at 6 months.
The baby's drooling is so early age have a very specific physiology. When asked why a child is drooling too much, doctors answer: this is a protective reaction of the body. Doctors have determined that the baby is literally drooling like a river in response to new stage development, when the baby begins to literally taste everything. It is at 2-3 months that the child begins to put everything in his mouth - rattles, toys, objects found at hand, his own legs, etc. Saliva in this situation is a means of protecting the newborn from infections and bacteria that can be on all these objects . Saliva, according to research, has antibacterial properties.
Why is there so much of it? Doctors say that the salivary glands begin to work more actively, as a result of which the baby drools more strongly. The child, due to the underdevelopment of many systems, still does not know how to swallow them. And it feels like there is too much drool.
Another reason for increased salivation in a newborn is the child’s nutrition. Saliva contains special enzymes that help break down starch and convert it into sugar. And this is both energy for development and food for the mind. In addition, drool helps soften and relieve pain in the baby’s gums during teething.
When drool indicates problems
The child is drooling large quantities and as a sign of a very serious disease, indicating problems with movement and development of vital body systems. For example, increased salivation in a newborn can signal the formation of tumors in the baby, problems with the central nervous system and brain.
Of course, there is no need to panic and wonder why this is happening. Just take your child to the doctor if you are very concerned about your baby's excessive salivation. In this case, consultation with a pediatrician and neurologist is recommended.
If a newborn has a runny nose, and excessive salivation develops against this background, it is worth paying special attention to the treatment of ARVI in the baby. After all, the child cannot breathe through the nose due to its congestion. Breathing through the mouth is also difficult, because the mouth is full of saliva. All this is fraught with hypoxia and a serious loss of strength in the child.
Excessive drooling is observed in a baby and with the development of various inflammations in the oral cavity, for example, with stomatitis. So, the mucous membrane tries to protect itself from bacteria and infection. In some cases, an increase in the number may signal the growth of blood vessels. Sometimes, against the background of increased salivation, mothers are advised to examine the baby for diseases such as hepatitis, enteritis, gastritis or worms.
How to care for a child
Excessive salivation is very unpleasant from the point of view of physical sensations. Therefore, the task of parents is to help the child overcome this period as comfortably as possible. It is necessary to use special bibs for a newborn - fabric linings that help absorb saliva and keep clothes dry.
Using a pacifier makes it easier for a child to cope with increased salivation, because with its help he can swallow drool.
If irritation appears on the child’s chin due to drooling, you need to treat it and lubricate it with nourishing and moisturizing creams. You can also use ointments with zinc, which have a drying effect.
Be patient - this period will not last long for a newborn. Try to make sure that it does not disturb your child’s well-being.
Very often young parents have questions: “Why is my child constantly drooling? Is there a health hazard? little man? When should you definitely see a doctor?” Let's find out in this article.
Causes of excessive salivation in children under 2 years of age
The phenomenon when a child drools heavily can be caused by physiological and pathological factors. How to visually distinguish a disease from a normal state?
5 reasons why it's not dangerous
Why does a baby drool and is this phenomenon common? If the baby is not sick, this condition is caused by the following factors:
1
Insufficient formation of gland functions, responsible for the production and separation of saliva. Too intense work of the salivary system leads to the fact that the child does not have time to swallow a lot of liquid, which is why it begins to flow out of the mouth.
2
A 2 month old baby is drooling for the following reasons: while there are no teeth yet, saliva provides comfortable swallowing. This is due to the normal physiology of baby development.
3
If the baby is 3 months old, the drooling is because it will start soon. Their movement inside the gums causes irritation, itching, and pain. The inflammatory process is controlled by an increased volume of fluid. In this case, saliva provides a protective function. can last up to 3 years.
4
IN infancy The baby’s saliva, containing the mother’s antibodies, serves as a protective barrier against infectious agents: viruses, bacteria, and other pathogenic microorganisms. Increased secretion of biofluid is triggered immune system the body to counteract the baby’s infection with influenza and other diseases.
5
In cases of excessive drooling in children who are on artificial feeding, increased fluid secretion is explained by the instinctive normalization of the digestive process. Saliva enzymatically promotes the breakdown and absorption of dairy products.
Krishtaleva N.A., pediatrician, Virmed Polyclinic LLC, Tula
When asked why a child is drooling, I answer that such a phenomenon is usually temporary, due to physiological reasons and lasts until the age of 2 years.
But to exclude serious anatomical or infectious pathology You definitely need to show your baby to an otolaryngologist.
From mandatory medical examinations It is impossible to avoid taking infants to the pediatrician, no matter what queues line up at the clinics.
Birth defects, in which saliva is produced in large volumes, and the child is not able to swallow it in a timely manner, are usually diagnosed by doctors in the maternity hospital. However, if the doctors missed the mark, avoid dangerous consequences Consultations with a surgeon, neurologist, and pediatrician will help.
If, with increased salivation, the baby does not experience symptoms of an infectious infection: fever, sneezing, rhinitis, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, gums, throat, then this phenomenon is not dangerous. It is necessary to promptly blot and wash the cheeks and chin, and lubricate them with special baby creams.
7 dangerous reasons that require special attention
The body of every tiny person is already a unique biocomputer that independently launches self-preservation programs. Excessive salivation in a child it is almost always a defensive reaction.
Manifests itself in the following diseases:
1
Thrush. The causative agent is Candida fungi, which infect the oral mucosa. Symptoms: against the background of severe salivation, an increase in temperature is observed, as well as the appearance of cheesy gums, inner areas of the cheeks.
2
Diseases of the central nervous system. With cerebral palsy and other pathologies of brain activity, increased salivation occurs along with disturbances in motor coordination and speech. Accompanied by fainting, general weakness of the child, convulsive manifestations are possible.
3
Helminthiasis. Availability is indicated by night heavy salivation The child has. Other symptoms: snoring during sleep, itching in the groin area and anus. Read more about the first signs and symptoms of worms in children.
4
ARVI, influenza, sore throat, other infectious diseases characterized by abundant salivation against the background high temperature, runny nose, cough, sneezing.
5
Stomatitis. The nature of the inflammatory processes of stomatitis is varied. can develop due to fungal, bacterial, or viral infection of the baby. Increased salivation in infants 2 months and older is accompanied by the formation of bubbles, vesicles, and ulcers on the mucous membrane. The child experiences such severe pain that he cannot chew or swallow.
Freiman I.L., Head of the Consultative and Diagnostic Clinic of the Regional Clinical Children's Hospital, Krasnoyarsk
The causes of the symptom of excessive drooling can also be the salivary glands. The initial signs of illness in children are determined by the pediatrician. To exclude other pathologies, you need to check with a dentist, ENT doctor, or neurologist.
It is in the first year of life that pathology is more easily determined, the symptom of which is profuse drooling in the child.
6
Hyperreactivity of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. If a child drools after walking on the lawn or garden during the flowering of meadows, cereal grasses, or birch or poplar, this may indicate.
7
Drug, food, cosmetic intoxication often cause increased salivation. Associated symptoms: redness of the face, body, swelling of the mucous membranes.
There are many other very dangerous diseases, the symptom of which is increased salivation. As a result of status asthmaticus, the child may suddenly begin to choke. Only a pediatric doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis; do not put off visiting him until tomorrow, as delay can lead to serious consequences.
What can parents do?
How to relieve your baby’s condition if your newborn is drooling incessantly:
- Tie a bib so that the baby's vest does not get wet and does not rub the baby's neck and chest.
- Sometimes a pacifier helps. It activates the swallowing process. Read how to wean your child off a pacifier.
- Be sure to promptly remove leaked saliva from the child’s body, then moisturize the skin with baby hypoallergenic cream.
- If your one-month-old baby is drooling non-stop due to indigestion, place him on his tummy more often.
- When teething, the baby should be allowed to bite on a baby “teether” - a toy made of silicone - to reduce itching and inflammation of the gums.
Each child’s toy must be disinfected in a timely manner - this will protect against infectious diseases.
How to avoid irritation from saliva on a child’s face and neck
Most common cause The reason why a baby is drooling is teething. How to prevent the formation of rashes, pimples and red spots on the baby’s cervix, chin, neck:
Saliva coming from the mouth collects under the pacifier and causes irritation on the chin.- promptly blot saliva and wash skin with boiled water;
- change bibs and blouses more often;
- if a one-month-old baby is drooling, a clean diaper should be placed at the head of the crib to absorb liquid;
- lubricate your face, neck, chest with baby oil or cream.
To feed your baby, prepare food that does not damage the gums, has a soft structure, and has a viscous consistency.
Treatment methods
In former times, the best medicine for any kind of irritation was boiled in a water bath. vegetable oil. Today, your doctor may recommend a special baby skin powder or ointment.
List of medicines:
- Bepanten - cream for irritation, diaper rash of various etiologies;
- Weleda - cream based on herbal ingredients;
- Pantestin - a disinfectant skin and rapid cell regeneration;
- Biolan - for the treatment of severe irritation.
List of medications needed infant, you can see.
When a child drools endlessly and develops a rash and irritation, doctors point out Sanosan, Sudocrem, and Bubchen creams as the most effective medications. The products have anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. Instantly reduce itching, dry the skin, normalize metabolic processes, and promote epithelial restoration.
If your baby develops a rash on his cheeks, neck, or chin, the cause of irritation is not necessarily constant flowing saliva. This may be a symptom of one of the dangerous diseases: measles, chickenpox, rubella, etc. An urgent diagnosis from a doctor is needed.
What does excessive drooling mean in a child over 2 years old?
The main purpose of saliva in the body is its protective function. Increased education most often indicates the emergence of factors that need to be urgently eliminated:
- Stomatitis.
- Viral (or bacterial, fungal) infections in the mouth, nose, ears.
- Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Allergy.
- Worms.
It is impossible to independently determine the etiology of the disease in which a child is drooling at 2 years of age and older. Each of them is treated differently.
Gribovskaya E.G., pediatrician, Children's City Hospital No. 4, Omsk
Symptoms – dry mouth, increased salivation may indicate cytomegalovirus infection (herpes). Contact your doctor immediately.
The sooner you start fighting the disease, the more successful the treatment will be. Infectious diseases are especially dangerous, leading to dire consequences.
In any case, consult a doctor immediately if there is a suspiciously large amount of saliva secreted against the background of vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, or fainting in the child.
It is dangerous to use any folk remedies without consulting a doctor - this can cause irreparable harm to the child.
conclusions
If hypersalivation without accompanying symptoms infectious disease the baby does not stop when he reaches 2 years old, and the pediatrician cannot answer anything concrete, be sure to undergo a full examination by doctors of a narrow specialization.
Why a child 3 years and older is drooling can be found out from an ENT doctor, a neurologist, or determined using tests from an allergist-immunologist. Self-medication based on prescriptions from grandmothers, girlfriends, and TV promotions is unacceptable.
