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My newborn has pretty clear skin, but today after my mom came to visit i noticed one side of her face was broken out in what looked like baby acne. I am wondering if that is the side that was held up against my moms clothing--my mom is a heavy smoker. she wasnt smoking at the time--no smoking in this house, let alone arond my baby!! but her clothes do always smell like it.
anyone have an experience like this with baby reacting to it just touching their skin from clothes??
Answer:
It could very well be from the nicotine. I have read articles that suggest you have smokers change their clothes before holding a newborn because of contact reaction/absorbtion.
I hated it when my FIL came to hold my brand new baby & when I got him back he smelled like a cigarette butt.
It also could be just from her lotion or detergent/fabric softener. Every now and then I get "crazy" and try to add some scent free softener to my kids clothes and every time he gets a rash that looks a bit pimply like the baby acne.
I'm sure it will clear right up. I'd say next time, find some excuse to have the little pumpkin all wrapped up in a blanket from head to toe-that's what I did.
I made people wash their hands before holding my newborns, but I didn't have the heart to actually request they change their clothes-although I know some parents who have done it.
Answer:
Smoke residue in clothes can actually be inhaled. So think about it - little baby has their face/nose snuggled into a shoulder or elsewhere, inhaling it. Yes, I did have my sister change her shirt when she smoked outside during her visit when ds was very tiny. More and more research is showing up how bad all the residue is, so if they want to hold my baby, they need to be ready for it. Good thing, too, since ds turned out to be allergic to smoke.
The problem is, it even oozes out of people's pores. I would come home from a bar, take a shower and the next morning my pillow would still smell of smoke. I feel like I want to have a people wash, like a car wash installed in my doorway sometimes!
Answer:
Wow, I hadn't really thought about smoke in the clothing. Dh's sister's both smoke. This could be a battle for us.
Answer:
I hate it when people who smoke hold my baby. They wash their hands, but they still leave her stinking so bad that I have to change her clothes and bathe her after they leave. I heard you can ask people to put a blanket over their clothes - kind of like a bib - to keep their clothes out of contact with the baby. I heard it in a newborn class. Not sure how much it helps, but it makes me feel better. I heard second hand smoke *could* be linked to SIDS - however it never sounds like they really know what causes it - and that is what is stuck in the clothes. But little DD has made it these six months and she has been held my smokers.
I would try to keep a blanket between Grandma and baby, or maybe even tell her what happens when smokers hold her or you think she has reactions to detergents adults use. I'm sure she will understand and want to help protect your precious baby's skin!
If it happens again, discuss it with the ped at the next checkup. If it looks bad, I would give them a call anyways, but be prepared to go in to see the ped (it seems no matter what is going on, they tell me to come it, unless it is on the weekend!).
Answer:
Ds also got a contact rash on his face when he was tiny, and it was from the waterproof cloth that was lining his stroller. I noticed that he had napped directly on the cloth and then had a pimply rash exactly on the part of his face that was on there. After that I always made sure there was an extra blanket or sheet in between, and didn't have any more problems. I like the advice others have given of making sure baby is wrapped up so there is no skin touching "contaminated" clothing of visitors.
Originally Posted by MoneyMommy
It also could be just from her lotion or detergent/fabric softener. Every now and then I get "crazy" and try to add some scent free softener to my kids clothes and every time he gets a rash that looks a bit pimply like the baby acne.
for what it's worth, I started adding a splash of white vinegar to ds's laundry and it has made it much softer! Try it sometime instead of fabric softener. All natural and non-irritating... it's even cheaper!