Horrible diaper area and red cheeks in 13 month old DD

[RMM1117]

What causes really red, flushed cheeks in a toddler?  My DD has had the red cheeks on and off since she was born, sometimes its not that bad and sometimes is SUPER red.  Its barely noticeable right when she wakes up in the a.m.  Also, she has a really bad red ring around her anus.  I have been eating a lot of clementines now that they are in season, is that it?  What "allergy/intolerance" would that fall under?  Citric acid?

I did a ED with her for 4 weeks, cutting out gluten, soy, corn, dairy and didnt see a real change (a couple times I thought things were getting better and then it wouldnt.  Like one night she only woke up 4 times instead of 6 but then the next night it would be 6 again.  I gave up.)

A few additonal questions:

What is the best probiotic for someone her age?  She has been taking Klare Labs infant therbiotic.  I havent seen any change.  Its been about 7 months.

I have read on here some people taking mag, why is this?  What does it do/how does it help.   

Edited by RMM1117 - 11/24/10 at 11:44am

[DevaMajka]

I've read that citrus fruits can cause a ring around the anus, that isn't necessarily related to an allergy. I also believe it could be an allergy/intolerance to anything.

Are the cheeks and bum red every day, or are there days that it goes away? If it's there all the time, I'd focus on something that you eat often (not necessarily every day, but close). If it comes and goes, I'd start a food diary and see if you can find any patterns.

I'd cut out citrus for a week or so to see if that's the cause of the bum ring.

Ds's eczema (on his bum and cheeks) is sometimes really light in the morning, and is worse later in the day. I'm guessing it's something that he or I ate during the day, but I don't know for sure.

Magnesium is necessary for a lot of different body processes. I know that sleep can be helped by magnesium. I don't remember what it's allergy related use it off hand.

[RMM1117]

Thanks, Becky.  I need to start up my food diary again.  I *hate* it, I cant explain it but I think its some weird control thing .  As far as the mag., how do you know you need it/how much to take?  Would I give it to DD?  (She gets up 4 times a night on a good night and 7 or so on a not so good night.  Its realllllly hard.)

[DevaMajka]

I'm with you on the food journaling- I hate it too! It doesn't help that I've been doing it for a long time, and haven't gotten much useful info. (well, that's not entirely true, but we still are totally clueless on the rashes/eczema).

I think mag is relatively safe to take, as far as the toxicity level being pretty high. Oh yeah- if you take too much, you'll get diarrhea. I can't remember if mag levels vary in breast milk- hmmm. I take 200mg per day. I'm wary of giving supps to ds that aren't specifically labelled for babies- I think I'm overly paranoid about overdosing vitamins (though I do give him some that are very low risk of overdosing). I think you'd be safe sprinkling a little bit on food, and increasing it gradually and watching for loose poop.

You can do epsom salt baths to increase magnesium in kiddos (anyone, for that matter). Apparently mag can be absorbed better through the skin than from the digestive tract.

Does she have loose poop, or food in her poop? I only ask because yesterday I noticed a loose pattern between ds's poop and his sleep. Sometimes he wakes up lots of times a night, and sometimes he's awake for 1-3 hours in the middle of the night. Recently (since taking all my supps) he's been waking once or twice a night some nights.

Taking supps helped with the poop and the sleep. I take most of the supps (and I do think that it helps him when I take them), but I give him b12, clo, D, and kids' probiotics.

[RMM1117]

Thanks Becky.  DD takes Klare Labs probiotics, vit D, and Nordic Naturals CLO.  What probiotic is your DS taking?  And what B12 are you giving him?  Also, how much epsom salt goes in the bath and how long do they stay in?  Sorry for the 20 questions!

Her poop are SUPER runny and she has had mucus in them many many times.  Food chunks as well.  (She doesnt eat much solid food, we've got issues there, too.)

Edited by RMM1117 - 11/25/10 at 1:52pm

[DevaMajka]

He's taking probiotics from my hfs- Udo's Choice for infants and toddlers. I take the adult version from the same brand. I've read of people using one probiotic with no improvement, and when they switch they improve quite a bit.

For b12 (which is supposed to help with digestion), I have sublingual b12, and I give him 1/4 of a tablet every few days. My Dr. said that you can't really od on b12, so I feel ok with that (though today I did wonder if it could be messing up his other B levels). Sublingual b12 is absorbed better than pills.

Epsom salts, I followed the instructions on the label- maybe 1c in the bath? And I let him stay until he wanted out, usually at least 20 min. We didn't see an improvement from the epsom salt baths. I sort of think his nutrient issues have their basis in me, as in, my levels of some things are low, so fixing me is helping him.

Oh, and zinc is supposed to help for digestion too. I need to get some zinc to give ds.

I'd say work on digestion, and try to find a connection to the bad poop. That might help with the sleep. Teething could cause mucousy poop though, so keep that in mind.

[RMM1117]

I wondered about the teething for a long time, but the poop has been since she was very little.  Her crazy night waking started around 8 months and hasnt stopped.    I just noticed your LO's ages, mine are 6 and 1 too!  Do they have zinc for younger kids?  I'm off to google it!

[DevaMajka]

Brainchild nutritionals makes a liquid zinc, but it doesn't specify that it's for kids. I know there's at least one other brand of liquid zinc, but I didn't save it to my faves :(   

I just found this multi with zinc http://www.herbalremedies.com/mulmin8flozc.html

If you find something that looks good, would you mind posting it?

[RMM1117]

Thanks for the link!  I'm still looking around.  I'm finding so many types of sublingual B12, some liquids, chewables, losanges, ect, all with different amounts in them.  How does one know how much they need?  Same with the zinc and mag.  I might swing by my hfs today. 

Also, have you ever seen this?:http://childlife.net/node/63/

(Sorry, something is wrong and its not letting me copy and past the direct full link)

Edited by RMM1117 - 11/26/10 at 3:39am