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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

5 month old scalded by boiling water-please help

161 replies

A1983 · 17/01/2014 08:49

My DD was scolded by boiling hot water in a flask placed on her pram yesterday by a close family member-it wasn't secure and leaked through. I'm distraught and don't want to talk to this person. She is 5 months old and ive just got home from Bristol burns unit, seems her usual self but im just so devastated for her, poor baby. She was placed under a cold running tap for 20 minutes then taken to hospital. This morning she had a bio-brane dressing put on her leg under GA and the Consultants say she has complete partial thickness burn (4% mid-deep burn). It's a waiting game to see if it heals by itself in the next 10-14 days-the outer area they believe will do but they say it's 50:50 for the middle area which is quite deep and may need a skin graft. I'm hoping and praying the burn will heal completely....and obviously ideally for her no scarring or discoloration of skin. It's such a large burn on a little leg. She is to eat a protein rich diet to aid healing so her breast milk and ill blend some fish, cheese, beans etc for her.

I'm in shock atm and just want answers now..but unfortunately we all have to wait. She has an appointment on Saturday to see if the bio-brane is still sticking, and will have her dressings changed every 2 days.

Thank you

OP posts:

DavidHarewoodsFloozy · 05/02/2014 20:14

Original poster

A1983 · 06/02/2014 11:26

db.tt/Xq8mxBlP

Thank you-the operation went well and now it's again a horribly worrying wait to hope the graft stays in place. It has stitches in so hopefully that will keep in from slipping as being a baby she doesn't understand she needs to keep still (ideal is bed rest for first few days) so she's throwing both legs into the air and circling her feet. I want to pin her down but don't think that's very ethical ha ha! So I can only watch on whilst chewing my hand as she moves...first check on Monday and if all looks good it almost plain sailing from then. So one last check then maybe we can all finally live a bit again. Going to do lots of car seat pram walking as she keeps still then!

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bruffin · 06/02/2014 13:13

When dd had her skin graft the put her arm in a cast. All we could hear was her crashing it against the cot bars. She broke it in the end. But thankfully by then theyvwerent worried. She had huge bandages on her thigh from where the took the graft, then she decided to potty train herself so we had the added worry of her weeing in the graft wound. You cant see where the graft came from at all. When they are so young they heal so much quicker.
Hope your dd mends soon

Original poster

A1983 · 06/02/2014 13:57

Thank you-im so worried about her keep moving her leg though????. Plus she STILL has dihorrea-Dr not worried on Monday as no other symptoms and well in herself but NOT good for my stress levels at hourly nappy changes when it's so close to her dressings. Her donor site is bleeding a bit too but I suppose that's normal 24 hours in. Drs this arvo for diahorrea.

OP posts:

DavidHarewoodsFloozy · 10/02/2014 09:16

How has the weekend been, thinking about you both loads, i,ve everything crossed that the graft is healing and stretching well.

Has her diahorrea cleared up at all? X

fertilityFTW · 10/02/2014 09:29

Just read this thread OP, no advice but just wanted to add my wishes for a fast, painless and complete recovery for you lovely little one. So upset for you :(

tribpot · 10/02/2014 09:35

Just read the thread as well - what a dreadful experience for you all. I hope she is soon on the road to recovery.

deelite72 · 10/02/2014 14:05

Just awful... you poor, poor mum. God almighty, we all fear this and it can so easily happen. It sounds as if she'll be grand and other posters with personal stories of their own have been so encouraging to read. Goodness me, you must want to throttle the family member! I know saying things like that doesn't help, but you assume every one's common sense is switched 'on' around babies. May your little one heal fully and quickly. And you too. You will have lots of anxiety around this, so be well and heal too.

Original poster

A1983 · 10/02/2014 15:47

Thank you, yes im really run down from all this both emotionally and physically. DD still has diahorrea too which adds to the stress of keeping her dressings clean-a sample has been sent off but Dr thinks it may be temporary lactose intolerance following a bug which is apparently common in babies. 2 weeks of diahorrea though, relentless! And it's still going on.

As for the graft-it was checked today and im glad to say it's taken-a tiny part in the crease hasn't but that will heal on its own. Next check in a few days. Ill be able to relax a lot more once it's completely healed as at the moment it's obviously fragile and still healing.

Yes, id like to do a lot of things to that person but not having her anywhere near my precious baby is my only intention.

OP posts:

DavidHarewoodsFloozy · 10/02/2014 16:59

Try to be kind to yourself, you're doing everything right.
I know your baby is breastfed, does she have dairy products at all, you need to stay away from those until her intolerance clears.Poor little petal.

On a happier note, I bet you can,t wait to munch those chubby thighs again! They are beautiful .

Original poster

A1983 · 11/02/2014 15:29

I've stopped her weaning foods and just sticking to breastmilk and formula with Colief added to it-however she only has maximum 7oz a day of formula and the rest is my milk-but my supply surely isn't enough for a big 6 month old-i can tell as my breasts feel very empty of milk a couple of minutes into a feed and definitely none left by bedtime. But her output and weight is normal so I guesd she may just be off her food a bit atm. I've stopped the solids just to try and settle her tummy-i know my breastmilk will contain lactose though...

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Original poster

A1983 · 15/02/2014 11:05

db.tt/5qRdcu0u

Well the graft has taken so great on that front. Now just waiting for it to form the scar/completely heal so I can start massage and pressure garments. She can now be herself and do baby things like stand up, go in jumperoo, roll (not that she is yet!) and the diahorrea has finally slowed down to once-twice a day which is such a relief for infection risks. The pic is in this post of the graft a week ago and today. It's the size of a satsuma so I'm hoping it won't grow too much as she does so it'll be smaller on her adult leg once older.

OP posts:

bruffin · 15/02/2014 12:39

Poor little girl

DD's scar has grown with her hand, but it means that it faded. Have they mentioned to be careful with sunburn?

Original poster

A1983 · 15/02/2014 16:52

Yep-we would anyway but total sunblock and protected for at least 2 years.

OP posts:

NomDeClavier · 15/02/2014 17:18

Poor you :(

Just to say your supply would easily adjust to being enough. It might feel like there's no milk and your boobs are empty but by 6 months you produce milk to demand rather than storing it up in advance so there's never 'none' left.

Original poster

A1983 · 15/02/2014 17:43

Thank you Nom :-)

Bruffin-did your DD have a full thickness graft on her hand?

OP posts:

bruffin · 15/02/2014 18:05

To be honest i dont remember.She knocked iron on her hand.
She wasnt moving her hand and they were worried it would heal and constrict her hand. We were offered the skin graft then (about 10 days after burn) or in two years time. We chose at the time as felt it would be traumatic if we waited.
As its the top of her hand it is on show all the time but she doesnt seem bothered. She does get asked about it occassionally but she says says it doesnt bother her.
There is a darker bit of skin round the scar which is on her fingers and the rest is a bit wrinkled. It isnt that obvious though and its only if you are directly at it thats noticeable.
Its also her left hand and she is left handed but hasnt affected her use of it.

TheGervasuttiPillar · 15/02/2014 19:08

A1983,

I had a bad, full thickness petrol burn on my leg when I was 10. From the knee down to the ankle. My scars from the skin graft did not grow.

As your precious one is sooo small, I think it should mean that when she is older, any remaining scar will appear much smaller.

Original poster

A1983 · 16/02/2014 08:24

Yeah Bruffin I am worried about people asking about her burn or should I say young children as she grows but hopefully like your DD she wont be bothered. As the scabs are crusting off and leaving a scar underneath I can feel it's raised already but my OH said it will do, like any scar, but will settle in time. Obviously I know it will scar differently to a graze or her donor site, and not having that crystal ball is hard at times..it could be smooth and barely noticeable or something very noticeable she is affected by. Aside to all this I am so relieved it's not her whole body or her face etc and that my little girl is still the same little precious girl! So I don't mean to sound superficial in any way. Just whilst focusing on this scar, this is how I feel at the moment. As for your DD's hand, yes contracture is a big risk on a hand so thank goodness that hasn't happened! They use full thickness grafts for where you'll need the best cosmetic outcome ie face and also the best range of motion as it's much less likely to contract....but it growsIin proportion with your skin whereas the split thickness is thinner and so more likely to contract and apparently won't grow in proportion with the rest of the child..and the donor site heals better as only top two layers of skin taken as opposed to full thickness.

Gervasutti, thank you for sharing, im so happy for you that you are not scarred-and after skin grafts too! Can you remember at the time if they were the same size as they are now ie have the grafts grown with you? You may not remember but did they look different in the first 2 years ie bumpy/raised? Did you need a pressure garment? Any other creams or gels massaged on? Sorry for all the questions!!!

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Original poster

A1983 · 16/02/2014 08:28

Ps Gervasutti-im so sorry! Just re-read your post! I'm a bit tired ha ha and thought you said your skin graft did not show!! Not grow! So excuse me asking you that bit again! That WOULD be impressive if they didn't show!! Can I ask how they are now? How you feel about them?

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upyourninja · 16/02/2014 09:01

I've just spoofed this thread OP and it's wonderful that your DD is healing well and such a brave girl. I can't even begin to imagine what the last few weeks have been like. Fx she heals very well and quickly.

Just wanted to add that breast milk is also great for healing when applied topically - good for sticky eyes as well. So you could massage and apply aloe vera and then maybe rub a bit of BM in, when the time is right. It is sterile as it leaves the body. And re supply, if you've been weaning but then reverted to more BM then your supply will catch up again - and as previous posters have said, the feelings of fullness and engorgement start to settle at around 6 months. So please don't worry about that!

And it's completely natural for everyone to want the scarring to be minimal. But if there is a bit if scarring, most kids are brilliant, especially if you show them that it's just part of the story of a life. I have a few facial scars and as an adult they're not that noticeable and people rarely ask. I have another friend with deep purple birthmarks over 80% of his face - but it's just part of who he is.

Anyway, fx for continued healing and minimal pain. You sound like wonderful, caring parents. Your little girl is very lucky to be in such good hands.

upyourninja · 16/02/2014 09:01

Not spoofed!! *spotted!

bruffin · 16/02/2014 11:13

dd hand

I told dd about your little girl and she said take a photo of my hand to show her. Ignore the pink bits they are ink stains and her nails could do with a clean

TheGervasuttiPillar · 16/02/2014 17:44

My scar is about 10" x 3 " & does not bother me in the slightest. The skin is smooth and shiny, clearly different to normal skin. It was a long time ago (nearly forty years) and I imagine that treatment now is cosmetically much improved.

Original poster

A1983 · 16/02/2014 20:58

That really is hardly noticable bruffin, how long ago did it happen? Say thank you to your DD.

Treatment is nowadays not much different I believe, pressure garments, daily massage and silicone

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