Cleaning creases - how on earth?!

[LaTristesse]

Sorry ladies, not really sure where to post this, but how do you keep babie's creases clean, particularly in this hot weather...? I'm talking neck creases really - my 17 wk DS is a devil for getting milk, fluff and general grubbiness tucked up in his neck and then clenches his little shoulders so I cannot get in there to clean him up. Even in the bath (I get in with him) he won't let me get in there. I find myself waiting until he's sleepier then poking about with a cotton wool ball, a technique which seems to making his neck sore, and isn't all that effect either.
So how does everyone else do it? Is there a technique I need to muster?

Try a bit of baby massage. If you can get him to relax a bit and get in there with some moisturising cream or baby oil every day that should keep him clean and get him used to being touched there. Perhaps he'll eventually let you do it in the bath then.

LaTristesse - having same issue with my very podgy 14 week old - his neck is smelling rank with all the congealed breastmilk in it and he freaks when I try to get in there - it's all so pink. When he feeds on a pillow on me at bed he's really relaxed and I try to expose the side I can then and get it some air. I also put him on his front so he pulls his head up just for a minute or so to get some air in. Note sure if I should put some vaseline on it though esp if no air getting to it - what do you think?

i never even thought about cleaning ds's neck creases till i worked out what the odd smell was!! [bad mummy emoticon]

i just used a corner of a mussie to wipe away the worst of the fluff/ milky bits and a flannel in the bath.

don't think getting it wet is a good idea if you cant get in there to dry it - it'll prob just get redder.

if it helps it gets lots easier once they can hold their heads up

Hehe, DD's neck creases can get very grim . I find cotton wool buds dunked in baby lotion to be a winner as you don't have to force her head up IYSWIM!

Then a dry cotton bud to make sure it's dry and perhaps even some sudocrem if the area looks a bit sore!

I let go the baby in the bath (you outside obviously) with 2 fingers' deep water. if you stand on the top of the head side she will try to look at you and open her creases. Then wash with water only. if very red and sore I use bepamthen (sudocream is hell to get out of clothes and hands). DD2 is now 22 weeks and her creases are not a problem anymore. so not long to go.
relieved to see I wasn't the only one wondering where that awful smell was coming from

And yes the tummy time is also great for a quick sweep with a damp flannel.

My DD was weeks old before I discovered just how deep her neck creases were .

I used to hold her so her neck was dangling a bit (while bf was useful) then get in there with a cotton swab. If it is red and sore then some barrier cream like sudocrem will help heal it up.

It does get better, they grow into their necks after a few months!

Reading this back makes me wonder how we would have reacted if someone had told us pre-baby that we'd have been having conversations like this. I would have been grossed out. Now it's just normal

Tummy time with an exciting, jingling or squeeky toy just above the head, worked best I found, then while baby does that tortoise stretching out neck impression get in and clean that crease however you want to clean it.

Thanks ladies, glad it's not just me!

I'll give these suggestions a try and see how we get on... and Mrsflux; he can hold his head up, he just has a fat neck!

I would get in bath with him and sit behind him. When he looks up at you, swipe!

put him on the changing mat, get someone else to stand behind him doing something entertaining, when he puts his head back to get a good view, get in there quick with a wet bit of cotton wool.