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Children's health

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Original poster

Dd1 has a sore privates and has done since birth.

83 replies

mandmsmummy · 12/12/2013 22:40

She has never liked us wiping her since a baby and now she's three she hates us washing her down there. It does look red sometimes and I took her to the docs who suggested not cleaning it so much and perhaps she's 'sensitive' down there. She hates us wiping it says it hurts. Health visitor said the same. Any advice please? X

OP posts:

Lilliput · 12/12/2013 22:43

Has she ever been swabbed for thrush?

TaurielTest · 12/12/2013 22:48

I only have DSs so unsure how much wiping and washing DDs require. Are you talking about wiping after dirty nappies or washing her in the bath?
Besides the quite sensible-sounding advice you've had from HCPs about not overdoing it - have you considered not using standard baby wipes, but giving washable wipes or cotton wool with plain water a try?

TaurielTest · 12/12/2013 22:51

(My own 3 year old is in nappies, I realise yours may well not be. If she is toilet trained, and she says she hates you wiping, can she do it herself?)

Original poster

mandmsmummy · 12/12/2013 22:54

Hi all thanks for your replies
Sorry I wasn't very clear, she is toilet trained but it's washing it to keep it clean. When she was in nappies she hated us wiping her too. I've started only washing her once or twice a week and she hates it. There's always a build up of what looks like discharge? (White bits) x

OP posts:

Eastpoint · 12/12/2013 22:55

We were told not to use bubble bath & to make sure they didn't stay in the bath after they'd washed their hair - shampoo & bubble bath can both be irritants.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 13/12/2013 09:36

What I do for my little daughter works well- let her sit in warm water for a few minutes to soak. Then using very mild neutral soap lather, clean the area gently with your hand. No need to delve about, just make sure water and lather swish into the folds a bit. Then thorough rinse and a bit more soaking, then dry very gently and allow more time running around naked to dry thoroughly. Flannels and towels can be very rough and abrasive. But only cleaning twice a week is probably making her sore. But too much rough washing with harsh soaps will make her sore too. Hope this helps a bit. My dd has a bath every second day.

Original poster

mandmsmummy · 13/12/2013 09:51

Thanks in space, can you recommend a soap? X

OP posts:

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 13/12/2013 10:06

Well I use the dove neutral one, but there prob are even more mild ones. Good luck!

Longdistance · 13/12/2013 10:10

Hernia? I had one very young, and was operated on when I was 4.
I'd get a second opinion off a doc, all seems very mysterious.

mummyto2boysandagirl3 · 13/12/2013 12:08

If it's thrush no bubble bath and just a couple of drops of tea tree oil in the bath could help as it's a natural anti fungal. Is she in pain/uncomfortable other than when ur washing/wiping? Thrush can b v uncomfortable and she would likely b itchy most of the time. Bless her poor thing hope she's feeling better soon x

IslaValargeone · 13/12/2013 12:12

I'd be seeing a different doctor to be honest.
It doesn't sound right from what you have said. You don't want anything that sounds like an external (ish) infection being left untreated and possibly spreading internally.

passedgo · 13/12/2013 12:18

Remember that by the age of 3 they are aware of their privacy - it may be that's why she is making a fuss.

It sounds as thought it might be thrush, try out over the counter cream on her. Let her put it on herself.

Don't use soaps on that area.

itshowwedo · 13/12/2013 12:27

I suppose there are two classes of answer here but we can't tell which is right from out here in internet land.

The problem is the washing. A vulva doesn't need much washing. Ask her to use her own hand and just regular bath water. You don't need to be delving around in her vulva looking for discharge. Some white bits inside the labia are perfectly normal. No-one needs to be wiping soap around inside their labia - a gentle sluice around with water will do fine.
The problem is an infection of some kind. In which case she needs to see a GP and the GP needs to see her vulva to tell you whether her discharge is normal. Does she complain about soreness when you aren't washing/checking her? Did the GP actually examine her?

Original poster

mandmsmummy · 13/12/2013 15:51

Hi
It's only when we wash her. Like I said she's three and has been like this since birth. The doc has seen it and isn't worried. I'm worried about infection now but surely after three years I'd know? X

OP posts:

Eastpoint · 13/12/2013 16:16

So don't wash her, as someone said up thread that area doesn't need washing.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 13/12/2013 16:59

Course the area needs washing! Gently! Not washing properly can definitely lead to soreness, as can harsh products and not drying thoroughly. The VAGINA is self cleaning, not the whole vulval area!

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 13/12/2013 17:01

And 'ask her to use her own hand'! We are allowed to wash our three year old's bums you know!

Original poster

mandmsmummy · 13/12/2013 20:55

Thanks all. We had a game in the bath tonight where I washed mine and she seemed happier to wash hers (to a degree) so let's hope it's a step forward! X

OP posts:

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 13/12/2013 23:48

Excellent- well done!

quietlysuggests · 14/12/2013 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

mandmsmummy · 15/12/2013 01:47

Ok so we are awake again, crying her 'minkle' hurts. Had a look can't see any worms as she has had this twice before and this is how we knew it was that. Quite red around the vagina. Sitting on her bed at this ungodly time while she tries to sleep bless her. Think I'll be off to the pharmacist tomorrow for some canesten x

OP posts:

ItsNotATest · 15/12/2013 02:05

If the GP has looked and isn't worried, it may well be irritation caused by over-washing. Soaps and wipes in that area and at that age shouldn't be necessary. Why don't you try leaving well alone for 2-3 weeks and see if it settles down?

Original poster

mandmsmummy · 15/12/2013 02:07

Thanks we barely wash it though. How often and how should it be washed? X

OP posts:

Defnotsupergirl · 15/12/2013 03:26

My Granny (who had 10 kids) used to sit you in a bath with just a good glug of vinegar in the water a few times to get rid of any fungal infections or soreness. Stung a little the first time but it worked and I never knew it to cause any further problems in all my cousins too. She used to sit you in there for half an hour and swoosh you around a bit then wash down with clean water. It was considerably preferable than having cream applied from the doc which didn't work very well either and left you with icky knickers.

surroundedbyblondes · 15/12/2013 06:45

DD2 can get a bit red and sore sometimes ( she is three and not always great at wiping herself) I have
just given it a careful clean and popped on some sudocrem which has always worked.

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