Can toddlers have piles?

[sallys]

I've noticed when I change dd's nappy she has this little flap of skin right by her bottom. Is this piles- I don't know as I managed to avoid them when I was pregnant. I feel mortified- I give her a balanced diet and she likes eating veg. I feel like I've really let her down. Help!

Sally - It doesn't sound like piles. Piles are veins that can protrude out of the anus. Apparently they look like grapes!

My DD has a similar thing, but it's tiny, never struck me as anything to worry about.

Sally - my little bear has the same flap of skin and, as i have suffered the delight of piles I do think that it could be them! They look like grapes when you are actually straining to do a number 2 as they become inflamed as the motion pushes past. My little one is coming up to 7 months now and has been on solids for 2 months. Every time she does a number 2 her face goes bright red and sometimes she cries because it hurts her so much. I feel terrible as I also have been giving her loads of the right things to eat. My hv just suggested lots and lots of fluids and oj. A friend also suggested putting vaseline on before a motion to ease it out. I'm not sure with babies but have been told with adults they never go away, they just sit there until they get inflamed again. So if your dd isn't in any pain then you don't have anything to worry about - perhaps she had them once but they weren't uncomfortable enough for her to let you know about it!

Phew!