Question for all you mommas

[rnmom23]

My daughter is 11 months old. I have two boys as well (6 and 3) but none of them have ever had a urinary tract infection. Recently my daughter's urine started to really stink. She is eating and drinking normally. She does not have a fever, she has been crankier than usual, but that may be unrelated. I'm concerned she may have a UTI. Do any of you have any natural remedies you have used for this as opposed to antibiotics? I also just recently (a couple months ago) switched to cloth diapers. Any chance this stink could just be coming from bacteria build up in the diapers? They do kind of have a weird smell to them even after they are washed. If so, how would I get that out. Have already tried baking soda and vinegar. I'm a nurse and so I know it is not good to wait on a UTI before seeking treatment, however I'm curious about more natural remedies rather than just pumping her full of oral antibiotics. Thanks

[OldFarmGal]

No fever? Sure it isn't a yeast infection? Diapers can cause that. Some children are just more susceptible.

Cranberry juice (pure, unsweetened) is always good for balance in the urine. Yogurt is good. (acidopholus can be purchased in liquid form, as well. Check with a natural foods store.) Other than that, since she's so small, I would hesitate using any other herbal products without some guidance from a naturopathy specialist.

There is a home test for UTI - Ames N-Multistix reagent strips, manufactured by Miles Inc. Diagnostics, available in drugstores.

If she were mine, I would have a test done. She's too young to start a lifetime pattern of UTIs.

p.s Lots of water to flush, avoid citris juice. Hold off on any iron supplemets she may be taking. Use only water, no soaps, to clean her, until she is cleared.

[bethlaf]

yes the ododr could be from diaper bacteria, are you line drying them or in a dryer>?
give her cranberry juice, avoid sugars , obviously ,
and some yogurt, just in case, it wont hurt , also at 11 months , the cranky could be 1 year molars starting

anything in her diet change recently ?
that would be where i would be looking
Beth

[rnmom23]

Originally Posted by bethlaf

yes the ododr could be from diaper bacteria, are you line drying them or in a dryer>?
give her cranberry juice, avoid sugars , obviously ,
and some yogurt, just in case, it wont hurt , also at 11 months , the cranky could be 1 year molars starting

anything in her diet change recently ?
that would be where i would be looking
Beth

On nice days I dry them on the line. The last week the weather's been nasty though and so I've used the dryer. Does it make a difference?

[vegascowgirl]

If she seems to cry, or be the most uncomfortable right befor, or while she wets (or if she acts like her belly or lower back hurts) it may be a UTI.
I to agree that cranberry juice is great for UTI's. However it may be a tad bitter for an 11 month old. I watered down my cranberry juice with bottled water or a little bit of apple juice when my daughter had a UTI because she would not drink it straight.

as Oldfarmgal said, it may be a yeast infection too...they can get pretty stinky. Check her diaper when she is dry, if there seems to be a damp discharge on the diaper, ( OR if she seems to have a constant diaper rash in/around her private areas) it's a fairly good bet that it is a yeast inf. Yogurt works good for that. There are a couple brands of organic yogurts out on the market right now especially for infants. My daughter loved a brand called "Yobaby". it comes in banana, or vanilla flavored and is naturally sweetened. My daughter to this day thinks of yogurt as a treat.

However, sometimes pee just gets stinky because a change in diet. Have you been giving her food that has had a tad more spice than what she used to eat? Or is she taking an infants multi vitamin?

[TabletopHomestead]

Mom, I'm a nurse also and generally am inclined towards natural medicine before antibiotics, but I need to relate the story of my granddaughter. At about the same age we noticed really smelly urine. The pediatric NP at the health department just suggested up-ing fluid intake. Throughout the next year we didn't think too much of it, though she did have a couple of episodes of fever of unknown origin. Right before she turned two she got sick with mostly just high fever. I initially thought "virus", but after a week I noticed her peri-area was red. We took her to the doctor and I had to insist on a UA, which was grossly positive for UTI. She took a round of antibiotics and about a month later had another episode, in which her temp shot up to 105. This time she ended up in the hospital and then to a pediatric urologist who, after testing, discovered a good case of ureteral reflux. She was on Macrodantin for another 18 months or so along with daily cranberry juice, yogurt and extreme attention to peri-care. She had now outgrown the problem, which often happens. However, it could have been very serious with kidney damage. IMHO, go ahead and get a UA on your daughter.

Originally Posted by rnmom23

My daughter is 11 months old. I have two boys as well (6 and 3) but none of them have ever had a urinary tract infection. Recently my daughter's urine started to really stink. She is eating and drinking normally. She does not have a fever, she has been crankier than usual, but that may be unrelated. I'm concerned she may have a UTI. Do any of you have any natural remedies you have used for this as opposed to antibiotics? I also just recently (a couple months ago) switched to cloth diapers. Any chance this stink could just be coming from bacteria build up in the diapers? They do kind of have a weird smell to them even after they are washed. If so, how would I get that out. Have already tried baking soda and vinegar. I'm a nurse and so I know it is not good to wait on a UTI before seeking treatment, however I'm curious about more natural remedies rather than just pumping her full of oral antibiotics. Thanks

[mpillow]

My now 9 yo had same exact issue as tabletop....her yrine is still strong from time to time but no more infections....the girl endured so many pee tests it was awful. We also had tests run at the hospital to make sure everything was working correctly. She was drugged for the rather invasive test so not to be traumatized.

[COUNTRY WISHES]

I would definatley test her for UTI some people are just prone for this. I am and when I was little the doctor advised my mother to keep me very dry. She had me change my underpants twice a day and to sleep in a nightgown with no panties. Her theory was that this gave the area a chance to fully dry naturally. Does your daughter have very sensitive skin? This seems to leave the air more likely to be cracked and more easily infected with bacteria or yeast.

A few years ago I got a UTI which was treated and I thought it had gone away it apparently still lingered because I ended up with an irrated bladder. I had to have more antibiotics and then of course I ended up with yeast and had to treat that.

UTI's can also be a warning sign for diabetes. My mother has been having trouble with them reacurring for the last few years and I suggested she have the doctor test her blood sugar, sure enough she has diabates. So definately check this out.

[Jan Doling]

Make sure the yogurt has active cultures.

Let her nap without a diaper (put a disposable pad under her instead).

Limit bubblebaths...this can cause UTI.

[mamajohnson]

One thing nobody has mentioned, are you using plastic pants over the diaper?
It is getting warmer, so leave those off... they can keep her wet and make any type of inclination to uti increase... (or yeast for that matter)
During summer months my babies always went with cloth diaper, no plastic pants. It is better for them. Yeah, you may have to wipe a few puddles, but, it does help when potty training comes along too.
I would go ahead and start the cranberry juice and yogurt, no matter what you decide. You can also get echinacea tincture for kids at most health food stores. It will boost her immune system. So will vit. C. chewables work well.
You should also rinse your diapers, then a normal wash/rinse cycle then rinse AGAIN.. just to be sure you get all the soap/bleach out of them. I dont know that drying on the line vs the dryer makes a difference, never had a dryer! lol! If they are too stiff after line drying you can add just a touch of vinegar to the final rinse. It will make all soap come out and sorta works like a fabric softner.
You may check the soap you are using too. my dd is very sensitive in that area to soaps... causes lots of redness/itching for her. use the mildest (or homemade) that you can find.

[Gayle in KY]

My daughter had a yeast infection, as a baby, from disposable diapers. In addition to giving her yoghurt and cranberry juice, keeping her clean, and switching to cloth diapers, the doctor told me to apply yoghurt topically.

[mpillow]

Yeast infection on the outside is bright red not usually bumpy....you can use the stuff for athlete's feet (lotrimin?) on the skin to cure it

[Maura]

Your well water may be causing the odor. If your diapers get darker and darker, the minerals in the well water could be causing the bad smell. My sister's kids diapers always smelled odd from the well water. When she moved, the diapers started smelling better (all things considered) because the mineral amount was much lowered. Still, I'd take her to a doctor for an initial exam.

From what I remember of UTI, it hurts to pee.

[homebirtha]

The best way to unstink cloth diapers is to lay them out, or hang them, in direct sunlight for awhile. The sun will also bleach out any stains. There is also some stuff made by Biokleen, I think, called BacOut, which works really well too.

As for the UTI, I don't know. I'd probably wait it out a little while and see if it continues. Of course, if she started acting sick, got a fever, etc., definitely take her in.

Oh, one other thought. Have you started eating or drinking anything different, if you're nursing? I know my daughter's diaper will smell like coffee sometimes when I've overdone my caffeine intake.

[southerngurl]

Yogurt's good, but kefir is WAY better. Get kefir, everyone should take it. However, even if you get some culture tomorrow, it will take a few days to get it going and edible. Need to get some for all of you, it's excellent stuff. I have some.

[hatwoman22]

I hope she gets better.
I have to second the yogart suggestion, applied topically, another thing to help take care of a yeast infection is garlic cloves. Once more applied topically, I've had infections and such since I was little, little. Another thing no one mentioned, but that I read very recently is that baby powder, and corn starch ( my mothers old remedy) helps keep the infection around. I also remeber speding a lot of time barebutted when I was little!! lol neighbors got a kick out of it, but it was done for a reason.

Definately get her started on cranberry juice, there is always cranberry juice in my house, if she got an infection now chances are she will have them the rest of her life. Its better to get her on it now, and get her used to it, its an aquired taste.

I really hope she gets better, and I"m glad she doesnt seem to be in any kind of discomfort. Good luck

[greenacres]

When my DD was about 2 she had a uti. She would say her bottomed hurts. She was really uncomfortable. I would definitely do the yogurt and cranberry juice.

[jillianjiggs]

A UTI doesn't always cause it to hurt when you pee. I was feeling like heck one week. I finally got to the point that I just wanted to sleep all day, and couldn't barely muster the energy to get up to eat. My family made me go into the ER that night, and sure enough I had a nasty UTI. Everybody is different.

A urinalysis is easy, isn't invasive, and is pretty quick if the doctor puts a rush on it. I'd ask for one just to be safe. Even if it comes out negative, at least you now that it isn't.

[Ann-NWIowa]

My niece had to have surgery a couple times as a toddler due to some problem .. can't recall what other than it was urinary problem. I'd always error on the side of taking an infant to the doctor. They can't tell you what's wrong so trust your instincts that something isn't right and take her for a checkup.

[okiemom]

Would ironing the diapers get them hotter and safer than the dryer? Does the dryer get hot enough to kill pathogens?

If it is not a Uti change to disposables for a couple of days and see if the smell is still as bad. If not then it is the dipers.