Your baby's delicate skin is prone to bad reactions to burns, which is why prevention is the best course of action against burns. If you do find your baby with a burn, quick and level-headed thinking is the best way to choose a course of actions. Some burns can be treated easily at home, while others will require medical care and as little intervention as possible from you. Examine all burns carefully and contact a health care provider if you aren't sure how to properly care for the burn.
Step 1
Remove your baby from the heat source immediately. Analyze the type of burn. A first-degree burn is characterized by redness, pain and minor swelling without a breaking of the skin. First-degree burns can be cared for at home unless they are chemical or electric burns, which require medical care. Second and third-degree burns are characterized by blistering, white, waxy skin, charred skin and nerve damage, notes KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. They both require medical care and take longer to heal.
Step 2
Test your child's clothes carefully before removing them. If they don't come away easily or peel away skin, leave the clothes and call an ambulance immediately. Some clothes can melt to the skin; you could cause more problems by attempting to remove them.
Step 3
Run cool, not cold, water over the burn if you've determined that it does not need medical attention. A cool bath may relax your baby. You can also wet a washcloth and apply it as a compress to the burn for relief and to reduce swelling, suggests Babycenter.com. Never use ice cubes, which can make the burn and pain worse over time.
Step 4
Offer ibuprofen or acetaminophen to your baby to help relieve some of the pain associated with the burn. Make sure to follow all dosing instructions for your child's age and size. If the pain seems to persist, a trip to the doctor's office may be necessary for further evaluation.
Step 5
Avoid applying butter, oil or other home remedies to the burn. These items can cause infection and make the burn worse over time, warns Family Education. Never use bandages on a baby, as they can peel off and become choking hazards. Instead, keep a bottle of aloe lotion on hand to apply to baby's burns when he shows discomfort throughout the day.
Things You'll Need
- Cool water
- Washcloth
- Ibuprofen
