Gatorade has surfaced as a common culprit in many medical conversations and blogs among the many rumors about what causes diaper rash. To avoid diaper rash, several medical specialists recommend limiting your child’s Gatorade intake.
While it’s true that Gatorade can cause diaper rash, there are a few other considerations to consider before blaming a pink bottom on excessive sports drink use.
What is Gatorade?
Gatorade is a sports drink that usually consists of water, electrolytes, sodium and sugars. This solution is formulated to replenish fluids, minerals and energy from food. It was designed for athletes who put their bodies through physical stress during training or competition. Plain water doesn’t provide the same benefits.
Is it safe to give Gatorade to babies and toddlers?
While Gatorade should never be used as a substitute for milk, it is okay for infants and toddlers to drink Gatorade beverages once they have been weaned off breast milk or formula and have started eating, drinking fruit juices, and other liquids. But only in small doses and rarely.
Why shouldn’t babies drink Gatorade?
Older children might drink Gatorade but it shouldn’t be the case in babies especially those with a special diet. Although the electrolytes in Gatorade pose no major harm to healthy youngsters, the drink’s sugar and calories can contribute to tooth decay and childhood obesity.
Can Gatorade give your babies and toddlers a diaper rash?
The answer is a little more nuanced than that. While Gatorade isn’t the cause of all irritation, it can surely aggravate them. The drink’s sugar and acid can irritate skin while also providing an excellent environment for bacteria to thrive. Some irritation may be caused by food allergies because your little one is sensitive to certain foods in most cases after they eat these foods.
While it does prevent dehydration, it can also cause a host of other problems like dry mouth, stomach flu, vomiting, infection and other symptoms.
If your child has a history of rash, it’s better to avoid giving them Gatorade or any sports drinks in their normal diet or during dehydration.
There’s no reason to fear if your youngster only gets a rash once in a while after drinking Gatorade for hydration when they are ill because this doesn’t happen to most children.
Simply keep a tight eye on their diaper region and wipe it thoroughly after they go potty. If the rash persists, contact your pediatrician and seek professional medical advice and treatment options for your children.
What should you do if your infant gets diaper rashes after drinking Gatorade?
Irritation on the skin is caused by a variety of factors. If your child gets a rash after drinking Gatorade (in some cases can make diarrhea worse), you’ll need to follow some specific prevention measures as advised by your doctor to guarantee the rash cures fast and doesn’t return for their health.
If your child gets a rash, don’t forget to do the following:
- Keep the diaper region as clean and dry as possible and remove the wet diaper asap. Frequently change and clean the diaper area thoroughly after each change and remove urine and stool.
- To assist protect the skin and treat infection, apply an over-the-counter diaper rash ointment. Because there are so many various kinds of cream, make sure to pick one that is right for your baby’s skin.
- Consult your physician if it persists or worsens after a few days. He or she may prescribe medicine or suggest other methods.
To avoid diaper rashes in the first place, you can do the following:
- Change diapers frequently and thoroughly wipe the area.
- Check to see if your child’s nappy is too tight or too loose.
- Allow the baby to go for short periods of time without a nappy, especially after bathing their body.
- When washing diapers, avoid using harsh detergents.
