3 Yo Daughter with Sore/itchy Nipple

Updated on January 04, 2009
S.C. asks from Imperial, MO
6 answers

Hi! I'm hoping that one of you Moms out there might have some help for me. I noticed a couple weeks ago that my 3 yo dd was rubbing her right nipple at bed/nap times. I would ask her why she was doing that and she would say it itches. Well, I didn't think much of it til the last several days when she has been rubbing it through out the day. She even unzips her jammies at night to reach it. She began complaining yesterday that it hurt. We have been telling her not to rub it, but she keeps doing it. It seems that maybe it just become a habit now and maybe she's irritating it. Her left nipple looks normal (at least what I think normal is for a 3 yo! I really never paid much attention to them.)It is normal color, light pink and flat, even slightly in a little. Her right one is a little red/dark pink and the nipple itself is protruding a little bit. I have asked both of my sisters who have daughters if their girls ever had any issues with this and they said no. So I thought I'd see if any of you know what might be going on. There does not appear to be any bug bites and as I said before it is just the nipple. No redness around it at all. She appears to be rubbing and not really scratching. So, is it normal for one to be flat/in a little and the other out? Is this something I should ask her dr. next week when they open back up, or does it sound like it might just be a behavior/habit that she has formed. I haven't made a big deal out of it, b/c I didn't want to draw even more attention to it, but it has gotten worse instead of better and now that it is hurting, I am more concerned. Thanks for any input/suggestions. S.

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L.B.

answers from St. Joseph on

Well my first response is what kind of detergent do you wash with? Could it be an irritant? I myself only wash with Free & Clear products and unscented fabric softner.

The other thing that comes to mind is that perhaps it is a fungal infection. We've all heard of kids getting thrush and mom's getting it on their breast from breastfeeding...maybe this is similar? My BFF would put some anti-fungal cream on her breasts when this would happen and it would clear it up...maybe an idea?

Considering the weather and time of year, it could also be dry skin. Do you have a humidifier in her room? Do you put lotion on her immediately following a bath?

I would certainly discuss this with your peditrician...if you can't get her in, I would at least call and talk to his nurse and see what recommendations she has.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.N.

answers from Kansas City on

my neice and son had this same issue and the doc. said they had an infection they both took antibiatics and it went away. if you wount be seeing the dr. soon you could give her benadryl for the itch that helped with my son Good luck

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E.V.

answers from Kansas City on

She could have a yeast infection, you can get yeast infections on ur nipples I would call the dr

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S.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Have you checked to see if she has fluid in her nipples? I know this sounds ridiculous but it may be worth the doctor looking into it. Usually this developes in puberty but she may already be having a situation with it? Look into it and if they don't find anything ask if there is any other specialist for this-it may be something in the early development area. Look on-line too. This may give you areas to look for with baby girl development.

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K.B.

answers from Wichita on

Good Morning S., I would mention it to your Ped next week. It could be nothing at all like you said. It could be the muscle in her chest are already growing and it is bothersome. Kind of like growing pains, possibly.
My step sister when she started developing had (and still does), one breast larger then the other. I don't remember if she scratched or anything. But I do remember my step mom taking her to the Dr when she was about 5 because of it.

God Bless and Have a Wonderful New Year
K. Nana of 5

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S.R.

answers from Columbia on

Cut out ALL carbs, refined sugars, anything starchy,NO breads etc etc etc just for a few days.
Require a ton More pure water, not antibiotic water or water with vitamins. Just clean pure water.
Alter / Use less of your detergent for a couple of days.
But with out a doubt apply heapings of "Lanosh Brand Lanolin" on the sore and itchy breast/ nipple.
This is what one would use while nursing if the nipples get itchy, and dry and cracky.
All natural for the most part and IMMEDIATELY relieves the itchy scratchy breast/ nipple, and can be used on dry cheeks, dry and chapped lips... WE use it for EVERYTHING dry and itchy :O).
ALL three of my girls have experienced this at some point and also in other areas above we have used it.
I wouldn't stress. It is most likely just irritated now. At one point my middle daughter had gotten hers so irritated that we were cleansing them with warm salt water throughout the day and reapplying the lanolin. Took just ONE day to get it back to just a reddish/pink and then another day of the same to get it to normal. I applied a heaping amount, I mean, like a HUGE glop. She really hated that because it would stick to her jammies, so then we did a body wrap like deal , lol, with a cloth diaper around her little chest and used medical tape to keep it on there at night. During the day we just let her run around ...sorry if that bothers some folks out there, but ..she was only like four I believe at the time, so it wasn't like there was anything to "see" anyways, rofl! ....

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