This little one has both canker sores (inside upper lip) and a cold sore (the swelling on bottom lip).  Canker sores, also called mouth ulcers, appear inside the mouth; cold sores, on outer outer lips, nose, chin, cheeks.

It’s quite common for babies and young children to have one type of sore or the other, but also, to have both at the same time because the triggers are the same:  stress/fussiness, over-tired, some kind of irritation in or around the mouth (teething, injury, dental procedure), a temporarily impaired immune system due to cold or flu, and too much sun-exposure can cause a cold sore.

Enviable perks of babyhood is freedom of worry how to make the mortgage payment and a complete lack of  embarrassment having a cold sore.   As adorable as this baby is with or without the sores, she is fully capable of transmitting the cold sore virus to a sumo wrestler or anyone through a kiss, or sharing eating/drinking utensils, even a spray of saliva, so take precautions to not let that happen.  And don’t re-use a towel, bib or wash cloth used to clean the mouth area without laundering it first. Don’t re-use a napkin or paper towel used for that purpose at all.  Be absolutely vigilent to stay away from the baby’s eye area with anything that isn’t completely clean (hands, washcloth, etc) if the baby – or you – has a cold sore.

Cold Sores Begone Stick™ is all natural, a chapstick remedy to apply as soon as the first sign of a cold sore appears for a baby, toddler or very young child.  It should heal within one to three days.  If you feel more comfortable to wipe off the top of the stick with a napkin or skim the thinnest layer off the top with a knife between applications or infections, do that.  Once your child is old enough to recognize the first symptom, a tingle, itch or numb sensation, the stick should be applied then, which will abort the infection before it has a chance to form and surface.  It works this way to prevent a cold sore for everyone, regardless of age.  www.ColdSoresBegone.com

There’s no early warning symptom of a canker sore inside the lips, on the tongue, gums or elsewhere, just its sudden appearance which often causes terrible pain when eating or drinking, or even if not, just as it does for adults.  We want to get rid of that troublemaker immediately.  That’s where Canker Sores Begone Stick™ is important.  Similar to Cold Sores Begone Stick™, a chapstick, the consistency of the canker stick is much softer for easier spreadability inside the wet environment of the mouth.  It won’t sting like over-the-counter remedies.  No, you don’t put the entire stick inside the mouth!  You use your fingertip to swipe off a small amount, dry the canker sore with a small piece of paper towel  if you need to, and plop the remedy on. If it doesn’t adhere because of saliva, go back, dry it again and be a little faster to apply.  That canker sore should be gone within a day or two.  www.CankerSoresBegone.com.

If your baby lets you borrow it, both remedies will work for you like this too.  If sharing the sticks between people, especially with babies, I would take the extra precaution and thinly skim off the top layer of the stick between applications.  An alternate to ordering from my websites, Sprouts Farmers Market carries both remedies as does Atkins/Chamberlins Health Food stores, and may be other health food stores in your area that do as well.