Pink?! UPDATE

[Michael]

Pepto-Bismol?

Pepto-Bismol was invented in 1901 by a doctor in New York. It was originally sold as a remedy for infant diarrhea

[Unregistered]

Are you using tap water? I ONLY use carbon filtered or bottled water ESP for babies. I have suspicion it's the water. So weird!

A lot of people believe that bottled water is cleaner or some how healthier than tap water. This is an absolute myth! Tap water is not required to be tested for many things such as e. coli and is not required to meet the same rigorous standards as our tap water. We have very very high standards for our tap water (federal standards that apply to everyone on a municipal water system) and it is monitored constantly to ensure that it meets them. We have the cleanest water in the world, please stop buying bottled water! Bottled water costs more per volume that gasoline and creates a huge amount of waste. I have an extra filter on my tap to remove some natural minerals that give it a slightly funky taste but otherwise I would trust my tap water over anything you can buy in a bottle.

[texascare]

There is an infant tummy gas medicine (Mylicon) that is pink. I have had kids spit that up and its neonish...

[Blackcat31]

Update

Ok, I talked to mom and she said she was aware of the issue and she too thought is was some sort of bacteria (serratia marcescens ????) that she said she found out about after doing some internet research. She also said she thought that taking some probiotics had long ago cured it.

FWIW~ the baby is NOT getting any type of supplements or medicines or anything other than formula.

She said she also gave the baby the same probiotics and thought for sure it was gone now as she hadn't seen any evidence of pink staining etc since taking the probiotic. She had seen pink stains in the baby's cloth diapers as well as the bottles and the breast pump.

Now the baby has been on formula (several different kinds) over the last 4 weeks or so, and mom is no longer pumping or using breast milk at all.

So last night I purposely left the baby's bottle out on the counter (unwashed) to see what would happen. Here are the results.

Can you see the hot pink film over the top of the left over fomula? It is in the nipple and up the sides of the interior of the bottle too. I have a blanket the baby threw up on yesterday and the spot is seriously hot pink now.

My blankets and the PNP mattress pad are permanently stained as the pink washes out of the glass bottle parts but not out of material (fabric), plastic or rubber surfaces. I don't know if this is something I should be excluding for, something I should be sanitzing for as it is supposedly a bacteria of some sort.

I am kind of leary now about the whole situation as I really am worried it could be something that is spreadable to others or something that is a REAL cause for concern. I wish there was more info about it out there as I don't really know what to do. Mom doesn't seem real concerned about it but I am.

I just have no idea. :confused:

[Country Kids]

Is there a way you could call and ask your family doctor, nurse or peditrician in your area.

Tell them whats going on, your concerns, and maybe see what they say.

[sharlan]

I would definitely insist that Mom take the baby to the dr.

[lovemykidstoo]

Wow, I can't believe that bottle. That is just weird. I cannot believe that that mom is not running to the doctor. My kid would be at the doctor that very day.

[sharlan]

Have you considered giving the bottles a bleach rinse, then washing them in hot soapy water? Simple washing in hot soapy water may not be enough to kill the bacteria in all the bottle parts.

[Blackcat31]

Wow, I can't believe that bottle. That is just weird. I cannot believe that that mom is not running to the doctor. My kid would be at the doctor that very day.

Well, she has been to the doctor but I guess they really don't know what to tell her as they don't seem to be very educated about what this could possibly be. We don't live in a big metropolitan area so our doctor's don't see many bizarre or unsual things here.

Mom said she researched it and how she talks about it leads me to believe she isn't too worried about it but I honestly can't say that I am not worried....I mean I have a group of children that may be or could be being exposed to this. I worry about them and their families and she is only seeing things from her point of view...kwim?

Also, this mom is also having a really tough time with PPD and the baby being a preemie and the 2.5 months of bedrest she had prior to the baby's birth. She also has 3 other children who are all under age 10. She has said on several occassions that she just wants this year to be over with as it has been so tough on her.

I feel for her, I really really do, but I HAVE to worry about the whole group of kids I care for and I do feel like if I exclude until an absolute answer is given, that I would be putting her and her whole family in a bind they really can't emotionally and financially afford to be in.

Mom did say she was going to re-treat baby with the probiotic she had from before and see if that works. My issue though is simply pack of info about this. I like to know ALL I can about something before I can make an educated leap in one direction or another so....

Ugh...I just don't know what to do. (*sigh*)

[Blackcat31]

Have you considered giving the bottles a bleach rinse, then washing them in hot soapy water? Simple washing in hot soapy water may not be enough to kill the bacteria in all the bottle parts.

I run all my baby items through the dishwasher and then through the sanitize cycle too.

Washing the bottles and sanitizing them still doesn't explain the hot pink color the baby's spit up turns after it sits on the blanket over night.

[Live and Learn]

Have you noticed the pink color in bottles of breast milk? Have you noticed it in other brands of formula? if not, I would call the manufacturer of the formula and make sure there is no recall on it.:confused:

[Lyss]

So last night I purposely left the baby's bottle out on the counter (unwashed) to see what would happen. Here are the results.

Can you see the hot pink film over the top of the left over fomula? It is in the nipple and up the sides of the interior of the bottle too. I have a blanket the baby threw up on yesterday and the spot is seriously hot pink now.

I am kind of leary now about the whole situation as I really am worried it could be something that is spreadable to others or something that is a REAL cause for concern. I wish there was more info about it out there as I don't really know what to do. Mom doesn't seem real concerned about it but I am.

I just have no idea. :confused:

That is scary! I would be concerned too!

I had an infant (briefly) that was on a barley "formula" supplement (DCPs are Scientologists and apparently it's something they recommend instead of formula) when not getting breastmilk and DCB would occasionally spit it up, it was a pink or brownish. But it doesn't sound like this applies to your case.

I've googled it and it seems like there are alot of threads about people having this issue but no clear answers :confused:

[sharlan]

I run all my baby items through the dishwasher and then through the sanitize cycle too.

Washing the bottles and sanitizing them still doesn't explain the hot pink color the baby's spit up turns after it sits on the blanket over night.

IMHO, and I am NOT a dr, I would say the baby has a bacteria in its system that needs to be treated. By sterilizing, which you do, it would help in not reinfecting. Is the mom sterilizing the bottles at home?

[lovemykidstoo]

Well, she has been to the doctor but I guess they really don't know what to tell her as they don't seem to be very educated about what this could possibly be. We don't live in a big metropolitan area so our doctor's don't see many bizarre or unsual things here.

Mom said she researched it and how she talks about it leads me to believe she isn't too worried about it but I honestly can't say that I am not worried....I mean I have a group of children that may be or could be being exposed to this. I worry about them and their families and she is only seeing things from her point of view...kwim?



I feel for her, I really really do, but I HAVE to worry about the whole group of kids I care for and I do feel like if I exclude until an absolute answer is given, that I would be putting her and her whole family in a bind they really can't emotionally and financially afford to be in.

Mom did say she was going to re-treat baby with the probiotic she had from before and see if that works. My issue though is simply pack of info about this. I like to know ALL I can about something before I can make an educated leap in one direction or another so....

Ugh...I just don't know what to do. (*sigh*)

I am just not getting how she's not worried about it. It's not normal for a baby to do that. I would get a referral from my doc to someone else if they can't figure it out. You absolutely have to be concerned about the other kids. most definately. It's too bad, but you may have to maybe call your doctor and ask them. It's a shame that you would have to do that, it should be the moms job, but if she's not stepping up then you have to do what you have to do. My cousin is a PA, I can send her an email and ask her.

[Blackcat31]

Have you noticed the pink color in bottles of breast milk? Have you noticed it in other brands of formula? if not, I would call the manufacturer of the formula and make sure there is no recall on it.:confused:

The baby has not been on breast milk for a few weeks now. The baby gets strictly formula. We have used 4 different kinds over the last month. One milk based but different brands/types and 2 soy based. One Target brand and one the family purchased on line that is organic and EXPENSIVE.
So I think I can safely conclude it isn't the formula.

That is scary! I would be concerned too!

I've googled it and it seems like there are alot of threads about people having this issue but no clear answers :confused:

Yes, I have found info about it but none is concuring and none is very helpful.

IMHO, and I am NOT a dr, I would say the baby has a bacteria in its system that needs to be treated. By sterilizing, which you do, it would help in not reinfecting. Is the mom sterilizing the bottles at home?

Mom just brought me brand new in the package bottles last week.

I am just not getting how she's not worried about it. It's not normal for a baby to do that. I would get a referral from my doc to someone else if they can't figure it out. You absolutely have to be concerned about the other kids. most definately. It's too bad, but you may have to maybe call your doctor and ask them. It's a shame that you would have to do that, it should be the moms job, but if she's not stepping up then you have to do what you have to do. My cousin is a PA, I can send her an email and ask her.

I actuallu called my own doctor to see if they ahd any idea. I feel like we know WHAT it is and what mom can do to cure it (specific pro-biotics or specific antibiotics) but now my real concern is the contagiousness (or lack of) of it. I have a newborn in care as well as a few kids with compromised immune systems and my DH is also a type 1 diabetic so he also has a compromised immune system.

Ugh... I even called the CDC and the gal couldn't help me but did pass on the info to an "expert specialist" and said they will research and get back to me. :confused: